Nashville forward Steven Stamkos returns to Tampa Bay with his new team

Steven Stamkos has received a lukewarm invited successful his return to Tampa Bay pinch nan Nashville Predators

TAMPA, Fla. -- Steven Stamkos received a lukewarm invited erstwhile he returned to Tampa Bay connected Monday nighttime pinch nan Nashville Predators.

Stamkos was selected by Tampa Bay pinch nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2008 NHL draft. He spent his first 16 seasons pinch nan Lightning earlier signing a $32 million, four-year contract pinch nan Predators successful free agency.

Stamkos was a two-time Stanley Cup victor pinch his first NHL team. He was named skipper successful 2014. The guardant is Tampa Bay's profession leader successful points (1,137), goals (555) and games played (1,082).

The 34-year-old Stamkos was honored astatine nan first media timeout successful his return to Amalie Arena, 6:07 into nan game. The Lightning showed a 90-second video featuring highlights from Stamkos' career, including lifting nan Stanley Cup successful 2020 and 2021.

Stamkos past took a thigh astir nan ice, waving his instrumentality successful nickname of nan opinionated ovation from nan sellout crowd of 19,092.

“He came present arsenic an 18-year-old, pinch nan weight of his everything connected his shoulders -- and successful nan end, he delivered,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who took complete connected March 25, 2013, precocious successful Stamkos’ 5th play pinch Tampa Bay. “He did everything we asked of him for many, galore years.”

Stamkos is disconnected to a slow commencement successful his caller home. He had 1 extremity and nary assists successful his first 8 games pinch Nashville.

Being a visitant successful nan rink he called location for 16 seasons was an overseas emotion for Stamkos.

“It’s not thing that you really know, I think, until you spell done it,” he said aft nan greeting skate. “Obviously, nan excitement level (is high) to beryllium backmost successful nan metropolis and successful this building wherever there’s been truthful galore astonishing memories for a really agelong time.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl