Stamkos returned for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won, 2-1. It was a step back after reaching the Stanley Cup Final 12 months earlier but, “Looking back at it, it was very important for me to play in that game,” Stamkos said on Sunday.

As the NHL free-agency interview period began on Sunday, June 26, the betting money wasn’t on a return to Tampa. Most agents and executives will tell you: the closer you get to July 1, the less likely it is that someone stays.

That first day, Buffalo owner Terry Pegula, GM Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma drove to Newport’s Toronto offices for a face-to-face meeting. Toronto brought the CEO of Canadian Tire and city Mayor John Tory on the Monday night. (The Toronto Sun reported Sunday that Tory’s emails indicated he knew before it was publicly announced that Stamkos declined all other options and chose the Lightning.)

According to a couple of sources, Stamkos/Meehan did ask if there was room for Tampa to budge on that $8.5M figure. The Lightning, facing negotiations with Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov, thought about it and said no.

Asked about that, Stamkos smiled and said, “There were negotiations, of course. We understood where they were coming from.”

Did you ever think you were going to leave?

“Yes,” he answered. “It was tough. Those thoughts definitely creep into your head….But I knew my heart was in Tampa. You’ve seen the success we’ve had the past couple of years. When your mind starts to wander a bit, you come back to those principles. If you’re happy with your decision — which I am — it makes life a lot easier.”

Would you ever say which team made you think the most?

Stamkos laughed at that. “No.” But he said there were teams no one considered. (The San Jose Sharks are believed to have made a very impressive pitch, but GM Doug Wilson absolutely refuses to comment on it.)

In addition to his parents and agents, Stamkos said both Gary Roberts and Martin St. Louis were excellent sources of insight and advice as he went through the process.

“You need that,” another player said. “Everyone thinks that week is enough time to make a decision. But it goes fast. And, if you’re conflicted, like he was, it’s even harder.”

Did Yzerman ever think Stamkos would leave? He gave a lengthy pause.

“You know what, I haven’t said much throughout the process and I’m not really comfortable answering that one,” he replied. “I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen. In the last week, we had no control.”

“But I’m pleased to hear what he said to say. And I’m appreciative he made it work for the team.”

Stamkos arrived in the Canadian capital looking tanned and relaxed. It’s a new beginning for him after a stressful season. The contract. A serious injury. He’s off the blood-thinners and feels like a new man.

“I’ve been through a lot,” he said. “It helps you grow as a player and especially as a leader.”

“Eight years I’ve been in Tampa. I love it there. Can’t believe its been that long.”

Epilogue

Will we ever see anything like that again?

“It was as close as we could get to the good old days, when dollars were not as much of a consideration,” said Poile, who first became a general manager in 1982. “Huge deals were made all the time.”

But Stamkos said maybe this is the new normal.

“That’s the game now, especially in this salary cap world. Teams try to make manoeuvres, try to make their team better and move pieces…big pieces. That’s probably the first time we’ve seen trades of that magnitude all come out at once. I think we’re probably going to see a lot more of that in the future.”