In the end, the grass was greener right where he was all along.

While Steven Stamkos could have become the highest-profile unrestricted free agent in years, he instead decided to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning, reportedly agreeing to an eight-year, $68-million deal.

"You want to make the best decision at the end of the day," he said in a conference call Thursday. "This was the best decision for myself and my family. For me, it was following your heart and being loyal to the organization that has made me the player and person I am today.

"I understood there could have been some money left out there," he added, "but that’s not what it’s all about."

Remaining loyal to the team that selected him first overall in 2008 played a part, and so did the very real possibility of winning a Stanley Cup as part of a formidable group of talent assembled by general manager Steve Yzerman.

The Lightning made it to the Cup Final in 2015 and pushed this year's champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. As team captain, Stamkos seems intent on seeing things through to the ultimate goal.

"I’m the leader of this team and I believe in the direction that we’re going," he said. "We’ve seen what this team is capable of."

Finally, Stamkos admitted to some sleepless nights when considering the possibility of moving on, particularly in relation to returning to his hometown of Toronto. In the end, as he said, the decision to stay in Tampa was for the best.

Stamkos' new contract will carry a salary cap hit of $8.5 million through to the end of the 2023-24 season.

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