Steven Stamkos has a big decision to make.
The megastar captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning shockingly opted to play in Game 7 - a decision he's proud of - but to no avail, as the Pittsburgh Penguins earned a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.
Now that Tampa Bay's season is in the books, the focus shifts to Stamkos' future. The pending unrestricted free agent will obviously have plenty of suitors but it comes down to him, and if he still sees the Lightning as a good fit.
Stamkos: 'I certainly hope to be back, we have unfinished business here. The city has been great for me.' #TBLightning
— Michelle Gingras (@michellegingras) May 27, 2016
Stamkos has reached three Eastern Conference finals in his tenure in Tampa Bay, advancing further once.
The Lightning certainly want him to return, but the salary cap could restrict that if Stamkos is seeking a max contract, which isn't in Tampa Bay's books.
General manager Steve Yzerman has plenty on his plate. On top of the Stamkos saga, Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn, and Vladislav Namestnikov are all restricted free agents this year and are due for a raise.
It's clear the Lightning have a tight-knit group, and even clearer they boast elite talent, but Stamkos will remain the talk of the town, and league, until a decision is made.
