The last time Steven Stamkos was in Rexall Place he collected a Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, an assist and a fight at last year's CHL Top Prospects game.
Last night, the first overall pick in last summer's NHL Entry Draft was back as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"It was a fun experience the last time I was here," Stamkos said. "I definitely didn't expect to get in a fight at the prospects game, but it was just something that just happened. The fight was against Yann Sauve, who I played two under-18 tournaments with. It was just something that happened and we were able to laugh about it after."
Heading into last night's game against the Oilers, Stamkos, 19, was sixth in team scoring with 10 goals and 15 assists in 57 games this season.
It's been an up and down year for the native of Markham, Ont., who at one point this season, has his former head coach Barry Melrose questioning whether he was ready for the NHL.
"There have been some low points, but there are starting to come some high points now," Stamkos said. "It was an adjustment coming from junior and it's a tough situation coming into this organization with all new players, all new personnel, then obviously the coaching change.
"At the beginning of the year things were tough, but for me I'm trying to use this year to learn as much as I can from the veterans we have on this team. I think my game is gradually getting better every day and that's all you can ask for."
COACHING CHANGE HELPED
Under new coach Rick Tocchet, Stamkos is starting to show why he was the highest rated player in last year's draft.
A week ago, Stamkos became the second youngest player to ever record a natural hat trick, netting three goals against the Chicago Blackhawks. His responsibilities have also increased, and he now quarterbacks the power play from the point.
"Obviously it was tough at the beginning, sitting on the bench a lot was tough," Stamkos said. "You're used to be the go-to guy in junior, playing over 20 minutes a night, then you come here and have to sit a lot. But when Tocchet took over, it seemed like the team had a new appreciation for the game, we were well prepared by the coaching staff, and you could tell he had confidence in me."
There were high expectations on the Stamkos going in to the year, the kind heaped on Vincent Lecavalier when he was the top overall pick 10 years previously.
CHASING LECAVALIER
Lecavalier finished with 28 points in his rookie season, a mark Stamkos is expected to surpass this season.
"He's been doing great," Lecavalier said. "I told him at the beginning of the year that it takes a little time to get adjusted. He's learning, I'm still learning and I'm 28 years old. He's been getting better and better every game. In the last three weeks, you've really seen a change in confidence on the ice with the puck that maybe he didn't have in the first month of the season.
"He's a great player, he's so smart, and he's handling things so well. He's going to be a star in this league."
With the Lightning essentially out of the playoff picture, the situation is ideal for a young player like Stamkos to develop. He can play in key situations without having to fret about making a mistake.
Such was the case early in the season.
"It's been a bit of trying season for him, but I've been really proud of him the last month," said Tocchet.
"He's doing the stuff we've ask him to do off the ice and his play has definitely been improving every game. He's going to be a hell of hockey player. He's got NHL speed, an NHL shot and he's going to be a hell of a hockey player for the Tampa Bay Lightning."
