TAMPA, Fla. — Every discussion about Steven Stamkos seems to revolve around the same inquiry:

How much can the Lightning afford to pay him?

It’s the obvious question. The team has salary cap problems, Stamkos gave Tampa Bay a hometown discount eight years ago that paved the way for the front office to put together a Stanley Cup roster, and the Lightning rolled the dice by not offering him an extension last summer. So, yeah, the onus seems to be on the team to offer the captain a deal commensurate with his status.

But what if we look at the situation in a different way:

How badly does Stamkos want to stay in Tampa Bay?

We’re pretty sure we know the answer. He’s talked plenty of times about how much this community, and the franchise, means to him. He is as beloved as any player in Lightning history and, quite possibly, is the most iconic athlete this market has ever known.

But is it possible he has different priorities at this point in his career?

What if chasing another Stanley Cup is the one thing Stamkos cares more about than wearing a Lightning jersey?

Would he have a better chance at winning a championship with a team on the rise such as Detroit where, incidentally, former Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and former assistant coach Derek Lalonde are in charge?

Would he have a better chance in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs have all sorts of talent but never seem to find the right formula in the postseason?

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