Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos feels he’s far from playing his best

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
November 28, 2017

Just over a year since Steven Stamkos underwent knee surgery, the Tampa Bay Lightning captain leads the league in scoring.

And he doesn’t even feel as if his game is anywhere near his top level.

Scary thought for opposing teams.

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Even as his pace has slipped with just one assist in the past four games, Stamkos enters Tuesday’s game at Buffalo with a league-best 36 points and 26 assists playing alongside Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov. Even Stamkos has surprised himself on that front.

”That’s not something I was expecting … I wasn’t sitting here coming off of what I went through last year and expecting to be in that position,’’ Stamkos said. “But I don’t kid myself, I know I’ve been put in to a good position where I’m playing with some pretty good linemates. We have the No. 1 power play now, so when you add those things together, that’s usually a recipe for success when playing with talented linemates like I am and we’ve had a successful power play in terms of production, so that’s going to come.’’

But as well as things have gone, the All-Star center feels he has more he can give on a more consistent basis.

”I don’t feel that my game is where it needs to be in terms of feeling physically, peak performance wise,’’ he said. “I still think there is room for growth there, which is encouraging for me. And that’s the thing, it doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with point production, it’s just getting to that level that where I feel totally comfortable and confident physically.’’

Through all the work in rehab to restrengthen the partially torn meniscus in his right knee, being back at that top level from a physical standpoint takes more time than just the routine recovery.

”We knew that was going to be a process from day one when I came back this year,’’ Stamkos said. “It’s reassuring knowing that it’s gotten better and better each game. The confidence with the puck and that sort of thing is there and is only going to improve, I think, so I’m looking forward to that.’’

Very interesting to hear how much Stamkos thinks he can improve, especially when posing that question to others inside the Lightning locker room.

”That’s pretty scary, I didn’t know that he doesn’t seem like he’s at his best right now the way he’s playing,’’ alternate captain Ryan Callahan said. “This is the best I’ve seen him play, the consistency he’s playing with, the way he’s finding Kuch and Vladdy. So many guys are worried about his shot, now he’s finding those guys and dishing the puck a little bit more, it’s even opening him up, too. But it’s impressive to see that he realizes guys are keying in on him, so now he’s finding other guys.’’

”He’s a great player, he’s unbelievable to watch, every day in practice he’s the hardest working player and you can learn so much from a guy like that,’’ second-year center Brayden Point said. “He’s looking pretty good to me, but if he says he’s not feeling great, so if there is room for improvement – and I don’t know how much better he can play – but that’s good if he’s not feeling great.’’

Head coach Jon Cooper sees a steady progression in his captain.

”It’s a long season and he’s done extremely well for us, especially in how he bounced back from a tough injury last year,’’ Cooper said. “But the big thing is for him to keep maintain this and continue to build and build. But if he feels he’s not playing his best, then that’s a good thing for us.’’

Even as well as Stamkos and his linemates have played together this season, seamlessly picking up where the trio left off last season before Stamkos was injured, they have not hit there peak.

”I know we’ve been extremely hot so far in terms of point production, but we are still going to keep improving throughout this year as well,’’ Stamkos said. “We want to spend more time in the zone, we don’t just want to get our chances off the rush, we don’t want to spend any time in our defensive end, we want to push the play. We want to shoot the puck more instead of looking for that extra pass, little things like that that are hopefully going to improve as the season goes on, as well.

“It’s been a great start, but records as a team and points as a player, those are one thing. How you’re feeling and how you’re playing are another thing and as a team we are going to improve and individually we are just going to get hungrier as the season goes on.’’

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