Despite losing in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Tampa Bay Lightning should not be counted for defeat next season, captain Steven Stamkos believes.

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The latter did not hide his disappointment from reporters after his team's 2-1 loss in the sixth and final game of the series against the Colorado Avalanche.

It ended the Bolts' two-season reign over the rest of the National Hockey League and they were just two wins away from becoming the league's first team since the New York Islanders (1980-83). ) to achieve a hat-trick.

Nonetheless, Stamkos wanted to silence those who believe the Lightning will take a downward path in the coming years.

"Who said we're finished? He said at a press conference before making some comments about some hockey players, including Corey Perry, not having had the chance to win the cup with Tampa Bay. in the previous two years. There are guys who haven't had that opportunity. When they signed with us, we told them we were going to do a big run and we came up short. It's a blow in the flanks."

For his part, head coach Jon Cooper also believes that Team Florida will once again be a contender for the title in 2022-23.

"We haven't reached the end," he replied to the club's official website. In the last eight campaigns, we have reached the association final six times. [...] Today, it is a failure that hurts. We fought all season to achieve this goal and we were two days away from making history. Except that this band is history itself.”