In an unexpected turn of events, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos recently signed with the Nashville Predators after a 16-season tenure with his former team. The decision left many fans and analysts wondering why Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois did not engage in extension talks with Stamkos earlier in the summer before his contract's final year. BriseBois shed light on his strategy, explaining that signing star players to fourth contracts has been a rarity in recent years.

BriseBois pointed out that a precedent has been set among teams, particularly under the constraints of a flat salary cap, to have star players play out the final year of their third contracts before discussing a fourth. The Lightning have followed a practice of signing their top players to bridge deals during their second contracts and later rewarding them with richer, long-term deals during their third contracts. This approach was successful with players like Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Brayden Point.

However, as Stamkos approached his fourth contract, BriseBois revealed that the plan was different. He emphasized that, in the past five years, only one player, Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, signed a fourth contract a year early. The Tampa Bay GM highlighted that factors such as age, Hall of Fame consideration, and the flat salary cap influenced decision-making in these circumstances.

Despite the trend, BriseBois surprised many by bucking this approach with Victor Hedman. The Lightning committed to a four-year extension for Hedman's fourth contract, signing him a year in advance of its expiration. The decision to extend Hedman could be attributed to several factors, including the increase in the salary cap for the upcoming season and his outstanding performance. The 33-year-old defenseman had an impressive season with 76 points, ranking among the top in his career, and showcased his strong two-way game.

It remains to be seen how this approach will affect future contract negotiations with star players on the Lightning roster. As the team strives to maintain a cohesive and successful lineup, BriseBois emphasized the challenges posed by the flat salary cap and the allocation of funds to younger players.

The Lightning organization and its fans will be eagerly watching the developments in the coming seasons as they aim to build and sustain a competitive team, while balancing the financial constraints imposed by the league.