Tampa Bay Lightning star center Steven Stamkos is now a restricted free agent and open to signing an offer sheet from any of the 29 other clubs.
Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman had until 12 p.m. ET Friday to sign Stamkos before he became exposed to a potential offer sheet. No deal was reached.
If Stamkos signs an offer sheet, the Lightning have seven days to match it or risk losing him.
Yzerman has reportedly been in negotiations with Stamkos' camp.
"Nothing new to report, (but) anytime you are talking it's positive," Yzerman told the Tampa Tribune.
"All I can say is that we are still working on it," Mark Guy, the agent for Stamkos, wrote in a text late to the Tribune Thursday night.
Any team that submits an offer sheet to Stamkos must possess enough salary cap space to sign him (they can go over the $64.3 million salary cap by 10 percent until the regular season begins), and must have in their possession enough draft picks that are their own to give as compensation.
If Stamkos receives an offer sheet that is worth more than $7,835,219, the signing team would have to surrender four first-round draft picks to the Lightning.
Stamkos has the most goals in the NHL during the past two seasons (96). He shared the Rocket Richard Trophy with Sidney Crosby in 2009-10 with 51 goals and finished second behind Corey Perry this past season with 45.
Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl