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Lightning's Stamkos Starting To Find His Feet

The Associated Press

At 19 years, 10 days, Steven Stamkos, left, became the second NHL youngest player to record a natural hat trick Tuesday.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

TAMPA - The indoctrination of Steven Stamkos to the NHL hit some hardships this season.

The top overall pick in the draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning has endured lofty preseason hype and expectations, a coach who didn't want to play him, the same coach publically criticizing his play a month after he was fired, trade rumors involving some of the team's big stars - including Stamkos - and most recently being told for the first time in his life he was a healthy scratch.

Things got so bad at one point, Stamkos began to wonder whether he should be back playing junior hockey when he was sat out of the lineup Jan. 9 in Anaheim and told he would periodically watch games from the press box as part of a program implemented by the coaching staff.

"I used that as a bit of a wake-up call because if I was playing good they wouldn't have taken me out of the lineup," Stamkos said. "My mind-set after that was to play as well as I could so they couldn't take me out of the lineup."

Initially, Stamkos would play three games and sit out one, a pattern that went on for about three weeks. But heading into tonight's game against New Jersey (7:30; St. Pete Times Forum), Stamkos has played in the past eight games mainly because his play has picked up.

In Tuesday's loss to Chicago, Stamkos recorded a hat trick in his 54th game - quicker than Sidney Crosby, quicker than last year's No. 1 pick Patrick Kane and quicker than teammate Vinny Lecavalier. Stamkos also became the second youngest player in NHL history to record a natural hat trick - three consecutive goals by one person - at 19 years, 10 days, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Only Washington's Bobby Carpenter did it at a younger age,18 years, 227 days, on Feb. 25, 1982.

Assuming Stamkos' learning curve continues on an upward slope, he will continue to find his way into the lineup.

"Just as long as he's not digressing in the weight room," Coach Rick Tocchet said Wednesday. "I don't believe he's the type of guy you have to play a lot to where he digresses. But seeing the fact that he's doing all this work and he's improving, let's keep on doing it. You've got to."

Now the key is for Stamkos to maintain a consistent level of play. He continues to work closely with assistant coach Wes Walz both on the ice and in the video room where they review game film to help Stamkos' defensive play.

"It's a credit to him that he's played well, but this is still a process," Walz said. "The key is not to get too complacent when you have some success. There's nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself, but I think it's important that you carry yourself with a certain swagger inside, especially when you are trying to find your place in the league."

Stamkos has found out his place is in the league.

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