Erik Cernak accidentally reveals the real reason Steven Stamkos left the Tampa Bay Lightning
It shocked the entire NHL when the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steven Stamkos parted ways this past summer, with him signing with the Nashville Predators.
Many believed that the process of Steven Stamkos hitting free agency was simply a bluff -- he had served as their captain since 2013, had a 60-goal season under his belt, and most importantly, had led the team to two Stanley Cups.
However, when the news emerged that the possible future hall of famer had signed a four-year $32 million deal with the Nashville Predators, everything became extremely real in Tampa Bay and across the league.
A big move for Jake Guentzel around the draft will fill a similar role to Stamkos with a younger piece. One thing Jake Guentzel equally does better than Steven Stamkos is play on and against the rush, thanks to essentially growing up playing second fiddle to Sidney Crosby's backhand antics.
In an interview with Elliotte Friedman, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak confirmed that a main reason for the team's moves this season were based on trying to add rush defense (also in large part explaining the Mikhail Sergachev trade).
He also confirmed one thing I'd heard: the Lightning thought they were vulnerable against the rush in 2023-24, and some of the changes made were to address that.
Whether or not parting ways with their captain was the right move is unknown, but the new era in Tampa Bay certainly looks very different than anybody expected.
Source Sportsnet:
32 Thoughts: A collection of late off-season notes
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| POLL | ||
AOÛT 26 | 158 ANSWERS Erik Cernak accidentally reveals the real reason Steven Stamkos left the Tampa Bay Lightning Do you think Steven Stamkos will score 40 goals in his first season with the Nashville Predators? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 48.1 % |
| No | 82 | 51.9 % |
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APRIL 25, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Sebastian Aho | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Drake Batherson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sidney Crosby | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brock Faber | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Rickard Rakell | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matt Duchene | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Mikko Rantanen | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Carter Yakemchuk | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Denver Barkey | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matthew Boldy | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Dylan Cozens | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Connor Dewar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Marcus Foligno | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Miro Heiskanen | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Travis Konecny | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kristopher Letang | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jason Robertson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||