y wife too. Theyre both healthy so Im just here to do what I love to do. You worry about your wife, is anything bad going to happen? | Forum

TAMPA, Fla. Wholesale Jerseys China . -- Loyalty, respect and the potential to win for years to come kept Steven Stamkos in Tampa Bay.The Lightning captain said Thursday that he followed his heart in re-signing with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008 rather than testing free agency, where he likely would have commanded much more than the $68 million hes due to earn over the next eight seasons.Some people when theyre in this position chase, obviously, the most money possible, the two-time NHL scoring champion said during a conference call.For me, I realize the situation and understood that there could have been some money left out there. But for me, thats not what its all about. Its about going to an organization that I was comfortable with, and something that gave me the best chance to win in my mind, Stamkos added.It was a very tough decision. It truly was. I cant sit here and say this past week has been fun. ... It was pretty stressful, to be honest. Im glad its over with.A person with direct knowledge of how the contract is structured said Stamkos will make $9.5 million in each of the first five years of the deal, then $7.5 million in 2021-22 and $6.5 million in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because those details have not been revealed.Stamkos, who helped the Lightning reach the Eastern Conference final three times in eight seasons, cited his relationship with owner Jeff Vinik, his respect for general manager Steve Yzerman and the coaching staff, as well as a talented nucleus of players built to win for years as significant factors in his decision.Tampa Bay lost to Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, then made it back to the Eastern Conference final this year before falling to Pittsburgh in seven games.Stamkos is the teams biggest star, but hardly a one-man show on a roster also featuring defenseman Victor Hedman, young forwards Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn, and goalie Ben Bishop.My intention all along was to hopefully work something out with Tampa. Its been a great eight years that Ive been here. ... This team is on the verge of hopefully competing for Stanley Cups for years to come, the four-time All-Star said. With me being a captain, and being the leader of that team, I felt kind of in my heart that was always the place I wanted to stay.Stamkos has won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHLs top scorer twice, including 2011-12, when he had a career-best 60. Hes had 40-plus goals in a season four times and had a shot at doing it again this year before being sidelined in April by surgery to treat a blood clot discovered near his right collarbone.The injury kept him out of the lineup until Tampa Bays 2-1 loss to the Penguins in Game 7 of the East final.Yzerman announced the deal Wednesday night, saying he believes the 26-year-old center is entering the prime of his career and that his best years are ahead of him.Stamkos willingness to accept less money than he figured to be offered by potential suitors in free agency provides the Lightning with some flexibility in trying to keep the teams core intact in coming seasons.Were trying to put as competitive a team on the ice (as possible) and we asked Stammer, will you work us on this? This is what were trying to do. Were trying to be the best team we possibly can be, Yzerman said.Stamkos hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings were among the teams expected to make a run at the Tampa Bay captain if he had become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.I think Tampa gives me the best chance to win and be successful moving forward, Stamkos said.Obviously being there the past eight years and knowing what to expect, knowing what we have going forward with the core group of guys we have plays into the decision, he added. And for me, it was just following your heart and being loyal to an organization that has brought me up and made me the player and the person I am today.Stamkos, who has 312 goals, agreed with Yzermans assessment that hes yet to peak as player.A lot of people are going base your performance on statistics and goals and points, but I can say 100 percent that Im a better player in all areas than I was when I first entered the league, Stamkos said.Theres still lots of room to grow as a player, to get better, he added. As long as youre willing to put the work in, theres no reason why it shouldnt happen.---AP Sports Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, N.Y., contributed to this report. Authentic Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Cheap Jerseys 2020 . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. https://www.cheapjerseysfromchinareview.com/ . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks will attempt to continue their domination of the New York Mets when the teams meet against Tuesday at Chase Field.Arizona has won the first four games of the season series after posting a 10-6 victory Monday, the first game of a three-game set at home.The Diamondbacks swept the Mets in Citi Field last Tuesday-Thursday, outscoring them 17-5. The D-backs have trailed in only one of the 36 innings played, that when the Mets scored in the first inning of the first game last Tuesday.The D-backs opened the game with the highest ERA (5.09) in the majors, but you cannot tell it by the way they have pitched against the Mets.They have a good offensive team, and you have to pitch against them, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Some of the ERAs, people have hit them. We havent been hitting. Weve had a tough time scoring.With our pitching, when you score six runs you should win the game. We let them get ahead, and we couldnt stop them.Arizona rookie right-hander Braden Shipley (2-1) finished off the sweep in New York last week with seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory in his fourth major league start. He will make his fifth Tuesday.Shipley has given up two runs in 19 innings in his last three starts, all quality starts, and against the Mets became the second pitcher in franchise history with an RBI and a stolen base in the same game.Right-hander Noah Syndergard (9-7) will oppose Shipley, the same matchup as last Wednesday.The Diamondbacks scored three runs and had four stolen bases in five innings off Syndergaard in the last meetiing. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping. They had 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts in the three-game series, and they had two more stolen bases Monday. Syndergaard has given up a major league-high 36 stolen bases. Opponents have been thrown out four times.Arizona had nine extra-base hits -- seven doubles, a triple and a home run -- in their outburst against Bartolo Colon on Monday, turning things around after being outscored 31-9 while losing a three-game series at Boston over the weekend.Offense was outstanding, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. They kept coming. Its something we talked about in spring training and it was great to see.Welington Castillo provided some needed pop in his return, tying a career high with four hits and getting two doubles after missing six games last week when his wife delivered their second child. Because of some since-resolved complications, Castillo stayed with his family instead of going to Boston last weekend.My mind felt free, Castillo said. I have the baby at home, my wife too. Theyre both healthy so Im just here to do what I love to do. You worry about your wife, is anything bad going to happen? The baby was too big. Now Im (good) and Im going to do everything I can do to help my team win.Arizona manager Chip Hale called Castillos performance pretty impressive.Its tough to miss a whole road trip and have all the stress you have with the wife and the baby and to come back and get those hits was great, he added. ' ' '