As captain Steven Stamkos gets closer to unrestricted free agency this summer, general manager Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning is “very hopeful” about re-signing the player.

BriseBois, who publicly discussed in September delaying negotiations with Stamkos until after the season, announced on Wednesday that he has already spoken with Stamkos’ representative.

BriseBois told reporters, “Obviously Steven Stamkos needs a contract, and we want him to be part of that group.” “It was amazing to witness how Stammer improved his play starting at the trade deadline. It was amazing that he played perhaps the best two months of his career—which began around the trade deadline and continued through the series against the Panthers—for someone who you could argue has already earned his Hall of Fame plaque, accomplished so much already, and has been doing so for so long. Our team really needed him to do that.

“He led on the ice, and you could all see it. It is challenging to see how he improved his leadership abilities off the ice. Our team lost a lot of leadership last summer for a variety of reasons, and none of our players rose to the occasion more than Steven Stamkos. That’s harder for all of you and even for me, because I’m not in the locker room and not there all the time to see. But that’s the case.