Lightning's Steven Stamkos: Steven Stamkos: Agrees to eight-year extension

Stamkos agreed to an eight-year contract extension valued at $8.5 million annually with the Lightning on Wednesday, ESPN's Craig Custance reports.

Analysis:

Talk about a stunner. All was quiet from the Stamkos camp just two days before start of the July 1 signing period, but now the stud center reaches a long-term deal to stay in Tampa. Stammer averaged $7.5 million against the cap on his previous five-year deal, so it's not like he's getting a significant earnings bump -- there were rumors that Buffalo was prepared to offer him $12 million in free agency. Fantasy owners should still nab Stamkos very early ahead of the 2016-17 season; since he stayed put, you know what to expect from him, plus he'll once again have the uber-talented Nikita Kucherov at his side.