Lightning GM sheds light on Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman contract negotiations

After the Tampa Bay Lightning were officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by losing to the Florida Panthers, the attention quickly turned to whether or not Steven Stamkos will re-sign with the team this offseason as he heads into free agency, and general manager Julien BriseBois said he was “very hopeful” to get him signed, saying “We want him part of this” and that he briefly talked with Stamkos' agent after the season. “I briefly met with Stammer when we landed after Game 5,” Julien BriseBois said, via Joe Smith of The Athletic. Steven Stamkos was still a valuable player for the Lightning this season, he put up 40 goals with 41 assists for 81 points in 79 games in the 2023-2024 season, according to Hockey Reference.