While the wound is still fresh on the Tampa Bay Lightning's loss in the Stanley Cup Final, the club is already looking ahead to the 2015-16 season and beyond.
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General manager Steve Yzerman has made it a point to lockdown team captain and current face of the franchise Steven Stamkos following his team's ouster at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Lightning, appearing in their second Stanley Cup Final in franchise history and first since winning it all in 2004, lost Game 6 to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0, Monday night to get eliminated.
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Now, Yzerman has made it his top priority to lockdown his captain, who will become an unrestricted free agent following next season if the team doesn't ink him to a long-term deal.
"He is our No. 1 priority," Yzerman said per NHL.com. "We've got some other restricted free agents and other contracts we have to do, but that's the No. 1 priority."
Stamkos hasn't publicly discussed his contract much, but he has made it no secret that he loves the organization and playing in Tampa Bay.
"Players, coaching staff, management, ownership, this is one of the best groups I've ever played on," Stamkos said. "I've been here for so long, this is my home now. It's been unbelievable for me to see the transition here, and it starts with [Jeff] Vinik, the owner here. I know there's going to be a lot of questions about what's going to happen in the next couple of weeks, but those things will be taken care of in time."
Stamkos signed a five-year deal in July 2011 worth $37.5 million and he will undoubtedly receive a pay bump.
Stamkos, 25, finished second in the regular season with 43 goals and tied for the club lead with 72 points in playing all 82 games while he had seven tallies and 18 points through 26 playoff games.
He didn't score a goal in the six-game Stanley Cup Final, the first of his career, but that shouldn't hurt his value at all and Yzerman believes his game is still evolving.
"I think he can play anywhere on the ice, and once the puck drops you play to your responsibilities," Yzerman said. "As our captain he did everything that was asked of him. He put the team ahead of himself. He played injured, he played hard. And one of the main reasons we got to the Final in his attitude."
Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Lightning in 2008, Stamkos has 276 goals, 222 assists and 498 points through 492 games in the NHL.
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