The Lightning re-signed Steven Stamkos, but that was just the start Brett Martin Jersey of their work there are a lot of core players that need contracts over the next calendar year.Priority 1, though, was extending Victor Hedman, whose deal was set to expire a year from today. That's taken care of; Hedman, one of the NHL's best defenseman, signed an eight-year extension worth a reported $7.875 million annually. Without it, he would have become a restricted free agent Drew Smyly Jersey .MORE: Couldn't be more excited to stay in Tampa for another 8 years! Let's do this.. Victor Hedman (@heds77) That's a good number for Hedman, who could easily contend for Norris trophies for the foreseeable future, and leaves the Lightning as much room as po sible to extend the contracts of forwards Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn and Vladimir Ariel Jurado Jersey Namestnikov, restricted free agents this season; and Tyler Johnson, Jonathan Drouin and Ondrej Palat, RFAs in 2017.Bolts bra s cleared out space by buying out defenseman Matt Carle. If they moves goalie Ben Bishop this offseason or ahead of next, the Lightning will have financial ability to keep as many Texas Rangers Jersey of those five guys as po sible.GM Steve Yzerman has about $10 million in space to deal with Kucherov, Killorn and Namestnikov. Whatever deals they sign will add to for 2017-18 and detract from what they can pay Johnson, Drouin and Palat. It won't be easy to keep them, but it's looking more po sible by the day.The Lightning lo s to the Penguins in Game 7 of this spring's Eastern Luke Farrell Jersey Conference finals. Last year, they lost in the Stanley Cup finals.