Yzerman intent on signing Stamkos to extension after Stanley Cup Final

Even with four-to-seven games left to play this season, Steve Yzerman has his sights set on at least one offseason task.

As his Tampa Bay Lightning prepare for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks, the general manager admitted Wednesday that signing superstar Steven Stamkos to a contract extension is high on his summer to-do list.

"I could envision something like (Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews signed after July 1," Yzerman said, referring to twin eight-year extensions signed last summer.

"But this isn’t the time to talk about it," he added. "Right now we’re about to start the Final. That’s the focus."

Despite not leading the club in scoring up to this point in the playoffs, Stamkos remains the cornerstone of the franchise, and Yzerman will certainly do all he can to make sure he remains in Tampa long-term.

Until an agreement is reached, however, 29 other fan bases will dream of a world in which Stamkos joins their team as an unrestricted free agent in 2016.