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Stamkos says he wants to stay in Tampa Bay (and denies issues with coach)

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The Tampa Bay Lightning announced the multi-year extension for coach Jon Cooper and the guys from PHT give their thoughts on how it will impact the team's captain, Steven Stamkos.

Maybe he isn’t always liking the right tweets, but Steven Stamkos is saying all the right things about his future with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nervous Lightning fans will find a lot to like in Stamkos’ comments to the Tampa Bay Times on Saturday.

“Like I’ve always said, I envision myself winning a championship here and want to do that,” Stamkos said. “Obviously we got close last year, and I’m the captain of this team and I want to be that leader.”

Beyond that, Stamkos shot down a lot of speculation, including murmurs that he doesn’t get along with Lightning head coach Jon Cooper (especially relevant since Cooper recently signed a contract extension).

This quote probably summarizes his response to various reports:

“I think obviously the people who know me and are close to the situation know what’s true and what’s not true.”

Of course, Stamkos also admits that a lot of things can happen between now and then - then being when he signs a new contract - so all that really matters is when his name is finally on the dotted line.

In other words, the speculation isn’t likely to stop, but at least Lightning fans can regain a little hope following another distracting Stamkos circus.

Three ring Stamkos circus

Could Tampa Bay lose him for nothing?

Sign Stamkos signs in Toronto

Others stole the show from Stamkos