Last season was filled with Steven Stamkos trade rumors. He was set to be the best free agent to enter the market in years and the Lightning were facing a salary cap crunch. It would make sense for General Manager Steve Yzerman to deal his pending unrestricted free agent for something rather then lose him for nothing in the summer.
Mr. Yzerman went in another direction. With the full support of his owner, he announced two weeks before the deadline that he would not be trading his captain. With that assurance, Stamkos promptly went on a six-game goal scoring streak and helped the Lightning get in a position to make the playoffs.