Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Red Wings, it emerged, stood little chance of adding Steven Stamkos. His heart belonged all along to the team he called home.

Stamkos spoke Thursday on a conference call, revealing just how little he liked flirting with leaving Tampa Bay even as he held off on re-signing with the Lightning so long it set in motion frenzied activity.

“My intention all along was hopefully to work something out with Tampa,” Stamkos said a day after he agreed to stay put with an eight-year, $68 million deal. He expressed that in hindsight, he might have done things otherwise, while also noting he wanted to be fully informed regarding other possibilities.

While other teams could have offered more money – the Wings could have given Stamkos seven years and $70 million – the Lightning was the only team that could offer eight years, and Florida has the financial benefit of not having a state income tax.

This week marked the period when teams could talk to potential unrestricted free agents in advance of Friday's noon opening of the market. Stamkos could have been the undisputed – and unusual – top player available, a 26-year-old forward with 312 goals in the bank. Stamkos had listened to pitches from suitors ranging from Toronto to Montreal to Buffalo – but not Detroit – when things clicked.

“It was a very tough decision,” Stamkos said. “I can't say this week has been fun. It was pretty stressful, to be honest. I'm glad it's over with.”

Stamkos described himself as having had a “couple of sleepless nights” before a revelation that left him “extremely happy with the decsion, and extremely relieved.”

Ultimately the appeal of finishing what he began – the Lightning drafted Stamkos first overall in 2008, two years before former Wings great Steve Yzerman took over as general manager – held too much appeal.

“This team is on the verge of hopefully competing for a Stanley Cup for years to come,” Stamkos said. “ I felt in my heart that that was always the place I wanted to stay.”

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

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