Upper Deck - The Cup 17-18 - Tampa Bay Materials Sixes - Stamkos, Kucherov, Johnson, Palat, Hedman, Vasilevskiy 3 of 5 SUPER RARE
Upper Deck - The Cup 17-18 - Tampa Bay Materials Sixes - Stamkos, Kucherov, Johnson, Palat, Hedman, Vasilevskiy 3 of 5 back SUPER RARE
Steven Stamkos (born 7.2.1990) is a Canadian ice hockey center. He has played his whole career with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2008 – today). He is currently a captain of the Lightning.
Early Career
After his minor league years, Steven Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2006 OHL draft by Starnia Sting. His first season with the Sting was 2006-07 and he made 92 (42+50) points as a rookie. Next season he improved a bit and made 105 (58+47) points. In the 2008 NHL draft, Steven Stamkos was selected 1st overall by Tampa Bay Lightning and on 29.7.2008, he signed a three-year contract with the Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning
At the start of the 2008-09 NHL-season, Tampa Bay Lightning played first game in Prague, Czech Republic – that was also first game of Steven Stamkos with the Lightning. His first season wasn’t good, but he was way better at season 2009-10 – Stamkos made 51 goals and was fifth place at points in NHL. Stamkos continued to be productive next season and he was again ranked fifth in the points for the second consecutive year. On 1.7.2011 Stamkos re-signed with the Lightning on a five-year contract. On 2011-12 season, Stamkos scored 61 goals and breaking Lightning’s team record for goals in one season. On 2013-14 season, Steven Stamkos was named the new captain of the Lightning after Martin St. Louis was traded to the New York Rangers. On 2014-15 season, Stamkos and the Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Finals, but they were defeated by Chicago Blackhawks.
On 29.6.2016, Steven Stamkos signed eight-year contract extension with the Lightning. Stamkos missed almost whole season 2016-17 due bad knee injury. Stamkos continued to be productive, but even Tampa Bay Lightning have strong team, they failed continuously in the NHL playoffs. On 2018-19 was maybe the biggest humiliation of the Lightning, when big underdog Columbus Blue Jackets won Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 at the first round of NHL playoffs.
On 2019-20 season Stamkos recorded his 800th career NHL point, became the first player in Lighting history to score 400 goals and skated his 800th career NHL game. On top of that the Lighting and Stamkos won the Stanley Cup in 2019-20 season.
International Play
Steven Stamkos won a gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was selected for Canada’s team in the 2009 IIHF World Championship and he won silver. Stamkos was part of Team Canada in World Cup of Hockey 2016 – Canada won that tournament.
Other interesting stuff
Steven Stamkos has won two Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies (2010, 2012) for a NHL’s leading goal scorer. Steven Stamkos has been chosen to the NHL Second All-Star Team 2 times (2011 and 2012). Stamkos has been chosen to NHL All-Star Game six times. Stamkos is proven goal-scorer and he holds Lightning’s records for most career goals, most career hat-tricks and most power play goals.