Steven Stamkos not open to trade, wants to win with Lightning

Steven Stamkos wants to stay with the Lightning and he wants to win a Stanley Cup for Tampa Bay 

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has been hounded about contract questions for most of the past two seasons. That’s understandable because he will become an unrestricted free agent after this season unless he and the Lightning can agree to an extension.

“My view hasn’t changed,” Stamkos said, via ESPN. “I want to win with Tampa. Obviously those questions will be asked. But I’m the captain of this team. I want to be with Tampa and win with this group. I’ve been with Tampa since Day 1, I’ve seen a lot of guys come and go. You saw what happened last year with this group. We want to get right back there.”

Stamkos was expected to sign an extension during last offseason. However, that never happened. He wouldn’t be the first superstar to sign an extension just before becoming a free agent. Brooks Laich of the Washington Capitals signed his

less than a week before becoming a free agent

and Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks signed his just months before hitting the open market.

Whether or not Steven Stamkos stays in Tampa Bay will be determined by several factors. First of all, if Stamkos wins a Stanley Cup this season, he might be more inclined to leave Tampa Bay for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Secondly, the Lightning must weigh their options and determine if Stamkos is worth potentially not being able to keep some of their younger players like Nikita Kucherov.