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Stamkos Seeing More Success

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 7, 2009

TAMPA - Nine months after the Lightning launched a "Seen Stamkos?" marketing campaign to herald his arrival, the 19-year-old rookie center is making his presence felt on a nightly basis.

Steven Stamkos, who struggled early after being the first overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft, is feeling more comfortable as a pro and his productivity has improved significantly.

"It boils down to confidence," said Stamkos, who entered Saturday's matchup against Carolina with four goals and six points in his previous five games. "I don't feel the urgency to force plays and I'm taking the time to make the right play."

Stamkos flashed his new-found confidence in the opening period Saturday, finding Marty St. Louis alone in front for a goal.

Lightning fans had big expectations for Stamkos when the season began, but he registered only four points in Tampa Bay's first 17 games, and his ice time fluctuated under Coach Barry Melrose. Melrose was dismissed, and interim coach Rick Tocchet and his assistants have worked diligently with Stamkos, who posted 14 goals and 31 points in his first 62 games.

"He's going to be a great, great player," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "He's already showing signs of it. You can't underestimate the importance of confidence for a young player."

Veterans Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts showed Stamkos how to prepare for games. Recchi was dealt to Boston at the trade deadline and Roberts is home in Toronto, contemplating retirement.

"Obviously, I learned as much as I could from those two guys," Stamkos said. "Without them, who knows where I'd be right now? They made me a better person and a better hockey player."

ADJUSTMENT TIME: Young D Noah Welch, obtained Wednesday from the Panthers, is still feeling the effects of playing more than 23 minutes of Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to St. Louis.

"In Florida, I'd play a shift and then I might stay on the bench for the next 10 minutes," Welch said. "That makes it tough to stay in the game mentally. I thought it was great against St. Louis. That kind of ice time is huge for a guy like me, who is still trying to establish himself in the league."

Tocchet said he's looking for more assertiveness and better positioning from his new blue-liner.

"I know I can be better," Welch said. "I have to stay between the dots a little more."

HITTING HIS STRIDE: Tocchet said he is impressed with the progress of D Cory Murphy, who logged a career-high 30:16 in ice time against St. Louis.

"The last four or five games, he seems to be in people's faces," Tocchet said. "Cory is making some great outlet passes and he's doing a good job of slowing the game down."

Murphy scored twice and added three assists in the five games before the Lightning faced Carolina, firing 17 shots while going plus-2. He stumbled early Saturday as his gaffe at the right point led to a short-handed goal for the Hurricanes that opened the scoring.

NUTS AND BOLTS: LW Ryan Malone (flu) and C Paul Szczechura (wrist) returned to the lineup. ... Tampa Bay is off until Wednesday's game at Ottawa that opens a three-game road trip.

Ira Kaufman

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