Is Steven Stamkos the NHL's Next Big Star?

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Few players in NHL history have the kind of season that Sidney Crosby had in his rookie year, especially in this the era of defense-first hockey. Crosby’s 2005-06 rookie season saw him post 39 goals and 102 points, making him one of the most proficient rookie scorers in NHL history.

Crosby’s 102-point effort was second only to Alex Ovechkin’s 106 points, with then-St. Louis Blues (now Boston Bruins) forward Brad Boyes a distant third with a respectable 69 points.

For some players, their rookie season represents the pinnacle of their careers. Many players are never able to duplicate their original success, casting them from the spotlight and into the depths of players with missed opportunities.

When Steven Stamkos arrived as a rookie in 2008-09 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he came with enormous, if not unfair, expectations. Many were calling him the second coming of Crosby, with many suggesting he may one day surpass Sid the Kid as one of the NHL’s biggest stars.

Stamkos had a rather ordinary rookie season, posting 23 goals and 46 points. Early on in the season, Stamkos found himself in the odd situation of competing for ice time, with then-head coach Barry Melrose limiting his ice time in an effort to shield him from game situations that he deemed too difficult for Stamkos to play in.

Fortunately for “Stammer” (as Stamkos is often referred), Melrose was fired that season, leading to the hiring of current head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet showed a ton of confidence in the young star, increasing his ice time tenfold and giving Stamkos the opportunity to prove himself on a nightly basis by performing in all situations, mistakes be damned.

Tocchet’s confidence in Stamkos has paid off this season. From the start of the season Stamkos quickly established himself as the Lightning’s go-to guy, racking up points early and often and exhibiting the skill set that many thought he would put on display in his rookie season.

Keep in mind, the road to becoming the Lightning’s number one guy was no easy task. Standing in his way was the franchise player, All-Star caliber center and Stanley Cup champion Vincent Lecavalier, who has a very impressive resume to say the least.

In order for Stamkos to get to where he is today he had to knock Lecavalier off his perch, all the while dealing with all the criticism pointed at him for what many perceived as a rookie season that fell short of expectations and the resistance of teammates and fans to allow him to upstage Lecavalier, who is loved by all in T-Bay.

Blessed with speed, agility, and a competitiveness that is rivaled by very few players in the league, Stamkos is on pace to score 50 goals this season and has an outside chance of hitting that elusive 100 point plateau to boot.

While his critics will point out that Stamkos is still behind Crosby in total points in his first two seasons, nobody can deny that the talent, heart, desire, and competitiveness are all there to propel Stamkos into becoming an elite player.

Has it taken Stamkos a little while longer? Sure, but the end result may be a player that emulates what Crosby, Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Lecavalier, and other young stars have accomplished before him—elite status.

The NHL employs many players as the leagues “poster boys”. Among them, Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Martin Brodeur, and fellow sophomore Drew Doughty have been/are front and center. Slowly but surely, Stamkos is nudging his way into becoming yet another player for the NHL to market around. Some might even say he is there already.

Will Stamkos ever be Crosby? Probably not. But there is every indication that he will be a star in the NHL. Some might even say he is there already.

Until next time,

Peace!