Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning failed to pull off an incredibly rare three-peat feat in the NHL after losing in six games to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, but that doesn't mean the Bolts have lost a bit of positivity about their outlook in the 2022-23 NHL season.

In fact, that setback appears to have only intensified their feelings about their chances to have another Stanley Cup celebration in Tampa.

Via Greg Wyshynski of ESPN:

“Who said we're done?” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said after his team's 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night. “This core is here. We've battled. We've been through everything you can think of and, for the most part, we've found a way to come out on top.”

Most of the top guys on the Lightning roster are coming back next season. Stamkos still has two years left on his contract. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Patrick Maroon, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy are all controllable Lightning assets for at least until the end of the 2022-23 NHL season. There are also some decisions to be made by Tampa Bay soon on the likes of Ondrej Palat and Jan Rutta, whose contracts are set to expire this offseason.

The Lightning should still be a top contender for the Stanley Cup for seasons to come.