This Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman said he will miss playing with longtime captain Steven Stamkos.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, questions surrounded Steven Stamkos' future with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They only intensified when Stamkos still did not have his next contract this summer, especially when July 1 was approaching. However, there was always a sliver of hope that the Lightning and Stamkos would find a way to work out a new deal, but the once unthinkable happened in the end.
Once July 1 rolled around, Stamkos hit the free-agent market and signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Nashville Predators. With this, the longtime captain and Lightning legend's time in Tampa Bay officially ended.
Although the signs of a Stamkos departure were clearly there, the news undoubtedly shocked many fans once it officially came to fruition. In fact, it even shocked the Lightning players.
While speaking with Elliotte Friedman, Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak opened up about Stamkos' departure. Here's what the right-shot defender said on the matter:
"It was shocking to everybody … it’s even hard to talk about right now because he [Stamkos] was a big part of my career. Great player, great leader, great friend. I will miss him because he’s an unbelievable person. First guy who texted me and welcomed me to the team: 'Don’t worry about anything, we’ve got you. Just feel comfortable here.'"
It is not surprising to hear that Cernak will miss playing with Stamkos. Stamkos was Cernak's captain since he entered the league in 2018-19, so he naturally was a mentor for the 27-year-old defender. In addition, right until the end of his tenure with the Bolts, Stamkos was still one of the Lightning's top superstars.
Cernak and the rest of the Lightning will now look to adjust without Stamkos as their captain from here. That will be far from an easy task, given Stamkos' immense impact and success with the Lightning.
