The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed captain Steven Stamkos to an eight-year contract, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.
Stamkos, 26, played in 77 games with the Lightning last season, recording 36 goals and 64 points to go along with 38 penalty minutes.
He ranked first on the Bolts for goals and was second for points. Stamkos also ranked tied for seventh in the NHL for goals and was tied for fourth for power-play goals with 14.
He led the team for shots on goal with 216 and led all Lightning forwards for average time on ice (19:45).
“We are very appreciative of the effort and commitment that Steven and his representatives have exhibited in getting a deal done,” Yzerman said upon making the announcement today. “We are excited to have him as a cornerstone part of the team for the next eight years as we continue in the franchise’s ultimate goal of winning another Stanley Cup.”
The 6-foot, 192-pound forward has skated in 49 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 15 goals and 35 points to go along with 32 penalty minutes.
Stamkos skated in his first game of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins after recovering from blood clot surgery. He ranks fourth all-time on the Lightning’s franchise playoff points list.
“I am excited to move forward with the Lightning today for the next eight years,” said Stamkos. “It’s not often that a player gets the chance to spend his career in one organization and I am hopeful that this agreement sets me on that path with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Most importantly, I look forward to working with my teammates, coaches and our management in our pursuit of winning a Stanley Cup.”
The Markham, Ontario native is a four-time NHL All-Star, including this past season when he represented the Lightning in Nashville.
Stamkos has led the Lightning for goals in six of the past seven seasons, which includes two seasons of 50 or more goals (51 in 2009-10 and 60 in 2011-12).
He has netted 35 or more goals in five of his eight seasons in the NHL. During his rookie campaign, he ranked fourth on the Lightning for goals and was third for points.
Stamkos is also a two-time winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer, winning in 2012 and co-winning with Sidney Crosby in 2010.
Stamkos scored 60 goals during the 2011-12 season, setting a new franchise record for goals in a single season. Since entering the NHL for the 2008-09 season,
Stamkos ranks second in the NHL for goals (312) and goals-per-game (0.55), trailing only Alex Ovechkin (362 goals, 0.61 goals-per-game).
The Lightning captain ranks third on the franchise’s all-time scoring list for goals (312) and points (562).
Stamkos ranks second all-time for power-play goals by a Bolt with 108, trailing Vincent Lecavalier by four power-play tallies.
Stamkos has notched eight career hat tricks, ranking tied for first with Martin St. Louis in team history.
Stamkos was originally drafted by the Lightning in the first round, first overall, at the 2008 NHL Draft.
