Steven Stamkos staying with Lightning, sweepstakes over

The Steven Stamkos sweepstakes is over before it began.

Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning star will remain a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to McKenzie, Stamkos has agreed to an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8.5 million. The Lightning were the only team that could offer an eighth year on a contract, and needed to do so before July 1.

Stamkos was set to become an unrestricted free agent – arguably the most coveted in NHL history – with suitors ranging from his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs to cash-rich teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.

Stamkos and his reps met with the Maple Leafs on Monday, in a meeting that reportedly included the CEO of Canadian Tire and the mayor of Toronto.

But in the end, Stamkos decided to remain with the team that drafted him, and work with coach Jon Cooper and GM Steve Yzerman to try to bring a Stanley Cup to Tampa.

So it turns out that making $10 million annually wasn’t paramount for Stamkos, nor was a move up north. But as we reported earlier, being in Florida’s economy means that he’ll make as much cash on the deal than he would have playing in another market. Unless of course he wins the Cup this season and then decided he wants a trade to Toronto.

Congrats, Lightning fans. Well, at least until you have re-sign everyone else …