Steven Stamkos will experience a significant moment on Monday when he takes to the ice as a visitor at Amalie Arena for the first time in his career. The Nashville Predators will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking a notable return for the former Lightning captain after he signed a four-year contract with Nashville.
This matchup is the first between the two teams since Stamkos transitioned to the Predators, and he anticipates a whirlwind of emotions as he encounters many familiar faces. “That’s going to be probably the toughest part, emotionally, is just the relationships that my family has had with everyone,” Stamkos expressed, as reported by NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin. He emphasized the bonds formed with rink workers, staff, and friends outside of the game.
Stamkos left Tampa Bay after the team was unable to reach an agreement before he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He departed as the franchise leader in several categories, including games played (1,082), goals (555), and points (1,137). During his time with the Lightning, he contributed to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 and secured two Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies.
So far this season, the 34-year-old has scored only one goal in eight games with the Predators, who enter the matchup riding a three-game winning streak after starting the season with five losses. Meanwhile, the Lightning hold a record of 5-3-0 in the early part of the season.
