Former first overall pick Steven Stamkos has agreed to remain with the Tampa Bay Lightning, much to the chagrin of a host of NHL teams that were hoping to sign him as a free agent. The Stamkos sweepstakes never got off the ground as the team captain chose to re-sign with Tampa Bay rather than test free agency, which starts Friday. Stamkos agreed Wednesday to an eight-year contract extension believed to be worth $8.5 million annually in salary and bonuses. "I am excited to move forward with the Lightning today for the next eight years," he said. "It's not often that a player gets the chance to spend his career in one organization and I am hopeful that this agreement sets me on that path with the Tampa Bay Lightning." "Most importantly, I look forward to working with my teammates, coaches and our management in our pursuit of winning a Stanley Cup," he added. The Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens were all expected to bid for Stamkos. "We are very appreciative of the effort and commitment that Steven and his representatives have exhibited in getting a deal done," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. "We are excited to have him as a cornerstone part of the team for the next eight years as we continue in the franchise's ultimate pursuit of winning another Stanley Cup." The 26-year-old Stamkos, drafted first overall in 2008, is an eight-year NHL veteran who had 36 goals and 28 assists in 77 regular-season games this past season. Stamkos ranks third on the franchise's all-time scoring list for goals and points and has eight career hat tricks, tied for first in team history with Martin St. Louis. Weber goes to Montreal in blockbuster trade The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators swapped a pair of Olympic gold medal winning defensemen Wednesday in one of the biggest NHL trades in recent history. The Canadiens acquired Shea Weber from the Predators for PK Subban in an exchange of all-star defensemen who helped Canada beat Sweden for gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Subban won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman in the NHL in 2013 and Weber is considered the best active defenseman in the league to have never won a Norris. The 30-year-old Weber had spent the past 11 seasons with the Predators and has played in four All-Star Games. Weber said he was spending time with his family in Kelowna, British Columbia when he realized he had been traded after getting a text from Montreal goaltender Carey Price. "It was a hectic morning," Weber said. "I was a little emotional this morning. "I spent a lot of time in Nashville and enjoyed my time there but the more I look at it now I am excited to join a franchise with a rich history and go there and be part of something special." Weber is no stranger to some of the players in the Canadiens' dressing room. He and Price were teammates on the Olympic team with Subban. Weber and Drew Doughty were Canada's top two defensemen in Sochi while the younger Subban, 27, saw limited ice team as an extra defenseman. "He came there with a good attitude," Weber said of Subban. "He didn't play as much as he thought he would, but what he did helped the team win. It all worked out in the end." Weber had 20 goals and 31 assists in 78 regular-season games this past season. Weber has scored 40 or more points eight times and he finished with three goals and four assists in the playoffs this past year. The 14 playoff games he appeared in is the most Weber has played in one season in his career. The Edmonton Oilers also made a big trade Wednesday sending former first overall draft pick Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam Larsson, who was the fourth overall pick four years ago. Free agent pool is deep The big fish is gone, so now teams will circle around the other targets when NHL free agency opens Friday. Even with Steven Stamkos staying with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a $68 million, eight-year deal, the free agent market presents plenty of big-time players from forwards Milan Lucic, Loui Eriksson and Kyle Okposo to defensemen Brian Campbell and Dan Hamhuis. "There's some high-end guys this year and it'll be interesting to see what they get paid," Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "I think the market will fall into place after those guys find destinations and establish the top salary level." If Stamkos' $8.5 million cap hit established Wednesday sets the bar, it's good news for not only Lucic, Eriksson and Okposo but the next level of free agents. More than a handful of players should be able to cash in even though the salary cap only went up slightly to $73 million. Lucic has been linked to Edmonton after the Oilers traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils Wednesday. Eriksson, a former Boston Bruins teammate of Lucic's, will also be a top target. Beyond those players, there's St. Louis Blues captain David Backes and right wing Troy Brouwer, Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andrew Ladd, New York Rangers forward Eric Staal and plenty of useful players who might have to wait their turn. The defense market is weaker after the Florida Panthers traded for and signed Keith Yandle and the Arizona Coyotes did the same with Alex Goligoski. But Campbell is willing to take a short-term deal to try to win another Stanley Cup. That was one of the motivations for Stamkos in taking below market value to re-sign with Tampa Bay.
