With the 2008 NHL Entry Draft fast approaching in June, it seems as though there is an undisputed No. 1 overall pick in place.
He is Steven Stamkos, center for the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting.
Not very big at 5'11" and 178 pounds, he plays a huge game. Blessed with great speed and overall skating ability, Stamkos doesn't shy away from the physical game despite his small stature, venturing into the corners when he needs to.
Stamkos also possesses a lethal wrist shot, which has helped him outscore OHL wonder prospect John Tavares, 58-40.
In comparing the prospects, many see Stamkos as the superior. While Tavares is viewed as being the more offensively gifted of the two, Stamkos has the more complete game and is a far better skater.
Stamkos has been likened to Quebec/Colorado star and future Hall of Famer Joe Sakic. Wrist shot aside, Stamkos earns the comparison with his complete game, back-checking well and asserting himself in the defensive end.
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So what does his NHL future hold? Well, he will almost certainly go No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning, joining elite offensive stars Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.
I could see him taking over second line center duties behind Lecavalier, who will be sitting on the top line. But it wouldn't be unrealistic to think that he could spend time on the top line, to the left of Lecavalier and St. Louis.
Regardless, he won't have a spectacular rookie season for a few reasons.
Firstly, rookies don't generally have huge seasons, with a few exceptions. He may start strong but he will hit the wall eventually, as most rookies do.
Secondly, he will be seeing a good deal of defensive attention from opposing teams. There isn't much scoring after Lecavalier and St. Louis on the top line, so it will be a bit easier for teams to key in on Stamkos while he is on the ice. Whether or not he is able to thrive in these situations remains to be seen.
I would expect Stamkos to have a stellar career ahead of him. His offensive output should be consistent regardless of who he plays with just based on his skill set. If put with the right pair of wingers, he could be one of the league's best.
No matter what happens in his rookie year, the Bolts are getting a true blue-chipper in Stamkos, and another franchise-caliber player to go alongside Lecavalier.
The future just got a little brighter for a team with an otherwise cloudy forecast.
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6 months ago
Well I believe his season will strictly depend on ice time and his line mates. Throw him on with St. Louis and Lecav he could register a lot of points, but at the same time he might not have the right chemistry. I would expect him to not only make the team but excel. The Lightning do have a decent team, they just put too many eggs into one basket with Richards, St. Louis and Lecav.
I have no doubt that the Lightning would select Stamkos, but in my mind a bigger need for them is goaltending. If the right trade is out there, they may move it for a netminder. It is more likely they will try and sign a goalie in the market and keep stamkos and use him as a stepping stone towards rebuilding.
To call Stamkos a one of the kind is rather hard these days. There have been many franchise type players coming out of the draft in the last couple of years (mainly, Crsoby, Ovechkin and Malkin) most of whom are more then capable of playing a two way role. Where as Tavares is mostly hype at his young age, comparing the two is like trying to compare Lemiuex to Gretzky.
from 6 months ago
There is no doubt that linemates will be a big factor in his rookie year. Like I said, if he ends up not being paired with St.Louis and Lecavalier, he could have "let down" year statistically.
As far as most benig capable of playing a two-way role, yes that's entirely possible, but not all players accept that responsibility (and I know this, I've been watching Max Afinogenov for the last 7 years). Sometimes, a player just isn't suited for the defensive game and are more dangerous trying to find a way to bust open the seems (Ovechkin's semi-cherry picking).
I can't say 100% for sure that Stamkos is the real deal as I've only seen him in the WJC's, but he certainly stood out there. I personally hope that he is a one-of-a-kind player because the league can use all the young talent it can get it's hands on.
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