Steven Stamkos, hometown hero for the Maple Leafs? It may not have become reality, but the Toronto area native did let his mind “wander a little bit” as he approached his impending free agency.

“I can’t say that all the different scenarios [don’t] cross your mind when you’re going through a process like this,” Stamkos said on a media conference call Thursday. “I think when you do meet with teams and you do go through that, that thought goes through your head. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t.”

Stamkos took a meeting Monday at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. headquarters that included Leafs management and Toronto mayor John Tory. Stamkos ultimately chose to sign an eight-year, $68-million extension on Wednesday to stay with the Tampa Bay Lightning, avoiding the open market entirely.  

“I think at the end of the day, you gather as much information as you can to make the best decision for you and your family moving forward,” he said. “At the end of the day, after a lot of things, and a couple sleepless nights, I’m extremely happy with the decision I made. I’m kind of relieved to be honest that it’s all over.”

Fielding a number of questions from Toronto-based media about how deep the process with the Maple Leafs ultimately went, Stamkos, 26, cited his respect for the process and the teams involved when refusing to divulge any details.

“As much as I’d love to talk to [the media] about that, that’s not the person that I am,” he said. “I’m someone that keeps personal matters and things of that nature to the parties involved. For me, all I can reiterate is that it was an extremely exciting but stressful week to say the least.”

News that Stamkos was remaining with the Lightning, on a contract they first offered him months ago without even fully testing the free-agent waters, meant he was certainly taking less money than he could have commanded elsewhere. Acknowledging there were things he would have changed about the past year if he had known how things would play out, Stamkos was steadfast in his reasoning for staying put.

“When you go through something like that, some people may look at the money aspect of things, but for me, it boils down to what’s best for you and your family going forward,” he said. “Some people in this position chase the most money possible. I think for me, I understood the situation. I understood that there could have been some money left out there. But for me that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about going to an organization that I was comfortable with and somewhere that gave me the best chance to win in my mind. 

“It was a very tough decision, it truly was. I can’t sit here and say this last week has been fun. It was pretty stressful, to be honest.”

Coming of a regular season where he appeared in 77 games and accumulated 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists), Stamkos missed almost all of Tampa's playoff run with a blood clot. He didn't suit up until Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

One season ago the Lightning was in the Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. Tampa’s young core and recent run of playoff success contributed to keeping Stamkos in Florida.

“Obviously being there the past eight years and knowing what to expect and knowing what we have with the core group of guys going forward, it plays into the decision,” Stamkos said. “For me, it was just about following your heart and being loyal to the organization that has made me the player and person that I am today. There are times in life, whether in business or your everyday life or sports, that you let the mind wander a little bit, but I think I knew deep down the whole time that I wanted to be [in Tampa].

“If I didn’t want to be in Tampa, I wouldn’t be in Tampa.”