Stamkos shines on draft day
By Aaron Bell
There is little question that
Steven Stamkos has the on-ice skills to become an NHL superstar. There are endless scouting reports that will confirm it. But on Friday, the Sarnia Sting centre became the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft and quickly proved that he is just as skilled off the ice.
Stamkos was obviously the most sought-after media request in the weeks leading up to the draft and handled all of it with the same grace that gives him the ability to score highlight reel goals.
He was pulled in several different directions and probably saw almost every inch of Ottawa's Scotiabank Place on Friday, but he never lost the smile that has been plastered over the sports section of nearly every newspaper in North America this morning.
Stamkos said that he was happy to finally get to draft day after months of speculation that he would be the NHL's top pick.
"There was so much hype and stuff leading up to the draft," Stamkos said minutes after leaving the draft stage. "It's something that I'm just going to try to take in. I'm definitely relieved that it's all over with. I'm going to have a great night tonight and celebrate with my family and friends that came down. I'm very excited and overwhelmed."
Stamkos earned the rare double of being the first overall pick in the OHL and NHL drafts. Eric Lindros was the only other player to do after he was selected first in the OHL draft by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1989 and then by the NHL Quebec Nordiques two years later.
Stamkos said that the experience of the OHL draft helped prepare him for this season.
"Obviously the media is going to put the pressure on me," Stamkos said. "I think I know how to handle it after being the first overall pick in the OHL. I thought I dealt with that pretty well. There have been very few players that have done that and they are obviously very good and have had very good NHL careers. It's a great honour to be selected first in the OHL and a dream come true to be first in the NHL."
Stamkos will rely on Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier to help him through his NHL debut. Lecavalier was the first overall pick in 1998 from the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Stamkos said that he looks forward to turning to the Lightning star for advice.
"That's going to be great," Stamkos said. "I think this is the best situation for me. To have a guy like Vincent Lecavalier who got drafted by the same organization first overall -- I can learn so much from him. What better guy to learn from for an 18-year-old coming in?"
Despite the obvious comparisons of their first overall picks, the Lightning won't expect Stamkos to be an immediate star. On Friday he was also compared to NHL greats like Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, but Lightning VP and GM Jay Feester said that it's unfair to make those comparisons so soon.
"We don't want to put those kind of pressures on him and ask him to be that," Feester said. "What we'd be really pleased with is if he could come in and be the best
Steven Stamkos he can be and fit in as part of the ensemble there."
Stamkos said that he is putting the pressure on himself to make an immediate impact in the NHL much like
Patrick Kane did this season. Kane was the first overall pick from the London Knights last year and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year after scoring 21 goals and 72 points.
"I think I put more pressure on myself than anyone," Stamkos said. "I expect myself to perform at a high level every game. I came in here wanting to get drafted as high as possible and I accomplished my goal. I think I'm a guy that works very hard and if I want something bad enough will do whatever it takes to get it."
His next goal is to earn a spot on the Lightning roster next fall.
"That's my goal coming in," Stamkos said. "I've been working pretty hard this summer to get ready for it and I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to make it to the National Hockey league next year as an 18-year-old. Hopefully all goes well and I'll be playing in my first NHL game in October."
While Stamkos is a virtual lock to play for the Lightning next season on draft day, he reflected on the past two years with the Sting.
"I couldn't have done it without them," Stamkos said. "That was a great situation for me coming in a great organization like Sarnia. It was probably the best two years of my life was spent there. It was great hockey and I learned so much from the guys on the team and the coaches. It's a great honour to say that I played for the Sarnia Sting."
Photo: Aaron Bell/OHL
