“Seen Stamkos?” was the famous advertising campaign introduced during the 2008 NHL Entry draft in Tampa Bay, Florida to promote young superstar Steven Stamkos we he was drafted to the NHL. Two years, five months, and 10 days since the campaigns ended. Stamkos has become the most dominant goal scorer in the NHL. In only 185 games Stamkos has tallied 95 goals and 180 points. A year after tying Sidney Crosby ofr the league lead with 51 goals, Stamkos leads the NHL again in this season. He has a three goal lead over Sidney Crosby and Alexander Semin who tied at second with 18. 21 goals in 25 games has been unheard of in the National Hockey League lately; not a single player in the modern era has scored that many goals that fast.
Steven Stamkos has brought his game to a whole new level, which is why he will be the next player to score 50 goals in 50 games. The young-gun has the skill, work ethic, surrounding talent, and determination to break the long 18 year drought. The last player to score 50 goals in 50 games was Brett Hull who did it in the 1991-1992 season.
In the past three years only two players have scored more than Stamkos’ 95 - Ovechkin with 116 goals and Crosby with 102. Fact is, Crosby and Ovechkin have played three more seasons than Stamkos. They are more experienced, have had more time to develop, more time to create chemistry, and learn the NHL game. Every year both Crosby and Ovechkin saw their goal totals increase - expect the same from the young Lightning sniper.
Steven Stamkos has never scored this many goals this early in the season and neither Crosby nor Ovechkin. Just last year it took him 36 games to score 21 goals, the year before 77 games. Stamkos is becoming more efficient and a faster scorer than anyone else in the league. No player in the “Post Lock-Out” era has scored this fast.
Both skill and determination is needed to accomplish a feat like this. Stamkos brings both. In the past offseason, the sophomore spent his days training with the Gary Roberts, a former player who is known for his legendary training regiments. Stamkos added 10 pounds of muscle to his 6’1” frame to bulk up. Strength is one thing, but for someone to score 50 goals in 50 games that player must be on a mission.
Wayne Gretzky, scored 50 goals in 50 games three times in his career, including 50 in 39 games during his rookie season when he was 18. Gretzky even mentioned that Stamkos “has that drive. He’s never satisfied. Some have it and some don’t. To me, it’s evident he has the inner drive”. The NHL’s all-time top scorer believes that this young gun has the offensive talent to become one of the best goal scores seen in several years. Gretzky feels that Stamkos has the drive that no other goal scorer in the league has.
Stamkos also has the surrounding talent to pull of the feat. With veteran Martin St.Louis one side and gritty forward Steve Downie on other, Stamkos has the proper help to play his game. Even if one of those two wingers fall to injury Tampa has enough depth to find someone that can play with Stamkos. He even plays the point on the power-play and has free rain in the offensive zone.
Stamkos has all the tools to accomplish the rare feat with his; Determination, surrounding talent, work ethic and skill its just a matter of time before he scores 50 in 50.
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