A series of "seismic" roster moves in the NHL yesterday "appear to have turned Friday's July 1 opening of the free-agent market into an anti-climax before it even begins." The Lightning re-signed C Steven Stamkos; the Canadiens traded D P.K. Subban to the Predators for D Shea Weber; and the Oilers traded LW Taylor Hall to the Devils on what is "a traditional sleepy day in the league calendar" (N.Y. POST, 6/30). The trades and re-signings began at 3:34pm ET, and what followed was the "craziest bleeping 23 minutes in NHL history" (TSN.ca, 6/29). It was "one of the most dramatic half hours in NHL transaction history" (ESPN.com, 6/29).
Stamkos re-signing with the Lightning for eight years makes yesterday the "second-best day in franchise history," topped only by June 7, 2004, when the team won the Stanley Cup. The Lightning did "whatever it could to keep perhaps the greatest player in franchise history," with the "team and its superstar showing each other and their fans that they are committed to winning" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/30).
