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Stamkos Learning From One Of The Best

The Associated Press

Stamkos and St. Louis have combined for nine points in four games.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2009

Updated: 03/14/2009 12:12 am

SUNRISE - Throughout a sometimes tumultuous indoctrination into the National Hockey League this season, Steven Stamkos has seen many linemates on his wing.

The 19-year-old rookie has been paired with ageless veterans (Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi) as well as fellow rookies (Steve Downie and Paul Szczechura). Lately, Stamkos has been clicking with former MVP Marty St. Louis.

"It's been a treat to play with him," Stamkos said. "Anytime you get a chance to play with a player of that caliber, I'm not going to complain, however long it stays. I'm just trying to take advantage of this opportunity getting the chance to play with him.

"We have a lot of great players on this team and for me to be able to play with a former Hart Trophy winner in this league, it's pretty special. He's rubbing off on me, things are starting to go well and I can see my game elevate just by having his presence on the ice."

It shouldn't come as such a surprise that Stamkos is playing well while paired with St. Louis. It seems to be a trend with the former MVP, as Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet has discovered.

"It seems that wherever I put Marty on a line, the line goes," he said. "Every time I put Marty on a line, that line gets chances."

While getting those chances is a key to success, it has been St. Louis acting almost in a mentoring role to Stamkos not only by example but also by tutoring as the two are often seen talking on the ice after a play. The two were shown during Thursday's game in Toronto talking shortly after Stamkos took a shot from the right point as St. Louis called for the puck at the right of the net.

Shortly thereafter, the two hooked up on a cross-ice pass from Stamkos to St. Louis at the right of the net for the game-winning goal.

"It's a learning process for us to understand each other's game, but he's got good speed and a good shot and he's very offensively gifted," St. Louis said. "But what I'm most proud of Stammer is his play away from the puck.

"That's one thing, that before you get to this level, you play with the puck the whole time because you are just better than everybody else. But when you get to this level, you don't have the puck a lot and you have to figure out how to play without it. I think that's the biggest thing that he's done this year and why he's getting rewarded with some good offensive chances."

Tocchet, who shuffles line combinations often throughout the season, first put St. Louis and Stamkos - along with Ryan Malone - together after the trade deadline and the pair have combined for nine points in four games.

Pairing the two was part reward for Stamkos' improved play - he has points in six of the past eight games - and part looking to break some of the staleness of the MVP line with St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier and Vinny Prospal.

"I think Stammer has deserved it because he's been one of our better players the past month production wise and he's been working hard and I thought he deserved the chance to play with Marty," Tocchet said.

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

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