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How close was Stamkos to a return and how healthy will he be come September?

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by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
April 10, 2017


TAMPA, Fla. – Packed bags circled around the Lightning locker room on Monday.

On the day 16 teams around the NHL began preparing for postseason play, Tampa Bay packed things up and closed up shop at Amalie Arena until September.

When the Lightning do assemble again for training camp, just how healthy does captain Steven Stamkos figure to be is one of the biggest questions that will be asked before, during and after camp.

Stamkos missed the final four-plus months following knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. And even though it appeared he was close to a possible return before the end of the season, it never really was close.

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Despite indications he might return at some point in the final week of the season, Stamkos said he was never that close to playing and it might have taken at least a few games in to the playoffs for that to happen.

”I don’t think it was as close as everyone thought or maybe that we had thought at one time and we got a little ahead of ourselves,’’ Stamkos said. “It was probably when it came out day-to-day, I don’t think it was quite day-to-day. It was definitely improving and it was feeling to a point where I was out there working hard to maybe get myself in to position that if we made the playoffs, and whether it was right away or not, I was going to try to give myself a chance to be healthy. Obviously it didn’t work out that way.’’

Perhaps too many hopes were raised as Stamkos continued to work harder and show continued growth in his recovery to the point where he was participating in full contract drills and took reps on the power play, giving indications a return seemed imminent. But internally the brakes got pumped – probably for the right reasons – and that chance of a return were quelled a bit.

”That (day-to-day status) came about because he was feeling better,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “He was day-to-day and who knows, if we made the playoffs maybe he would have had the opportunity to come back. But we were pushing the envelope a little bit and you don’t want to put him in harm’s way. That was the decision that was made and it was probably for the best.’’

Now, with a longer-than-normal summer to continue workouts to get the knee back to health, Stamkos figures to be 100-percent ready by the time next season rolls around. And in that, there is no doubt of a full recovery.

”The procedure that he had, it just takes time,’’ Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. “In the long run it’s the best possible outcome that they were able to repair the cartilage in his knee, but unfortunately it takes time, somewhere between four and six months to heal. He’s getting close to the five-month mark and Stammer is a real good athlete, he trains hard and he loves to play. Whether he needs a little more time in the Fall or not, I don’t know that, but a good off-season, I’m confident his knee is going to be great and he’s going to come out and be the great player that he is, the dynamic player that he is.

“He’s overcome a couple of tough things in the past, this is his third one and he’ll overcome it.”

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His presence back with the team will be a welcomed sight for the coaching staff, fans and his teammates. And not just for what the captain brings to the ice every night.

” Stammer is in the prime of his career, he’s one of the top goal scorers in the game, he’s a dynamic player,’’ Yzerman said. “And I’m not in the locker room with the players, but speaking from my own experiences as you go through a season, it’s nice to be able to look down the bench or look across the locker and say “You know that guy is going to make a difference here’’ and we didn’t have him out there where he was able to make that difference and be on the ice every day.

“As the captain of the team, as the leader on the team, it’s difficult if you are not on the ice every day and in that room every day to have the full impact of your experience and of your leadership. So we missed him a lot. You miss him on the ice, but his attitude, his personality are missed and when you are out that period of time – we’ve been able to overcome it in the pasts, we just needed it more this year than ever, so we just needed to figure out a way to get in and he was coming back, or likely coming back.’’

Now it’s known he will come back, and when he does, it will be at full health with the extended time to recover.

”You have to feel for him,’’ Cooper said of Stamkos. “It’s not that his career has gone bad, it’s just that he’s spent a lot of it in the stands…for a variety of injuries and that happens to players. … It’s unfortunate because a player of Steven’s caliber, you want him in the lineup. But you just feel for him because you know how much he wants to play and that’s the toughest part. Losing your captain, it’s tough. But this is a longer rest period for him and we’d expecte him to be at full health come September.

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