Stamkos scored his sixth goal of the season in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Stammer has 10 points in nine games this season. He has rocked this kind of pace for a full season before; here's hoping he can do it again.

Stamkos scored two goals and added two assists in a 7-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. He was also plus-4.

EDGE Analysis

Stamkos is off to an outstanding start to the season. He has picked up at least in a point in five of the Bolts six games and now sits with five goals, nine points and 23 shots. Tuesday was especially painful for Toronto fans, as this was Stammer's first game in his hometown after spurning the Leafs in the offseason.

Stamkos scored the game-tying goal with six seconds remaining in the third period Tuesday, complementing his second-period assist and leading to a 4-3 shootout win against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

That makes four points in three games to open the season for Stamkos -- an important hot start for a guy who just signed an eight-year contract extension after posting his worst scoring rate since his rookie season. Stamkos took more than 50 fewer shots last year than the year before, but he's ripped 13 pucks on net through the first three games this season. That's a promising sign for the superstar center as he attempts to return to his old place among the NHL's scoring leaders.

Stamkos scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's win over New Jersey.

EDGE Analysis

Stammer fired five shots and picked up two minor penalties in 19:07. He's ready to show the NHL he's worth every penny of that big, new contract, and so far, so good. Stamkos has a goal and an assist in two games so far.

Stamkos skated with the Lightning on Saturday for the first time this preseason and set up three goals.

EDGE Analysis

He missed the first four games because of the World Cup of Hockey. Stammer looked like he was in midseason form Saturday night.

Stamkos had one goal and 15 shots in six games for Team Canada at the recent World Cup of Hockey.

EDGE Analysis

He had a blast, especially after missing the 2014 Sochi Olympics because of an injury. Stammer is poised to better his 36-goal output of 2015-16 now that there's no contract distraction hanging over his head.

Stamkos, who agreed to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension with the Lightning on Wednesday, likely could have hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1 while commanding a higher salary with another club, but the state of Florida has no income tax which is believed to have helped the Lightning retain him at a relatively low rate, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stamkos just finished out a five-year deal worth $7.5 million annually, so the star center is only getting a modest raise to stay put in Tampa Bay. Still, it seems that Stamkos has passed up potentially higher earnings with an even greater focus on winning his first Stanley Cup. After the Bolts were ousted by the Penguins after seven games in the conference finals this past offseason, Stamkos said, "We have some unfinished business." Stamkos dealt with a blood clot near his right collarbone that required surgery last April, though he ended up playing in Game 7 against the Pens, plus the issue didn't stop several teams from showing interest in his services.

Stamkos agreed to an eight-year, $8.5 million contract extension with the Lightning on Wednesday, ESPN's Craig Custance reports.

EDGE Analysis

Talk about a stunner. All was quiet from the Stamkos camp just two days before start of the July 1 signing period, but now the stud center reaches a long-term deal to stay in Tampa. Stammer averaged $7.5 million against the cap on his previous five-year deal, so it's not like he's getting a significant earnings bump -- there were rumors that Buffalo was prepared to offer him $12 million in free agency. Fantasy owners should still nab Stamkos very early ahead of the 2016-17 season; since he stayed put, you know what to expect from him, plus he'll once again have the uber-talented Nikita Kucherov at his side.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has not ruled out the possibility of executing a sign-and-trade agreement with Stamkos, a pending unrestricted free agent, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Representatives for Stamkos reportedly have begun talking to other teams with the Maple Leafs, Sabres and Red Wings said to be leading contenders to acquire the stud center once the signing period opens this Friday. As for the Lightning, a sign-and-trade deal would make sense if retaining Stamkos looks to be a lost cause -- that way, the Bolts would at least stand to acquire asset(s) in return. Thanks to a full no-move clause, the 26-year-old can be selective on his next landing spot. It's no guarantee that Stamkos will leave the Lightning, as the next team likely will have to raise the ante on the $7.5 million he averaged annually over five years of his now-expiring contract.

Nothing has changed in contract talks between Stamkos and the Lightning, reports Sportsnet.ca. The center becomes a free agent on July 1.

EDGE Analysis

General manager Steve Yzerman was blunt on Day 2 of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft -- both sides are very clear on their positions and nothing had changed. There were rumors swirling that the Bolts had upped their offer to more than $9 million a season, but that seems unfounded. Teams can now talk to free agents -- they just can't ink a deal. And the Sabres general manager Tim Murray told Sportsnet "We're going to chase the big fish." Don't count out the Sabres, Red Wings and surprisingly, the Rangers in the Stamkos deal.