Rumor: An unhappy Steven Stamkos wants out of Tampa.

There were rumors during the playoffs that Steven Stamkos and head coach John Cooper weren't seeing eye to eye on how much ice time the star forward should be getting. On Tuesday veteran hockey analyst Don Cherry went a step further, in fact he went off on Cooper for his handling of the Lightning star, something he feels may have cost Tampa Bay their shot at the Stanley Cup. It was Don Cherry's final comments on the matter that really struck a chord with fans however, with Cherry suggesting he believes that Stamkos will now wait until he becomes a free agent rather than re-signing with the Lightning and could very well choose to sign with a different team when the time comes.

"Stevie will listen more closely to to offers that arrive. I am trying to put this as delicately as I can, but I feel unless this is straightened out, Stevie will be gone", said cherry via Twitter.

Stamkos is set to become a free agent at the end of next season, and there has long been speculation that he may want to return to a Canadian market to play out the rest of his NHL career. You can be sure if the Lightning don't get an extension worked out teams , Canadian or otherwise. will be lining up to attempt to sign him.

13) to offers that arrive. I am trying to put this as delicately as I can, but I feel unless this is straightened out, Stevie will be gone.

— Don Cherry (@CoachsCornerCBC) June 16, 2015

Image courtesy Key Stone Press.