Sharing Rookie Experiences

Lightning center and No. 1 overall draft pick Steven Stamkos is making the transition this season from junior star to NHL regular. Throughout the season, the 18-year-old from Markham, Ontario, will share his experiences with Tribune writer Erik Erlendsson to give readers an insight into a new way of life during his rookie journey.

With Toronto in town earlier this week, I was able to catch up with good friends Luke Schenn and Maple Leafs announcer Joe Bowen and have them over for dinner the night before the game. Me and Schenner talked about that when they came down, I would have him over, and my dad Chris was in town and he happens to be good friends with Joe Bowen, who is a Markham native as well, so it was good to get those guys over. I was able to show Schenner around the community a little bit. He was surprised at how warm it was here and he couldn't believe that we play hockey down here.

I took him by the dock and walked around all the boats, checked out the scenery and the pools and stuff.

We had a good steak dinner back at the house that my dad cooked. I think Schenner had about a 21/2-pound steak - he's a big boy - so he had a big steak and our objective was to slow him down the next day and I think it worked! I don't know if he was on the ice for all six goals against Thursday, but he was joking about that.

Me and Luke are good friends, having won a World Junior championship together. To be able to come over and share the experiences of a season and tell stories and talk about life in the NHL at such a young age, it's pretty cool to have somebody to share those experiences with that is in the same position.

It was a great night for us and something we can both look back on. I guess at the end of the day our steak tactic worked!

After the game he waited for me and I had a chance to talk to him for a little bit. He was obviously a little disappointed in the game. We did have a laugh about the play where I beat him on a one-on-one move. But he's a great player and he's going to be a great player for a long time. He just had a rough night.