Steven Stamkos insisted all along that he wanted to stay put in Tampa Bay to win the Stanley Cup.The two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner as the NHLs leading goal scorer gave himself that opportunity Wednesday, re-signing with the Lightning for eight years and foregoing a chance to test free agency.The team confirmed the agreement, which is worth $68 million, meaning the 26-year-old captain will earn an average of $8.5 million per season.The deal was reached two days before Stamkos had the opportunity to gauge his worth on the open market, where the four-time All-Star star with 312 goals was expected to command far more lucrative offers from numerous bidders, including his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings.Instead, he chose to stay with the team that made him the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft.I am excited to move forward with the Lightning ... for the next eight years, Stamkos said in a statement released by the team.Its not often that a player gets the chance to spend his career in one organization, and I am hopeful that this agreement sets me on that path. ... Most importantly, I look forward to working with my teammates, coaches and our management in our goal of winning a Stanley Cup.The 26-year-old center is third on Lightnings all-time scoring list for goals and points. He was the NHLs leading scorer in 2012 and shared the title with Sidney Crosby in 2010.The contract that we agreed to is a number that (the Lightning presented) a while back. ... Ultimately Steven was willing to accept, general manager Steve Yzerman said.The GM added that when resumed talks with agent Don Meehan on Wednesday: I hadnt given up hope, but I certainly wasnt necessarily expecting it to get it done.Lightning teammate Ryan Callahan welcomed the news, writing on Twitter: Could not be more happy to have El Capitan Back!!! Callahan then joked that Stamkos will be picking up the tab at a fast-food restaurant.The agreement comes as something of a surprise after Stamkos and the Lightning were unable to negotiate a contract extension during the season. The uncertainty led to Stamkos potentially becoming the highest-profile player to hit the free agent market in several years.His status even loomed over the NHL draft in Buffalo last weekend, where several team executives expressed their interest in making a bid to sign Stamkos. Sabres general manager Tim Murray was among them, and referred to Stamkos as the big fish.Yzerman remained hopeful that a deal could be reached, saying as recently as last weekend that he had not closed the door on re-signing the teams star.The Lightning at least had a slight edge over other teams. Under NHL rules, they were allowed to sign Stamkos to an eight-year contract, while other teams were limited to making seven-year offers.We are very appreciative of the effort and commitment that Steven and his representatives have exhibited in getting a deal done, Yzerman said in the club announcement.We are excited to have him as a cornerstone part of the team for the next eight years as we continue in the franchises ultimate pursuit of winning another Stanley Cup.Stamkos has topped 40 goals four times. He won the NHLs regular-season scoring title twice, including 2011-12, when he had a career-best 60 goals.The captain is coming off a season in which he had 36 goals and 64 points in 77 games, before being sidelined after having surgery on April 4 to treat a blood clot near his right collarbone. He did not return until he saw limited ice time in Tampa Bays 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final.The blood clot condition, called vascular thoracic outlet syndrome, is not expected to affect Stamkos career going forward.The Maple Leafs and Sabres were seeking to sign Stamkos in a bid to hasten their rebuilding plans. The Red Wings were believed to be interested after star Pavel Datsyuk chose to play in Russias Kontinental Hockey League.The Lightning have a deep and talented roster, which Stamkos helped lead to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, where Tampa Bay lost to the Blackhawks in six games.---AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this story Air Jordan 1 High OG Fearless White Mens . JOHNS, N. Wholesale Jordan 1 China .S. 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That was the difference in the Marlins 3-2 victory on Monday night, the Diamondbacks fourth loss in a row. Patrick Corbin, trying to become the first left-handed starter in 35 years to go 10-0, allowed two hits through eight innings but gave up a soaring, two-run homer to left by Stanton that tied the game at 2 in the sixth. Stantons line-drive home run to right off ex-Marlin Heath Bell (2-1) in the ninth put Miami ahead for the first time. It was the 100th homer of his career, and sixth in 43 at-bats at Chase Field. "He took that thing over, didnt he?" Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Yeah, that was an impressive, impressive night for him." Stanton, activated June 10 after six weeks on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, said both were good pitches. "Just help the team win, man," Stanton said. "Thats what I didnt do all April and obviously all May I wasnt playing." Redmond said he expected an adjustment period for Stanton when he came off the DL. "And there really wasnt," the manager said. "He came off the DL swinging the bat great. You could just see he was more confident. His swing was better, everything was better. Hes been lights out ever since." Bell pitched all of last season for Miami, and Stanton was asked if his familiarity with the relievers pattern helped him in the at bat. "Yeah," Stanton said, "for the most part." Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said its time to reassess how to pitch to Stanton. "The guy is swinging the bat good. We have to find a better way to get around him," Gibson said. "You can see how strong he is. He just barrelled it." Mike Dunn (2-1) threw a scoreless eighth inning to get the win. Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 12 tries. Willie Bloomquist flied out to deep centre to end the game. Paul Goldschmidt drove in both Arizona runs with a homer and a single. Corbin, with no decisions in his last three starts, was trying to become the first left-handed starter to begin the season 10-0 since Ron Guidry went 13-0 for the New York Yankees in 1978, according to STATS.dddddddddddd Corbin struck out seven and walked one but the Diamondbacks lost for the first time in his 14 starts. Gibson said Corbin deserved better. "Patrick was great," Gibson said. "He pitched his heart out, two runs. We scored eight runs in four games. ... We should have had several runs tonight. We are in a bad spot at the plate right now. Guys are trying to do too much. " Arizona was 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. "More of the same," Gibson said. Goldschmidt, hitless in his previous 12 at-bats and just 3 for 33, lined Jacob Turners 1-0 pitch over the right-field fence to put Arizona up 1-0 in the third, his 16th home run. The Diamondbacks made it 2-0 in the fifth when Gerardo Parra singled, stole second and scored when Goldschmidt singled sharply to centre. Goldschmidt leads the NL with 61 RBIs. Corbin, meanwhile, was cruising through five. Only two Miami batters reached during that span, Stanton on third baseman Martin Prados two-out error in the first and a two-out walk to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth. In the sixth, pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano grounded out, but Juan Pierres opposite-field single to left ended the no-hit bid. Ed Lucas popped out but Stanton hit a high drive on Corbins 2-0 pitch into the second deck above the Arizona bullpen in left and it was tied at 2. The Diamondbacks, swept in three games at San Diego last weekend, opened a six-game homestand. Turner allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. NOTES: Diamondbacks RHP Ian Kennedy dropped his appeal and began serving a 10-game suspension for his role in last weeks brawl with the Dodgers. ... Arizona RHP Randall Delgado, who came over from Atlanta in the Justin Upton trade, will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to start Tuesday night in the spot normally taken by RHP Brandon McCarthy. Miami RHP Nathan Eovaldi, out all season with right shoulder inflammation, will make his first start of the year. To make room for Eovaldi, the Marlins optioned Ozuna to Double-A Jacksonville. ... McCarthy, out with a shoulder injury, threw off a mound and could get a rehab start next. McCarthy says a seizure, related to the head injury he sustained from a line drive last September, will not affect his comeback. ' ' '