Marty St. Louis keeps on flying for the Bolts

Seven years ago, a 26-year-old Little Big Man named Martin St. Louis was finally making a real mark in the NHL. He'd come from nowhere to be a buzzing bee for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I sat down to write about him as the Bolts played in Pittsburgh. Only that very night, St. Louis broke his leg. All those years plugging away and now he was done. "That's the end of Martin St. Louis," I thought. He didn't even miss the rest of the season. I had no idea about the man who wore the No. 26 sweater. None of us did.

The other night, Marty St. Louis stood in a hall after a goal and an assist in a win against the Panthers. He has nine points in just five games. You couldn't help but notice the gray around St. Louis' temples. "Oh, it's there," he said. He's 34. When he came to training camp, he looked at the roster and realized he was the oldest guy around. The camp started. And Marty was flying.

He has done it all - a Stanley Cup, league MVP, scoring champion. He has been on great Lightning teams, good Lightning teams, awful Lightning teams. "I've seen both sides of the mountain," St. Louis said. And still he towers over so many moments. In Bolts history, always, Marty keeps flying.

He remains hockey's hummingbird and the heart and soul of this franchise. In Marty's mind, he's 34 going on 24.

"I don't know what you're supposed to feel like at 34," St. Louis said, "But it's not like I'm just waiting for the day that I slow down."

Marty keeps flying.

"There's always something to prove. When I was younger, it was my height. When I had my success, it was 'Can he do it again?' Now that I'm getting older, it's 'When is he going to fade?' There's always something to prove out there."

Once his line mates were Brad Richards and Freddie Modin and they formed the greatest line in Lightning history, combining speed, finesse and power. It's like that again. Now St. Louis teams with Ryan Malone and Steven Stamkos. They make magic nearly every night, the beefy Malone lighting lamps, Stamkos with uncanny speed, shot and skills.

Stamkos is 19. St. Louis has older shaving scars.

"No one in this league works harder," Stamkos said. "We all learn from Marty."

Class is still in session.

St. Louis hasn't slowed down, and if anything, he's a better player now, smarter. It was never just about his wheels.

Marty keeps flying. St. Louis is signed through next season, but would like one more deal. Marty keeps flying.

Marty keeps flying. "It's an Olympic year," he said. St. Louis wants to play for Canada in the Vancouver Winter Games next February. "There's a lot of pride." Marty keeps flying.

Marty keeps flying. He's grown into a leader. Last season, St. Louis publicly tore into teammates after a loss in Atlanta, saying there were too many "clock killers." It was a big step. There is only one way to back that talk up. Marty keeps flying.

Marty keeps flying. He's the father of three young boys. Ryan, the oldest, is just starting to understand hockey. St. Louis wants to show his son how you play every day, how you do anything in life, really. There's a lot of pride. Marty keeps flying.

When this team was in upheaval, when Vinny Lecavalier was awash in trade rumors, it ate up St. Louis, that and losing.

"It's been a roller coaster emotionally. I'm happy with what the team has done. Vinny is still here, and he's a big piece of this team. I like where we're going."

Wherever the Lightning go this season, you know who'll be out front.

Marty keeps flying.

"I don't see why I should stop," he said.