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Steven Stamkos hopes to sign new Lightning deal

 
Steven Stamkos speaks during Media Availability for the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend at the Nationwide Arena Friday in Columbus, Ohio. [Getty Images]
Steven Stamkos speaks during Media Availability for the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend at the Nationwide Arena Friday in Columbus, Ohio. [Getty Images]
Published Jan. 24, 2015

It's no secret that captain Steven Stamkos loves playing in Tampa and for the Lightning.

But Friday, Stamkos, 24, made his strongest indication yet that he plans to stay with the Lightning long term. He said at the NHL All-Star Game media day in Columbus, Ohio, that he hopes to sign a contract extension this summer, one year before he could become an unrestricted free agent.

Stamkos can't sign until July 1.

"Yeah, I think that's exactly what the plan is," Stamkos said. "It's a long ways away. I'm not really focused on that. We haven't really talked about that at all. We'll discuss that in the summertime, but I'm obviously very happy with where I am in Tampa.

"You see the team we've been able to develop the past couple of years, the ownership we have, obviously (general manager) Steve Yzerman, the coaching staff, the young nucleus of the team.

"I feel like the old fart at 24, all these guys coming in here, but they've played extremely well, and I want to be part of it, to say I was there from the beginning to see the end result."

Stamkos is in line to make something similar to the eight-year, $84 million deals Blackhawks All-Stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane signed last summer, a year before they could become unrestricted free agents.

Mark Guy, one of Stamkos' agents, said he hasn't had any preliminary discussions with Yzerman about a Stamkos extension but those can wait until after the season.

Said Yzerman: "Our first priority at the end of the season will be to get a contract extension done with Steven. He is one of the best young players in the league, our team captain and a great person who we want leading our team for many years to come."