Player Discussion: Steven Stamkos - Part 8

[Master P]

Different player than pre-Nashville game/post leg-break. This is the first half of 2013 Stamkos for the past 35~ games, completely night and day, I doubt anyone thought he could get back to this level but he's done it. Contract looks amazing right now.

I'm not gonna say I told ya so buuuuuuuuuuuut.................

 

[Sky04]

I'm not gonna say I told ya so buuuuuuuuuuuut.................

Not really, you couldn't even admit there was a drop-off in his play to begin with...

 

[Master P]

Not really, you couldn't even admit there was a drop-off in his play to begin with...

Sure I did, I just always believed that he could turn it around. And he has. Its fantastic. Not trying to get into an argument over it btw.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Sure I did, I just always believed that he could turn it around. And he has. Its fantastic. Not trying to get into an argument over it btw.

You and a couple other posters had his back during his tough days. Great to see him play elite hockey again.

 

[These Are The Days]

I'm not gonna say I told ya so buuuuuuuuuuuut.................

In Sky's defense I don't think there was any way we ever could have predicted he would resurrect his career like this. None of us would have ever marked our calendar for 11/3/2018 as the night Stamkos got his swag back. These are 35 great games versus probably 100 bad ones he had between his leg break and knee injury.

 

[DFC]

This might be the best stretch of his career, including the glory days. His two-way game is better now and he's a better playmaker. And the goal-scoring is pretty much back in full, post-Nashville game.

 

[Maelmoor]

This might be the best stretch of his career, including the glory days. His two-way game is better now and he's a better playmaker. And the goal-scoring is pretty much back in full, post-Nashville game.

Agreed, his game is really complete this season, I'm really impressed by his defensive game, which in my mind has improved from previous years.

 

[BowDownToVasilevskiy]

Stamkos has been an absolute treat to watch. Launched an absolute bullet past Rittich last night.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Stamkos has been an absolute treat to watch. Launched an absolute bullet past Rittich last night.

I know we've seen many like it from him before but I had to watch that shot a few times again.

 

[Sky04]

This might be the best stretch of his career, including the glory days. His two-way game is better now and he's a better playmaker. And the goal-scoring is pretty much back in full, post-Nashville game.

That Nashville game could've possibly been one of the worst of his career and this is before that turnover that lead to the GWG. Guy seriously looked hard in the mirror after that game.

 

[DFC]

That Nashville game could've possibly been one of the worst of his career and this is before that turnover that lead to the GWG. Guy seriously looked hard in the mirror after that game.

Can't help but wonder if somebody talked to him. Maybe Halpern, given that he's in charge of forwards, and the new guy on staff. Like, Stamkos didn't gradually get back to form. He just came out next game playing like a more complete version of his old self.

The truly amazing thing is that this happened AFTER Point developed into a legit #1 C, probably top-10 in the league, which gives us two elite Cs when a lot of teams spend a decade looking for one.

 

[Sky04]

Can't help but wonder if somebody talked to him. Maybe Halpern, given that he's in charge of forwards, and the new guy on staff. Like, Stamkos didn't gradually get back to form. He just came out next game playing like a more complete version of his old self.

The truly amazing thing is that this happened AFTER Point developed into a legit #1 C, probably top-10 in the league, which gives us two elite Cs when a lot of teams spend a decade looking for one.

Yeah I remember, he came out shots firing the game right after - I mean it just confirmed what all knew. It was a mental issue.

 

[DFC]

Yeah I remember, he came out shots firing the game right after - I mean it just confirmed what all knew. It was a mental issue.

I believed it was partly physical. Confirmed wrong.

 

[BowDownToVasilevskiy]

Yeah I remember, he came out shots firing the game right after - I mean it just confirmed what all knew. It was a mental issue.

He leads our team in shots with 176. Second is Kucherov with 156. As long as he keeps shooting I think the goals are going to keep on coming.

 

[Tamfastic]

Stamkos has been an absolute treat to watch. Launched an absolute bullet past Rittich last night.

It is obvious that he has gained confidence back on his shot. Last year he would have definitely looked for a pass there. His two-way play right now is imo at the same level as pre-broken leg.

 

[DFC]

It is obvious that he has gained confidence back on his shot. Last year he would have definitely looked for a pass there. His two-way play right now is imo at the same level as pre-broken leg.

The dead plays and turnovers aren't there anymore. At least not at the ratio they were pre-Nashville. I used to literally get disappointed when I saw Stamkos breaking in with the puck, because nothing good ever came of it, and often something bad happened. Now I get an adrenaline rush, because he's a constant threat. Even when he does cough up the puck now, which is rare, it doesn't really matter because the majority of the time, he's making good plays. And that's all the expectation ever was.

This is a really crazy season. Stamkos, Johnson, and Killorn returning to form; Point stepping into the elite tier; Kucherov finding more consistency; McDonagh and Cernak being legitimate upgrades to the D, and major ones.

It's like we stood pat in the off-season and wound up with a vastly improved team anyway.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

24 goals since December 1. Leads the NHL. If he can put together a few more great games, it could become a genuine, old school OV and SS battle.

Stammer looks unreal. I pray he can replicate in the playoffs.

 

[DFC]

24 goals since December 1. Leads the NHL. If he can put together a few more great games, it could become a genuine, old school OV and SS battle.

Stammer looks unreal. I pray he can replicate in the playoffs.

I have a lot of hope for that, really. His playoff troubles have always been an amplification of his regular season troubles--over-passing, bad turnovers, bad decisions in general. Those really aren't part of his game anymore.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

I have a lot of hope for that, really. His playoff troubles have always been an amplification of his regular season troubles--over-passing, bad turnovers, bad decisions in general. Those really aren't part of his game anymore.

Agreed - unmistakably a different player. He looks more poised then when he was in Sarnia. Such an unexpected improvement for a player beyond the mid-point of his prime.

 

[Stormbreaker]

 

[The Macho King]

That's two open ice moves where he's made a guy look silly in like... a week.

That was never really one of the tools in his tool box before.

 

[Tamfastic]

That's two open ice moves where he's made a guy look silly in like... a week.

That was never really one of the tools in his tool box before.

I wonder if Kuch has given Stammer some tips how to create space and deke with those small moves with the body.

 

[JoVel]

I need a gif of that ankle breaker.

 

[Outl4w]

This might be the best stretch of his career, including the glory days. His two-way game is better now and he's a better playmaker. And the goal-scoring is pretty much back in full, post-Nashville game.

He reminds me of Yzerman when the wings started winning cups with his two way play.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

That's two open ice moves where he's made a guy look silly in like... a week.

That was never really one of the tools in his tool box before.

Cogliano is trending on Twitter, in part because the Wiki entry is hilarious. I honestly never thought that Stammer would be responsible for something like this. This was supposed to be Drouin’s role.