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Entries with the tag: Steven+Stamkos
Stamkos Maturing Right Before Our Eyes
by Paul on 10/23/09 at 03:48 PM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
So it was interesting indeed this week to see how Stamkos would react when coach Rick Tocchet decided to break up the pair, moving the cure-all St. Louis to the struggling top line with Vincent Lecavalier and putting gritty Steve Downie with Stamkos and Ryan Malone on the second unit. The result? The new second line produced three goals while Stamkos put up a pair, including an empty-netter, in a 5-2 win over the Sharks on Thursday night.
“Obviously playing with Marty has been great, we’ve had a lot of success together,” said Stamkos. “But the coaching staff decided we needed to change things up to get the team going. I actually played with Downie last year and we had some success.
“You know, as much as it’s nice to play with Marty, you do have to show you can play without a guy of his talent and still create chances. It was nice to play well last night, win the game, and prove as a team that we can play with two solid offensive lines.”
He’s only 19, folks, but Stamkos has maturity beyond his years. Again, St.. Louis has had something to do with that, as does a solid upbringing, thanks to his parents; so does going through his first rough patch of his hockey career last season.
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Stamkos Follows The Gary Roberts Workout Route
by Paul on 08/27/09 at 10:10 AM ET
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from Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com,
“I changed up my offseason workout plan and decided to work closely with Gary Roberts for 7-8 weeks throughout the summer,” Stamkos told NHL.com. “Everyone knows he’s a pretty fanatical guy off the ice and his workouts are tough, but I wanted to stay in shape and learn from him. I definitely see a difference in my body and muscle composition. I didn’t want to bulk up too much because that’ll slow you down, but I do feel stronger and that’s one area I really wanted to improve.”
Stamkos certainly isn’t the only player in the League learning from the best—Dallas Stars forward James Neal also trained with Roberts at his gym in Toronto. Stamkos’ program includes four days at Roberts’ facility for muscle training and two days of cardio—also prescribed by Roberts—on his own.
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Message Sent To Stamkos
by Paul on 03/31/09 at 03:56 PM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
After a nice, long run as a line mate to Marty St. Louis, rookie Steven Stamkos likely will start tonight’s game with the Bruins on a line with Vinny Prospal and Brandon Bochensky. This isn’t just coach Rick Tocchet switching up lines looking for some jump, though after Sunday’s snoozer against the Senators, Tampa Bay could use it.
No, this is Tocchet sending a message to Stamkos to make sure he continues to compete at a high level. He has not done it the past few games, Tocchet said. The punishment is losing St. Louis as a line mate.
“When you play with Marty, that’s a privilege,” Tocchet said. “The message is, ‘If you’re going to play with Marty, you have to compete like he does.’ ”
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Stamkos Gaining Confidence & Getting Advice
by Paul on 03/22/09 at 11:46 AM ET
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from Steven Stamkos at the Tampa Tribune,
I can just tell, myself, coming to the rink everyday now, I feel more confident, whether it’s in practice or in a game. You have that quiet self-confidence or the swagger that all good players need to be successful and you realize that I have that ability to go out there and be a guy who can make in impact on this game. To have some other players from other teams come and say that to me helps with that part of the game.
Curtis Joseph came over and talked to me after Tuesday’s game against Toronto, which I thought was pretty cool because I idolized him growing up in Toronto....
The last time we played New Jersey, Brendan Shanahan stopped me after the game in the hall and kind of said some of the same things about watching me progress as a player. It’s pretty special that players who are potentially hall of famers, including Gary Roberts, for them to take time to stop and talk to a young guy like me and say those nice things is special.
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Stamkos Continues To Improve
by Paul on 03/16/09 at 06:14 PM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Stamkos, who has nine points (4-5) in his last nine games, played a season-high 22:15 on Saturday in a 4-3 shootout win over the Florida Panthers. He’s seeing the ice well, feeling more comfortable in his decisions and with the puck.
This is the Canadian junior star we’ve waited for. To his credit, he didn’t self-destruct in the fall when many a teenager might have. Picked to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in many September predictions, he game out of the gates with only four points (2-2) in 17 games amidst the controversy of his low playing minutes under former coach Barry Melrose. But, through it all, he persevered.
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Maurice Has High Praise For Stamkos
by Paul on 03/07/09 at 02:32 PM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice, one of the game’s best people, had an interesting take on the development of Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos. Maurice said Stamkos “is going to be a great, great player,” but not just because of his skill. In part, because of how he handled the pressure on the front end of his career.
Asked if the Lightning would have been better served not hyping expectations so much for the No. 1 draft pick, Maurice disagreed.
“I think that’s part of it,” Maurice said of the maturation process, “and maybe an important part of what he has to go through. You might be able to look back and say there was more pressure than was needed, but at the end of the day, this man is a high -pressure man. All of them go through it.”
Maurice said even now, Canes star Eric Staal, at 24, is still learning to deal with expectations, and even though the numbers have been there, Sidney Crosby is even struggling with pressure because it is constant.
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Who Knew- Comaring Lecavalier & Stamkos Rookie Seasons
by Paul on 02/24/09 at 05:26 PM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
Under Tocchet, the Lightning worked with Stamkos, put him on a weight program, put him in a classroom video situation with assistant Wes Walz. It has helped big-time as Stamkos is playing his best hockey of the season. The there is this: Stamkos, with 10 goals, needs three to tie Vinny Lecavalier’s rookie output in 1998-99, and with 25 points, needs three to tie Lecavalier as well.
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Tags: Steven+Stamkos, Vinny+Lecavalier,
Stamkos Learning While Watching
by Paul on 01/21/09 at 03:46 PM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
Lightning coach Rick Tocchet got into a good discussion today about rookie Steven Stamkos and the program he is undertaking to improve his game. Tocchet said he doesn’t want Stamkos just watching the games when he is scratched. He wants him noticing tendencies and the plays and strategy. He wants him writing stuff down in a notebook so that the next day when he has a 15- to 20-minute “classroom session” with assistant Wes Walz, he has a basis of knowledge.
“He doesn’t just go up there and sit there and look at the ice girls or anything,” Tocchet said. “He’s watching the game.”
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Weight Room Waiting For Stamkos
by Paul on 01/09/09 at 06:22 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
So, this is what the Lightning has in store for Steven Stamkos, according to coach Rick Tocchet.
The team wants the 6-foot-1, 184-pound rookie forward, last summer’s No. 1 overall draft pick, to strengthen both his upper body and lower body. To do so, Stamkos will hit the weight room more, have one-on-one on-ice training sessions with assistant coach Wes Walz, especially on days when Tampa Bay has several clustered off days. But Stamkos also may sit out games to make that schedule work, and the first of those games is tonight against the Ducks for which Stamkos is a healthy scratch.
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Stamkos Understanding What Is Needed To Play In The NHL
by Paul on 12/31/08 at 12:08 PM ET
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from Mark Masters of the National Post,
He is the first to tell you that most of the criticism he has faced is fairly accurate. Through 35 games this season he has just four goals and 10 assists and is minus-10.
“It has probably not been the best start I had envisioned for myself and the team,” he said. “It’s definitely been an adjustment coming from the juniors and I have learned a lot so far. The NHL is the best league in the world and these guys are the best players around and it’s going to take some time to make that jump, but I’m starting to feel as comfortable as I can be right now.”
He even understands Melrose’s position that he is not ready for the NHL. He will not turn 19 until February and still has the body of a teenager.
“I’m going against men now and you know they’ve got 10 years of physical maturity over you and you kind of realize that when your battling in the corners. And that’s something I’m going to have to work on in order to be more successful.”
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It May Have Helped Stamkos To Play In WJC
by Paul on 12/15/08 at 02:02 PM ET
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from Craig Simpson of Hockey and Blogs at CBC,
First of all, I want to start this with saying I don’t want to join the debate that has been brewing between fired head coach Barry Melrose and the Tampa Bay Lightning organization about whether or not first-overall pick Steve Stamkos belongs in the NHL or not....
I have to wonder why the team didn’t push to give Steve Stamkos an opportunity to play for his country again at the world junior tournament. With the Lightning struggling and sitting in last place, how can it hurt?
Stamkos would only benefit from having another great international experience and a chance at building his confidence and leadership abilities. Returning for another world junior championship would put him in a starring role and give him a chance to be a veteran on the team.
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Talking Stamkos
by Paul on 12/10/08 at 09:23 PM ET
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from TSN,
Each week, the NHL on TSN panel voices their opinions on the hot topics of the day in the Wednesday Night Hockey Quiz.
Question No. 3: Former Lightning head coach Barry Melrose says Steven Stamkos is not ready to play in the National Hockey League this season. Do you agree?
Bob Clarke: What’s the matter with Melrose saying something that dumb? This is a great young player who needed good coaching that he obviously didn’t get. But he’s going to be a great player in this league.
Bob McKenzie: I will say absolutely. He can play in this league and we saw an example of it on Wednesday night against Buffalo when he assisted on a goal by Martin St. Louis....
John Tortorella: Yes - there was no structure and coaching going on for those first 16 games…
more questions and answers…
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Stamkos Not Bothered By Melrose Comments
by Paul on 12/10/08 at 03:19 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
In a nutshell, Melrose said he believes Stamkos is not ready for the NHL.
“That’s his opinion,” Stamkos said. “My job is to help this team win and do everything possible. You can’t let stuff like that bother you. It’s his opinion, he said what he said. If anything, this team can use it as motivation.”
“We talked,” Tocchet said. “He’s a great kid. It’s a process, and he’s going to be a great player for this franchise. I think sometimes he puts too much pressure on himself. ... He told me he laughed about it, which was nice to hear.”
“You just don’t pay attention to it,” Stamkos said. “You keep working hard. This team is working hard. ... That’s the only thing we’re focused on, not comments from anyone.”
more on the Lightning…
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What Is This!
by Paul on 11/27/08 at 09:38 AM ET
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Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Nikolai+Zherdev, Steven+Stamkos,
All Steven Stamkos
by Paul on 11/08/08 at 07:31 AM ET
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from Bill Eichenberger of the Sporting News Today,
Question: What has it been like playing for Barry Melrose?
Stamkos: He’s a very positive coach. If you do something wrong he will tell you in a way that you realize you made a mistake.... Everyone enjoys him in the room.
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Oh Those Practical Jokers
by Paul on 10/29/08 at 08:27 AM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
So, the Lightning players, who have really taken to Stamkos ("He’s always smiling,” captain Vinny Lecavalier said), decided to let him skate onto the ice first during warmups. What Stamkos didn’t know is that his teammates were going to hold up in the runway to the ice and have him skate out by himself. It worked as it took Stamkos about a half a lap of the Lightning zone to realize he was out there alone.
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Handle With Care
by Paul on 10/28/08 at 07:56 AM ET
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from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star,
Early-season struggles put immediate pressure on ex-ESPN analyst Barry Melrose to put some wins together after being the hand-picked, surprise coaching choice of owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, and, not surprisingly, Melrose chose to lean on veteran players early, leaving Stamkos with as little as 6:05 of ice time.
Stamkos, along with the rest of the team, hasn’t produced much offence, and through seven games the 18-year-old has yet to record his first NHL point.
Sending him back to the Sarnia Sting of the OHL is out of the question after all the pre-season fanfare. Giving him more and more playing time is now the plan.
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More PP Time For Stamkos
by Paul on 10/25/08 at 02:29 PM ET
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from Eric Erlendsson of Bolts Report,
Now, as the Lightning get set to take on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Stamkos appears set to begin getting the 12-15 minutes of ice time Melrose has said he would like to give the rookie. During practice on Friday at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, Stamkos was working on the top power play unit with Vinny Lecavalier, Vinny Prospal, Marty St. Louis and Paul Ranger.
Through the first six games, Stamkos has seen an average of 1:08 of ice time per game on the power play, with most of that coming on the second power play unit.
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Where Is Stamkos
by Paul on 10/14/08 at 05:58 PM ET
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from Lightning Strikes,
Seems Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick, is averaging just 9:47 of ice time. That was 41st among rookies heading into Tuesday’s games. Saturday against the Hurricanes, he played just 6:05....
“It’s got to be a conscious effort on my part,” Melrose said about finding Stamkos some ice time. “You want to get him in the lineup. You want to put him in situations where he will succeed. We have to get him more than six minutes.”
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Stamkos Should Be In Traverse City
by Paul on 09/14/08 at 06:41 PM ET
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from Bruce MacLeod of Red Wings Corner,
I’m not sure that I like the arguments why Steve Stamkos isn’t playing at the prospects tournament for Tampa Bay. I’ve heard things ranging from it’s the Lightning trying to protect Stamkos from a tournament where prospects try to prove themselves, including fighting. I’ve also heard that the Lightning didn’t want Stamkos to miss any of their main camp which begins a day after this tournament ends.
First off, don’t worry about Stamkos protecting himself.
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Embarrassing Moments in the Spotlight
by Alanah McGinley on 08/18/08 at 10:57 AM ET
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From Adam Schwartz at NHL.com,
Some of the best players in the NHL have suffered an embarrassing miscue. For instance, when Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall shot the puck into his own net in last season’s Stanley Cup Final. Yep, he’d like to have that one back.
Like Kronwall, Steven Stamkos, picked No. 1 at the 2008 Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, has a story of televised misfortune.
read on for tales from Stamkos and other NHLers
Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: shoot-outs, steven+stamkos,
Evening Line
by Paul on 08/13/08 at 06:01 PM ET
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“He’s cut,” Melrose said. “He’d be a male model if he wasn’t a hockey player. But he’s slim. He’s 18 years old. He’s not a man yet. Vinny (Lecavalier) looked like a beanpole with shoulder pads on, too. Matter of fact, Stamkos is thicker than Vinny when Vinny came in.”
Still, Melrose continued, “He’s got to realize that’s his biggest weakness right now is his size. He’s going to be playing against men now, and that’s his biggest adjustment, playing against guys who are as fast as he is and bigger than he is. That’s what he’s got to work on. We’ve got people talking to him every week, got him on nutritional programs, and we have strength and conditioning coaches talking to him every week, so he’s going to get bigger fast and heavier fast, but he’s sill a boy right now, so it’s going to take time.”
-Barry Melrose on Steven Stamkos. Read more at Lightning Strikes…
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Tampa Perfect Environment For Stamkos
by Paul on 07/29/08 at 05:41 PM ET
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from the Tampa Bay Lightning,
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Steven Stamkos to a three-year, entry-level contract today, vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton announced today at a press conference at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, British Columbia. Stamkos is currently attending the Lightning’s prospect camp in Victoria.
“It is with great pleasure that we formally announce the signing of Steven today,” Lawton said. “It is obvious to all of our staff in a brief period of time that Steven is a very special young man with great potential. His work ethic and eagerness to learn have been very impressive. We believe with our veteran leadership that Tampa Bay is the perfect scenario for Steven to grow and mature as a player and person on and off the ice.”
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Stamkos Signing to be Announced Tuesday
by Alanah McGinley on 07/28/08 at 02:19 PM ET
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From Brant James at Lightning Strikes:
The team will begin rookie camp in Victoria, B.C., by formalizing the signing of Steven Stamkos, its No. 1 draft pick in this season’s NHL Entry Draft.
Not surprisingly, Stamkos was offered the most lucrative possible rookie contract as allowed by the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement: three years with a base of $850,000 and a total package value of $2.4 million if he reaches all maximum achievable performance bonuses (a complex set of league-standardized criteria.)
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Tags: steven+stamkos,
Checking Out Stamkos
by Alanah McGinley on 05/30/08 at 02:11 PM ET
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From Erik Erlendsson at Bolts Report,
I’m currently up in Toronto for two purposes. The first was to have the chance to meet Steven Stamkos and his family, which I did on Thursday night. The other was to swing by the combine today for the physical testing of the top prospects, including Stamkos, to find out about this VO2 bike test they put the prospects through, which has barf buckets right next to the bikes. Look for that story in Saturday’s paper.
As far as Stamkos goes, he certainly seems like one of the nicest high-profile teenagers you might ever meet. Spent just over two hours at the family house outside of Toronto and had some great conversations. Very humble family and you can see how that has carried over to Steven. Despite all the heavy marketing the Lightning have already done with Stamkos, they still answer everything with “if Tampa Bay drafts’’. They are taking nothing for granted, and that’s just how they are, they don’t want to get ahead of anything.
more on Stamkos
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Tags: steven+stamkos,
23 Games Handed Out for OHL Brawl
by Alanah McGinley on 01/26/08 at 03:03 PM ET
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From the CP:
Oshawa Generals defenceman James DeLory has been suspended eight games for his spear on Sarnia Sting star Steven Stamkos. He’s among seven players and coaches who will miss a total of 23 games for an ugly Ontario Hockey League brawl that followed Oshawa’s 4-3 win last Sunday.
DeLory, 19, touched off the brawl by spearing Stamkos, the 17-year-old forward projected to be the first pick in this summer’s NHL draft.
Here’s the brawl that started it all:
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, Minor League | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: fighting, james+de+lory, ohl, ontario+hockey+league, prospects, steven+stamkos, suspensions,
Blue-Chip Defensemen Coming to the 2008 Entry Draft
by Alanah McGinley on 11/15/07 at 02:59 PM ET
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From Brad Holland at NHL.com,
NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings for the 2008 Entry Draft are out and, as expected, Sarnia Sting forward Steven Stamkos heads the list of Ontario Hockey League prospects. Belarussian forward Mikhail Stefanovich of the Quebec Remparts heads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League list, while power forward Kyle Beach is ranked as the Western Hockey League’s top skater.
Each of the three, Stamkos especially, is expected to be a huge part of whichever team is lucky enough to nab him at this summer’s Entry Draft in Ottawa. But while the top player from each league is a forward, the 2008 Entry Draft will likely be remembered as the year of the blue-chip defensemen.
Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Prospects | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: 2008+entry+draft, mikhail+stefanovich, nhl+scouting, steven+stamkos,
