Steven Stamkos Draft

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Leading up to the start of the 2008–09 season, the Lightning centered their promotional efforts around Stamkos, including a website with the slogan 'Seen Stamkos?' On July 29, 2008, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning in which he could earn as much as $8.55 million in performance bonuses. Stamkos played in his first NHL game on October 4, 2008, in Prague, Czech Republic, the first game of the 2008–09 season. The Lightning fell to the New York Rangers 2–1 and were eventually swept in Prague. He recorded his first point – a secondary assist – in his eighth game, on a goal scored by Vincent Lecavalier against his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Following the game, Stamkos commented that his hometown support was 'louder than when the Leafs scored.' He scored his first goal the next game against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.

In Their Own Story

After 54 games, Stamkos recorded the first NHL hat-trick of his career, on February 17, 2009. The Lightning held a 3–1 lead midway through the second period on the strength of Stamkos' natural hat-trick, but were still beaten by the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, 5–3. The three goals enabled Stamkos to become the first rookie in Lightning history to score three goals in a game. He also became the second-youngest player in NHL history to record a natural hat-trick; current record-holder Bobby Carpenter was 18 when he scored three on February 25, 1982. Though Stamkos was heavily criticized for his lack of production during the first half of the season, in which he was limited to less than ten minutes of ice time some games (largely due to a dispute amongst then-head coach Barry Melrose and upper management, mainly co-owner Len Barrie on how to approach the development of Stamkos in the NHL), he finished the season with 19 points in his final 20 games. In his rookie season, Stamkos totaled 23 goals, 23 assists and 46 points, as well as a −13 plus-minus rating in 79 games.

Reader's Guide

Stamkos holds the Lightning franchise record for most goals and points scored. He captained the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 as well as appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 and 2022. He is a two-time Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (2010 and 2012), while also the runner-up three other times (in 2011, 2013 and 2015), a Mark Messier Leadership Award winner (2023), a two-time NHL second team All-Star (2011, 2012), and has been named to seven NHL All-Star Games. Nicknamed 'Stammer', he has scored the most goals and the most points of any player born in the 1990s. He was also a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist in 2012 as the most valuable player to his team as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, a two-time Ted Lindsay Award finalist (2011 and 2012) as the best player judged by the National Hockey League Players' Association. In addition, he was the runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point-scorer two consecutive times (2012 and 2013).

Did You Know?

• Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had won an NHL-worst 31 games the previous season.
• He scored his first NHL goal against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.
• Stamkos became the first rookie in Lightning history to score three goals in a game with a natural hat-trick on February 17, 2009.
• He is a two-time Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (2010 and 2012).
• Stamkos has scored the most goals and the most points of any player born in the 1990s.