NHL Rumors: Steven Stamkos Linked to Golden Knights, Predators Amid Lightning Buzz

The Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators are "believed to be in the mix" for Tampa Bay Lightning legend Steven Stamkos, who is set to become a free agent at noon ET Monday should he not agree to a contract extension with his long-time team.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff broke that news Sunday and added that the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils could potentially be in the mix as well.

Of course, the Lightning can still retain Stamkos, with Seravalli writing that "one last push" can't "firmly" be ruled out.

Stamkos has played 16 NHL seasons, all with the Lightning, who selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has 555 career goals and 582 assists for 1,137 lifetime points.

He finished with 40 goals and 41 assists in 79 games last year for a Lightning team that made the playoffs but fell in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Stamkos will certainly get paid handsomely again after finishing off his eight-year, $68 million deal, although it perhaps won't be as lucrative and long with him turning 35 next year and being in the back half of his second decade in the league.

Still, the widespread interest here is certainly warranted given his excellence. It would be a tough blow to the Lightning, who are all but resigned to let him test free agency. But a reunion hasn't been ruled out.

"As of now, we've both agreed to get to July 1," Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said Sunday, per Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. "It doesn't mean we can't circle back to one another, but we're both going to go ahead and follow through with our due diligence, seeing what's out there and seeing what's best.

"My responsibility is to see what's best for the Lightning organization, and Steven has to do what's best for him, his career and his family. So, unless something changes between now and July 1 -- and it doesn't look like it will -- we will get to July 1."

July 1 has now arrived, and now the hockey world awaits the results of the Stamkos sweepstakes.