TAMPA, Fla. — After 16 seasons of wearing a Tampa Bay sweater, Steven Stamkos is leaving the Lightning.

Stamkos, the Lightning captain who helped the Bolts win back-to-back Stanley Cups, signed a four-year deal with Nashville for an average annual value of $8 million.

The Predators made a big splash as NHL free agency opened Monday by signing both Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in a jaw-dropping series of moves topping $100 million.

Tampa Bay drafted Stamkos with the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft.

Stamkos, 34, addressed the move on his X account, saying: "Thank you Tampa I don’t have the words yet ….. I will soon . It’s still too early to process. Just wanted everyone to know how thankful we are for 16 years as a bolt. My family and I are excited for the next chapter…."

Stamkos, who helped the Lightning become a perennial playoff team and win two Stanley Cups (2020-2021), scored 40 points a season ago and had 116 goals during the last three seasons.

“It’s not for a lack of effort on my side (to try) to make things work out in Tampa, but it’s not fair to Nashville for me to sit here and say I really wanted to be in Tampa,” Stamkos said on TSN in Canada.

“Everyone knows I did. It didn’t work out, and I’m just as thrilled to be joining the Nashville Predators for a multitude of reasons. You can see by how aggressive they’ve been today that their commitment to winning is second to none.” 

Stamkos is the Lightning's career regular season leader in goals (555), points (1,137), and games played (1,082).

Lightning General Manager Julien BriesBois addressed not being able to reach a deal with Stamkos in a press conference Monday night.

He says he wanted Stamkos to stay and finish his career with the Lightning, but there were limits in terms of cap space.

BriseBois says he has to make decisions with the team’s success in mind. While he acknowledged Stamkos signing with the Predators will overshadow changes with the Lightning in the last few days and weeks, he says he’s excited about the Lightning’s future.

"I understand (the fans) disappointment. I am disappointed. We all are disappointed," said BriseBois. "But ultimately at the end of the day we need to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization. When I say that I mean the best interest of us remaining competitive and chasing championships and having on-ice success."

BriseBois added that Stamkos has been a fabulous leader on the team, but notes leadership of a hockey team is never about one person. He says a number of current players have been leaders for years and will continue to do so, and younger players can also grow into the role.

In the video above, Spectrum Sports 360's talks about "Stammer's" time with Tampa Bay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.