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Expectations continue to rise for Stamkos

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

After a slow start last season, the Markham, Ontario, native progressed quickly in the second half and set a franchise rookie record with 23 goals.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 14, 2009

TAMPA - Last year's No. 1 pick made a cameo appearance at the Lightning's prospect camp over the weekend and as he made the rounds, he had everyone asking, "Seen Stamkos?"

The subject last season of a marketing campaign that had his name splashed all over the World Wide Web, Steven Stamkos has settled in for a much slower summer this year. And based on how the 19-year-old looked during his brief stop in Tampa, he's been working on adding muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame.

Some around the St. Pete Times Forum were commenting on how much bigger Stamkos looks, even stating he's added a set of six-pack abs.

"I changed the offseason training up. I'm actually working with former teammate Gary Roberts," Stamkos said. "We've been working out at the gym he has in his house, which is only about 20 minutes from my house. Things are going well. I'm working hard and I'm learning from one of the best when it comes to off-ice training throughout his career."

Understanding the work required to stay at a top level for years to come, Roberts said, will make Stamkos a star for the next decade and beyond.

"He wants to be the best he can be and he understands the work you need to do off the ice to be an elite player," Roberts said. "Now he's in the second stage of the program and he's passed me. I can't keep up. I do the retirement program and he's on the elite player program."

The added muscle only will help Stamkos during his sophomore campaign. After a slow start last season, the Markham, Ontario, native progressed quickly in the second half and set a franchise rookie record with 23 goals. That momentum carried into the World Championships, where he tied for the tourney lead with seven goals in nine games for Team Canada.

Now that he has moved past all the hype and scrutiny that came with being the No. 1 pick, the type of external pressure might have shifted - from can he do it, to can he continue it? - but he knows it will still be just as prevalent when he returns for the 2009-10 season.

"I kind of established myself a little bit in that second half and the expectations are definitely going to be raised," he said. "People are going to expect you to go out there and ... contribute offensively out there every night.

"And I wouldn't expect anything less than that. I'm the biggest critic of my game and I'm going to set the expectations high. I want to go out there and prove that wasn't luck out there at the end of the year. ... I'm definitely expecting to improve upon last season."

Count Stamkos among those who are eager to get things started after seeing the team's recent additions, including No. 2 overall pick Victor Hedman and free-agent defenseman Mattias Ohlund.

"I thing that ownership, management and the coaching staff did a great job," Stamkos said. "Everyone was contemplating on what they would do with the blue line, and it was a tough situation last year with 20-something defensemen.

"But our defense is looking great, goaltender Mike Smith is doing well, and I've been talking to him quite a bit, so things are definitely looking great."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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