2009 Restricted Free Agents

The following players along with Lauri Tukonen were tendered qualifying offers on June 29th and their rights retained by the Lightning.

Matt Smaby
   
Matt Lashoff
   
Blair Jones
   
Martins Karsums
   
Mike Lundin
   

2009 Free Agent Signings

PLAYER NAME POS Years Avg/Yr
Lukas Krajicek Defense 1 year $1500000
Mattias Ohlund Defense 7 years $3750000
Matt Walker Defense 4 years $1700000

2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Draft

1 2 Victor Hedman Defense 6.06 220 lbs.
1 29 Carter Ashton Right Wing 6.03 205 lbs.
2 52 Richard Panik Right Wing 6.02 203 lbs.
4 93 Alex Hutchings Left Wing 5.10 173 lbs.
5 148 Michael Zador Goaltender 6.02 172 lbs.
6 162 Jaroslav Janus Goaltender 5.11 192 lbs.
7 183 Kirill Gotovets Defense 5.11 175 lbs.

Steven Stamkos

Submitted by timothy on March 16, 2009 - 11:13

Basics

Type: 
BP Alumni
Position: 
Center
Shoots/Catches: 
Left
Height: 
6.00
Weight: 
176 lbs.
Born: 
02/07/1990
Age: 
19
Hometown: 
Markham, ONT
Acquired: 
Selected by Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1 (#1) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Last Team: 
Tampa Bay (NHL)
Projects As: 
Franchise Center
Depth Chart Weight: 
-8
Grad Date: 
01/12/2009

Draft Info

Draft Status: 
Drafted
Draft Year: 
2008
Draft Type: 
NHL Entry Draft
Drafted By: 
Tampa Bay Lightning
Round: 
1
Pick No.: 
1
Draft Team: 
Sarnia (OHL)

Contract

Contract Status: 
Signed
Waiver Status: 
Waiver Exempt
Signing Date: 
07/28/2008
Contract Length: 
3 years
Cap Number: 
$3,725,000
Contract End Year: 
2011
Contract End Status: 
RFA
Salary: 
$875,000
Salary: 
$875,000
Salary: 
$875,000

Bio

Awards: 

2006-2007

  • OHL - Named to the Western Conference OHL All-Star Team
  • OHL - Runner-up OHL Rookie of the Year
  • OHL - Scholastic Player of the Year
  • IIHF - 2007 U18 WJC All-Tournament Team

2007-08

  • IIHF - Selected for Team Canada at the 2008 U20 WJC's
  • OHL - Named to the Western Conference OHL All-Star Team
  • CHL - Top Draft Prospect (Canadian Major Junior)
  • OHL - Top Draft Prospect Award
  • OHL - Second All-Star Team (Center)

History: 

2006-2007

  • In his final season of midget hockey with the Markham Waxers, Stamkos racked up a stunning 105 goals and 197 points in 72 games.
  • May 6, 2006 - Selected by the Sarnia Sting with the 1st overall selection in the 2006 OHL Priority Draft out of the Markham Waxers program.
  • As a rookie, Stamkos wasted no time making an impact putting up 42 goals and 92 points in 63 games with Sarnia to go along with 56 penalty minutes.
  • Tallied over a point a game in the playoffs notching 3 goals and 6 points in 4 games.
  • Named to Team Canada for the 2007 IIHF U18 World Junior Championships.
  • Led Team Canada with 2 goals and 10 points in 6 games to go along with 8 penalty minutes and a +2 rating.

2007-2008

  • In 61 games for Sarnia, he scored 58 goals and 105 points to go with 88 penalty minutes.
  • Selected to Team Canada for the 2008 U20 World Junior Championships.
  • Stamkos put up 1 goal and 6 points in 7 games along with 4 penalty minutes and a +1 rating in helping the Canadians secure gold.
  • In the playoffs, Stamkos scored 11 goals in 9 games helping the Sting to advance to the second round.
  • On June 20, 2008 he was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the first overall selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

2008-2009

  • Signs his entry level rookie contract on July 28, 2008.
  • Stamkos is expected to begin his NHL career immediately in the 2008-2009 season.

Scouting Report

Scouting Comments: 

Red Line Report says, "An elite, top-line centre people will pay to see, with a style comparative to Steve Yzerman."

Pete Choquette says, "He does everything really well. He won't be one of the best two or three players in the game in any one area, but he'll be one of the best fifteen to twenty players in the game at everything. Everything. Skating, finishing, passing, backchecking, faceoffs, battle level, backchecking: he does it all without any real discernable weaknesses."

Strengths: 

Stamkos is incredibly skilled with an elite package of speed, balance, and stickhandling to go with an amazing finishing touch. He also sees the ice well and is an outstanding playmaker. He will go to the net and other high traffic areas and is surprisingly strong defensively for a young offensive player. Off the ice, Stamkos also possesses strong leadership potential and work ethic.

Weaknesses: 

Stamkos' only weakness is that he will need to continue to add muscle in order to compete in the NHL, which is natural for an 18 year old. Other than that, there are no obvious flaws in his game and he is clearly the most complete player from day one the Tampa Bay Lightning have ever drafted.

Projection: 

Stamkos projects as an elite franchise center. He'll be the type of player who can be counted on for at least 40 goals and 90 points a year and who can play in all situations for the Lightning. In the short term, the young star is penciled in to start on the Lightning's second line where 20 goals and 70 points as a rookie is probably a safe and reasonable expectation for him as a rookie.

Statistics