Lightning’s Stamkos looking recovered and remarkable

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This article was published 10/12/2017 (2833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA BAY — The “new normal” for Steven Stamkos seems to be producing a lot of the same old results.

Rocked by serious injuries for the past four seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning centre admits he may never feel quite 100 per cent, physically, again.

But the guy’s so good that even an imperceptibly lesser-than Stamkos remains one of NHL’s most dominant and electrifying forwards.

Back from a knee injury that limited him to just 17 games last season, the Lightning captain is on a torrid run for the NHL’s premier team.

Prior to Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win over Winnipeg on Saturday night, he was the league leader in points (41) and second in assists (29), feeding off the potent chemistry created with linemate Nikita Kucherov (19 goals).

Stamkos, who had amassed 333 goals and 623 points in 614 NHL games over 10 seasons in central Florida, maintains his recovery and remarkable start to the 2017-18 campaign has been gratifying, although he might never actually feel exactly like his old self again.

“I still don’t think I’m there, where I’m feeling like I felt before the injury, physically. But, obviously, things have gotten to a point where I’m definitely confident and comfortable out on the ice, and just playing the game that I love,” the Markham, Ont., product said following Saturday’s morning skate at Amalie Arena.

“I really didn’t know what to expect coming off last year and trying to get as healthy as possible, (so) just really happy to be on the ice and contributing. I knew the offensive instincts you’re never going to lose. It was just about getting comfortable and confident again.

“I’ve been able to have a good start to the year and our team’s winning, which helps. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The addition of defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, in the trade with Montreal that sent forward Jonathan Drouin the other way, and the insertion of forwards Chris Kunitz and defenceman Dan Girardi by way of free agency, certainly helped spark the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning to a sensational 21-6-2 start, including Saturday night’s 4-3 OT win.

Enjoying life with a healthy Stamkos has been the biggest factor in the team’s prosperity, noted defenceman Victor Hedman.

By his account, the league might just as well ship out the Hart Trophy (NHL most valuable player) to No. 91 for Tampa Bay now.

“Throughout the summer and the beginning of training camp, you saw what was coming. He was very dedicated to coming back at the standard we are used to seeing him at. He just took off from Game 1 and it’s been fun to watch him come back like this,” Hedman said. 

“He’s proved to everyone — well, he doesn’t to prove himself — but, coming back from the injury, he’s proven to be one of the best players in this league.” 

Stamkos, 27, who signed an eight-year, US$68-million contract in June 2016, tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee four months later in a game against the Red Wings.

Sidelined for the final five months of the season, he said dealing with the pain and drain of rehabilitation sessions and the empty feeling when his team missed the Stanley Cup playoffs by one point was tough on the psyche.

And it wasn’t the first serious injury he’s had to endure.

He’s missed 131 games over the past four seasons because of three major injuries.

He broke his right tibia after crashing into the goal post during a game in Boston in 2013 and missed 45 games.

He also missed all but one game of the Lightning’s run to the 2016 Eastern Conference final while recovering from a blood clot near his collarbone.

“You have as many injuries as I’ve had, and the severity of them, it’s kind of a new normal when it comes to how you’re feeling, and I’ve come to grips with that and continued to work hard to keep improving,” the former first-overall draft pick (2008) said.

“It’s a grind every day still. I’ve had some tough injuries, some very serious injuries that have a direct impact on how you feel physically every day. So, it’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of help from people to just get back to playing.”

Stamkos, who scored a career-high 60 goals during the 2011-12 season — including the milestone tally in Winnipeg on the final night of the season that elicited a loud, standing ovation from Jets fans — said he was eager to return this fall, but the first hurdle to feeling really good didn’t occur until his first pre-season test when he’d eventually post a couple of assists against Nashville.

“Just getting into that game situation. You can’t mimic that in practice, you can’t mimic that skating in the summertime. As soon as you get a game under your belt, the confidence grows each and every game,” he said.

“Now, I’m at a point where you don’t think about it too much.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPJasonBell