TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

It's Official: Stamkos A Bolt

ADVERTISEMENT

By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

OTTAWA – The Steven Stamkos era officially began in Tampa Bay on Friday when the Lightning selected the 18-year-old with the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

A collection of Lightning front office personal walked to the podium, including new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie. Team general manager Jay Feaster first took the podium for some opening remarks before introducing Koules and Barrie as the new owners of the franchise.

In a moment with very little drama, other than a slight pause before the announcement was made, Koules stepped to the stage set up inside Scotiabank Place, stood behind the podium and announced the team had selected the center from Sarnia with the top overall pick in the draft. Stationed just off to the left of the stage, Stamkos stood in anticipation before hearing his named called. On his way day he received some congratulatory hugs, kisses and handshakes from family and friends before making his way down from the stands onto center stage. The Unionville, Ontario, native shook hands with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Koules before putting on a Lightning jersey for the first time.

As the consensus top player available, Stamkos held the top ranking by NHL Central Scouting from the start of the season to the end as he scored 58 goals for Sarnia this season, second most in the OHL. He also helped lead Canada to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in January where he tied for the team lead with six points.

After finishing with the worst record in the league (tied with Los Angeles), Tampa Bay won the opportunity to select Stamkos by winning the NHL Draft lottery, which was held on April 7. A highly skilled player who is responsible at both ends of the ice and is one of the best skaters in the draft, Stamkos is expected to be ready to make the jump from major junior hockey to the NHL next season. After Tampa Bay traded Brad Richards to Dallas at the trade deadline, Tampa Bay created a hole at the second line center behind Vinny Lecavalier, a hole in which Stamkos is expected to be able to step into for the 2008-09 season.

McKeen's Hockey quoted one NHL scout stating Stamkos is so good he could have played in the league last year.

Stamkos marks the third player Tampa Bay has selected with the first overall pick, joining defenseman Roman Hamrlik (1992) and Vinny Lecavalier (1998).

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT