Marty was always going to be first

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook

TAMPA, Fla. – It was always going to be Marty.

I get it, many are unhappy with the decision by the Tampa Bay Lightning to retire the jersey of former captain Marty St. Louis, which the team will do on Jan. 13.

The departure of St. Louis from the franchise that made him a star left a bitter feeling among many in the fan base, maybe even in the organization. Those feelings are difficult to put aside.

I get it. I understand. The wound runs deep and a proper scar has not healed.

{mprestriction ids=”1,2″}

But when it comes to finally, after 24 seasons of Lightning hockey, seeing a player have their number retired by the franchise, Marty was always going to be first.

And he deserves to be the first.

From the moment St. Louis walked in to the office of the head coach Steve Ludzik asking to get a bigger role and more ice time, his path to legendary status began to be paved.

I remember during the 2001-02 season, when St. Louis suffered a broken leg in Pittsburgh, head coach John Tortorella discussed the injury and mentioned essentially, whatever situation came up on the ice and you realized St. Louis was not there, you understand how important his role on the team had become.

As the team rose to prominence, the dogged attitude displayed by St. Louis was one of the key driving forces behind the shift from a doormat team to once that could compete with the league’s elite. Much like St. Louis, the underdog who played with a chip on his shoulder, the Lightning were that non-traditional team that nobody took serious until they finally proved themselves.

And St. Louis found himself in the middle of every significant moment in franchise history.

• His triple-overtime goal to send Tampa Bay to its first ever playoff series win, helping the Lightning erase a 2-0 series deficit to beat Washington in six games in 2003.
• His overtime winner against the New York Islanders in the opening round of the 2004 postseason
• In Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against Calgary, St. Louis scored the double-overtime winner, creating one of the most iconic images in team history as he was mobbed by teammates in the corner of the Saddledome
• Even in Game 7 against Calgary, St. Louis found his way in the middle of the action when his nose was dripping blood after being struck with a high stick late in the game, which led to a memorable photo of St. Louis getting his nose stitched up, still in full uniform with Andre Roy pouring a beer into his mouth.

For the rest of his time with the Lightning, St. Louis was the heartbeat of the team. He was the heart and soul. Even without wearing the captain’s “C’ on his jersey, he was the leader on this team. As he went, the team went.

His voice helped Tampa land the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four, bring the marquee event of college hockey to a southern state with no Division I program. That helped them land the 2016 Frozen Four, as well.

Quite frankly, the team would have erected a statue in St. Louis’ honor when his career was over had it ended with Tampa Bay.

So even though his Cinderella career did not finish with a classic storybook ending, it doesn’t change his meaning to the franchise during his time here when he was one of the most beloved athletes to call Tampa home.

For all that he did and meant to this franchise, Marty was always going to be the first to be honored with a jersey number retirement.

It was meant to be this way.

{/mprestriction}