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Lightning's Steven Stamkos: Insists he "hopes to be back" with Bolts

Stamkos insists he "hopes to be back" in a Lightning uniform next season, reports the Tampa Bay Times. The Lightning has reportedly offered him an eight-year deal with an $8.5 million annual average.

Analysis:

There haven't been any conversations between general manager Steve Yzerman and Stammer's agents at Newport Sports since before the trade deadline. Despite that reported eight-year deal with an $8.5 million annual average, he has still not put ink on paper. Stamkos insists that any assertion the NHLPA is pressuring him to strike a bigger deal this summer is "completely false," but there have been suggestions he could earn as much as $10-11 million a season. At this point, there's little incentive for Stamkos to sign a deal until July 1 and that may actually fit the team's plans anyway -- it has several other players it needs to sign in the next few years.

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