After a relative tame rookie season that saw Stamkos light the lamp 23 times, he has exploded for 154 goals in the three seasons since. As this seasons quest for 60 goals marches on Stammer looks to be the first to reach that milestone since Alex Ovechkin had 65 in 2007-2008. The thing that impresses me the most about Stamkos is his ability to play all hockey situations and lead his team at the young age 21.
As a 20 year old Stamkos lead his team to within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Watching Stamkos play in the playoffs last season was a treat. Scoring just 6 goals and 7 assists in his first 18 NHL playoff games was impressive. Although the numbers were not gaudy, his ability to rise above adversity and play through injury is what has hockey fans like myself genuinely giddy about his future in the league.
Unfortunately we will not have the privilege of watching Steven in the 2012 playoffs. Stamkos' ability to adapt his game is what I've found most impressive. This is what sets him aside from fellow Southeast division sniper Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin made a name for himself by bullying his way to 50+ goal seasons early on in his NHL career but has fallen off the last two. When Stamkos blew up in his second NHL season it was in large part to his lethal one timer on the powerplay. However in a league driven by adaptation this was quickly taken away from him and Stamkos adjusted accordingly. He now scores many of his goals collecting the "garbage" in front of the net. Not something you see all that often from the leagues flashy goal scorers. While he is still more than capable of burning your favorite team with his vicious one timer he has added hardnosed play and incredible hockey sense to his arsenal. As teams continue to try and contain the young goal scorer Stamkos will continue to devise other ways to score goals. This coupled with his incredible work ethic are why I believe we have barely scratched the surface with this young superstar.
Conor Higgins
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