GM ‘very hopeful’ Stamkos stays with Lightning
-
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said that he’s “very hopeful” the team can re-sign captain Steven Stamkos, as the Lightning star approaches unrestricted free agency this offseason.
“Obviously Steven Stamkos needs a contract, and we want him part of that group,” BriseBois said, two days after the Lightning were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in five games.
The general manager indicated he has started “very preliminary” talks with Stamkos and his agent, calling it a priority to get the deal done.
Stamkos’ future with the Lightning has earned leaguewide attention ever since he expressed frustration about his contract status in September. This was the final year of his eight-year, $68 million contract. Stamkos, 34, said he had been “disappointed in the lack of talk” about an extension, having expressed a desire to get something done before the regular season started.
BriseBois said before the season that it wasn’t just a matter of bringing Stamkos back but making sure the Lightning remain “a legitimate Stanley Cup contender year in and year out for the remainder of his tenure” if they did.
After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2022, the Lightning have been eliminated in the first round in consecutive seasons.
The noise around Stamkos grew so loud that BriseBois had to declare that Tampa Bay wasn’t trading him months before the NHL trade deadline on March 8.
Stamkos had 40 goals and 41 assists for the Lightning this season in 79 games. He had five goals in five games against the Panthers.
“From the trade deadline on, Stammer elevated his level of play, which was incredible to see,” BriseBois said. “For someone who has already earned his Hall of Fame plaque and has accomplished so much for so long, for him to play arguably his best two months of hockey of his career, at the time when our team needed it most, was incredible.”
BriseBois especially praised his captain’s leadership this season, after the Lightning saw veteran voices such as Alex Killorn and Pat Maroon leave the team last offseason. “You were all able to see how he led on the ice, what’s hard to see is how he elevated his leadership game off the ice,” BriseBois said. “Nobody in our group raised their leadership game more than Steven Stamkos did to fill that void.”
Stamkos said Wednesday that he was excited to begin contract talks but cautioned that the process was early. He reiterated his love for the city.
“I’m in my 16th season here. It’s crazy when you think about it. It certainly doesn’t feel that way from a physical or mental perspective, because I still love coming to the rink every day and interacting with the fans,” he said. “Everything that is hockey in this city is amazing and I love it.”
The Lightning players and coach Jon Cooper said they can’t imagine Stamkos leaving.
“I don’t think there’s going to be too much conversation. I hope not, anyway,” Cooper said after Game 5. “He belongs here. We know it. He knows it. He and I have grown up together. He’s in control of his own destiny so I don’t know what’s going to happen. But he feels like a Bolt for life.”
Forward Brandon Hagel praised Stamkos for handling the pressure of the season and his very public contract situation.
“Just the way he played this year, with everything going on. We had a lot of adversity. A lot of times when maybe things were a little dark. He rallied us together. His performance speaks for itself,” Hagel said. “When I look at Stammer, I believe he’s a Bolt for life. That’s just the vibe I get from him.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike