The Tampa Bay Lightning will not go through another year-long saga with one of their core pieces like they did with Steven Stamkos, as Steve Yzerman has successfully signed defenseman Victor Hedman to an eight-year deal worth $63 million ($7.875 million cap hit).

Couldn't be more excited to stay in Tampa for another 8 years! Let's do this..

— Victor Hedman (@heds77) July 1, 2016

Much like Stamkos’ $8.5 million per year deal, Hedman’s deal comes with a gigantic value for the Bolts.

Hedman is Tampa Bay’s everything on that backend, and could have commanded even more on the open market, so to retain the 25-year-old through his prime at this number is simply incredible. This is just another negotiating win for Yzerman, whose focus will now shift towards RFA Nikita Kucherov.

The 6-foot-6 defender, drafted second overall in 2009, put up 10 goals and 47 points in 78 games this past season, and has recorded 49 goals and 229 points in 470 career games, all with Tampa Bay.

Join the Discussion: » 59 Comments » Post New Comment

» Bolts' Ben Bishop out weeks with lower-body injury

» Lightning can't overcome opportunistic Canucks

» Bolts back home against Ovechkin's Capitals

» Lightning drop season-high fourth straight game

» Bad Luck Ben: Bishop's strugglesome year continues in loss