Steven Stamkos ignoring speculation, focused on improving his game

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO — Everyone was caught up in the buzz created by the Steven Stamkos circus Tuesday except for the performer who was supposed to be the star of the show.

For two days, the city of Toronto was alive with speculation, discussion and predictions about the possibility that Stamkos might use his unrestricted free agency next summer to sign with his hometown Maple Leafs. But Stamkos said after his Tampa Bay Lightning posted a 5-4 overtime victory over the Leafs that his trip to Toronto felt like others he has had in career.

"It didn't feel that weird," Stamkos said. "Did it seem weird to you? I don't think there was any difference once the puck (was) dropped."

But it has been wonderfully weird for Toronto fans after Stamkos used his Twitter account five days ago to "like" a discussion about whether the Maple Leafs should make a play for him. He has subsequently said the "like" comment was inadvertent.

However, that hasn't stopped fans from voicing their opinion that they would like their team to pursue Stamkos if he becomes a free agent. The cost could be $10 million per season, but fans seem to believe that Stamkos, 25, is still young enough to be a central figure in the Maple Leafs' rebuilding under team president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Lou Lamoriello and coach Mike Babcock.

"You are aware of it," Stamkos said of the city-wide frenzy regarding his pending free agency. "You know what's going on, but by no means is it something that I'm letting get to me or the guys on the team."

The Lightning were obviously not surprised by the Stamkos mania that is overflowing in Toronto.

"This is Toronto," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "This is the hockey Mecca and people want to know. It's a story. And he's probably one of the most talented players to become a UFA in his mid-20s. That doesn't happen, especially in this era. So of course it's going to be a story. I understand that."

Stamkos said speculation and fan dialogue on social media about him "really hasn't been that bad."

"It's more a story (for the media)," Stamkos said. "It's more of a hot topic. I play in Tampa. It's not too bad down there."

Stamkos didn't figure into any of the Lightning's scoring plays, and had a poor night in the faceoff circle, winning only two of 14. One of the reasons Toronto fans believe there is a chance Stamkos might leave Tampa Bay is that Cooper occasionally prefers to play Stamkos on the wing. Stamkos likes to stay at center.

He only managed one shot against the Maple Leafs and has now gone 10 games without a goal.

"Time is going to tell," Stamkos said. "I'm trying to focus on my game, which hasn't been that great of late."

The Lightning, as a team, have had trouble scoring, and that has been at the heart of their struggles, a season after they marched to the Stanley Cup Final.

Another reason why Toronto fans have hope Stamkos may bolt from Tampa Bay is that the Lightning have budgetary concerns. They have to leave cap space to re-sign other top young players. The Maple Leafs can open the checkbook for him.

Stamkos has said in the past that he wanted to stay in Tampa Bay, and it seems as if the Lightning should want to keep a player who is considered one of the most consistent goal scorers. But there has been no indication that the two sides are close on a deal. It's customary for teams to re-sign their top players a year before their contract expires.

Don Meehan, Stamkos' agent, was at the game, but it is not unusual for him to be present when Stamkos is in Toronto.

Will this contract uncertainty become a burden?

"When you come into a season you never know how it is going to be until you go through it," Stamkos said. "Obviously, it comes up and you think about it from time to time … it's just about trying to focus on getting better as a player."

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