What to do With Stamkos?

Now since the Lightning are officially knocked out of the playoffs, it's time to discuss the off-season as it will be one of the biggest ones in franchise history. The big question is what will the team do with captain Steven Stamkos who is a free agent on July 1st and is free to sign with any team. The answer is simple the Lightning will do whatever is best for them, as general manager Steve Yzerman has done just that since he arrived in 2010.

The Lightning have a certain number in mind for Stamkos and probably wont go past that number due to the fact that key players like Hedman, Kucherov, Killorn, and Johnson will need new contracts as well. The Lightning are going to have to move some pieces around in order to create more cap space. One of the likely candidates is defenseman Matt Carle who has a big cap number and his play has been sub par to say the least. Yzerman will try to trade him but a buyout is more likely which would have the same effect.

In my opinion, I believe Stamkos will return as he is a big part of this team and it's hard to replace a guy like him. Again as I have said before Yzerman will do what he thinks is best for the team, and if that means keeping Stamkos then that is what will happen. Either way this is going to be one fun offseason for the Tampa Bay Lightning.