Huge disrespect to Steven Stamkos now comes into play!

Everyone was stunned when captain Steven Stamkos called out his Tampa Bay Lightning on the opening day of training camp earlier this month.

“To be honest, I’ve been disappointed in the lack of talk in that regard,” Stamkos said. “It was something that I expressed at the end of last year, that I wanted to get something done before training camp started.

“There haven’t been any conversations.”

This is what the star forward had to say as he is set to play out the last of an eight-year, $68 million deal with a cap hit of $8.5 million. He could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024.

Then, chatter emerged from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the Lightning wouldn’t be devastated to lose its captain…

“I know people who are around Stamkos, and I am talking other players, few of them told me that there is this underlying belief around them that Tampa wouldn’t be crushed if he left.”

TSN’s Jeff O’Neill sees this as a huge lack of respect for Stamkos, whom he believes is on his way out of Tampa. He is adamant that the disrespect will come into play for Stamkos, who may now refuse any offer from the Bolts in order to test free agency this summer.

Stamkos has spent his entire career in a Lightning’s uniform, signing his current deal just ahead of hitting free agency back in 2016. He had been highly coveted as a potential free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs, among other teams, showing interest in the superstar. The fantasy of seeing Stammer sign in Toronto remains alive for some passionate fans, and these reports have only reignited the dream.

In 2022-23, Stamkos put up 34 goals and 84 points in 81 games, adding two goals and four points during the Lightning’s six-game loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the postseason. He’s recorded a total of 515 goals and 1,056 points in his 1,003-game career, all in Tampa.

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