Steven Stamkos Releases Goodbye Letter To Tampa Bay

We knew that would be coming. Steven Stamkos has released a goodbye letter to Tampa Bay after he signed with another team. Steven Stamkos didn't have his goodbye letter in the Tampa Bay Times. It wasn't on the Tampa Bay Lightning's website. It was posted on The Players' Tribune which is a website that is "a new media company that provides athletes with a platform to connect directly with their fans." The website was founded was Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Derek Jeter.

The Steven Stamkos goodbye letter is a little over 2,700 words and it looks like Stammer wrote it. Stammer talks about many things in this letter from being drafted, to the injuries he sustained, to raising the Stanley Cup in front of the Bolts fans.

Part of his goodbye letter says, "I never thought I’d have to do one of these. It doesn’t quite feel real that I won’t be a Bolt this fall. But over the past few weeks, I’ve had this really deep sense of how lucky I was to be one for 16 years. So I just want to share some memories, and say some thanks to everyone who has been a part of this journey."

At the end of the goodbye letter he says, "These past few weeks have been bittersweet. I never thought this day would come. I did everything I felt I could do to make it work, but sometimes things just happen. It didn’t work. And I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t heartbreaking. But my family and I, we’re human, you know? Tampa is home. It’s where our three kids were born … it’s where our memories are. It’s always going to mean so much to us."

Stammer says when the Predators come to play the Bolts on Monday, October 28 it will be nice to be home again.

Today is a sad, sad day for Lightning fans. After being teased and promised about a resigning of Captain Steven Stamkos, it looks like the Bolts have decided to part ways with the face of the franchise. As we sit back and wonder why the Lightning are okay with losing such a key player in their roster, we'll look back at some our most favorite memories of Steven Stamkos highlights.

Stamkos is 34 and has spent 16 years with the Tampa Bay Lightning, 10 seasons as our captain. He finished last season with 40 goals, and 41 assists. At the beginning of the 2023 season, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois had promised Bolts fans they would address and re-sign Stamkos after the 2023-2024 season. A few days ago rumors were spreading around X (formerly Twitter) about the offer to the captain, and many fans found it insulting.

After a lot of a back and forth between the team and Stamkos' agent, the Lightning offered him a contract of $3million a year for 8 years. Stamkos' agent was hoping for at least $4.5-$5 million. Even after making $16 million in cap space after trading a star defenseman and another forward, JBB didn't change his offer to Stamkos, which seemed to be the last straw.

It was announced today at the start of free agency that Stamkos took a deal with the Nashville Predator's for $8 million for 4 years. Below is a statement from the Captain:

So many stats could be stated to show how Steven Stamkos has contributed to the team and community over the years. Over 500 goals, over 1,000 points, 2 Stanley Cups, Rocket Richard trophy winner, overcoming heartbreak and injuries, donating thousands to the city. It's no shocker why Stamkos was so loved around Tampa Bay and no doubt he'll have his own spot in the Lightning Hall of Fame. So be sure to check on your friends who are Lightning fans today, as we are going through a mourning process.

June 20, 2008 was a day to remember in Lightning history. Although it wasn't the first time Stamkos was drafted first overall, as he was also taken first overall by the Sarnia Sting in the OHL draft. But this was the start of everything for Lightning fans, a breath of fresh air when we needed it the most.

This just proves what a warrior Steven Stamkos is. Stamkos broke his tibia in this game against Boston in 2014 and still was trying to stand up. His return to the ice as our new captain after this injury still gives me chills.

In the 2009-2010 season Steven Stamkos became the 3rd youngest player in league history to score at least 50 goals in a season. This earned him the Rocket Richard trophy.

Another playoff memory that's forever etched in Lightning fan's brains is the 90 mph slap shot to the face Stammer took back in the Game 7 of the ECF against Boston. A shot deflected from St. Louis and hit Stamkos directly in the face. Just after 5 minutes of clean up, Stamkos returned to the ice in a full cage, just showing how tough he is.

Who could forget Stamkos' iconic goal in the 2020 SCF against Dallas. Stamkos had less than 5 shifts on ice and under 9 minutes in playing time that game. But all it took was 1 shot and 1 goal to change momentum of the series.

Not sure who we'll miss more, Steven or future Lightning captain, Carter Stamkos. We'll miss his cutest moments like driving the zamboni or stealing the show at his dad's 500th goal celebration

Every great memory surrounding Stamkos can be summed up with the back-to-back boat parades. One of my favorite moments will always be Stamkos lifting the cup on Alex Killorn's jet ski, his speech to the fans at Raymond James, and watching him lift the cup on home ice.