Join us as we walk through memory lane to the day Steven Stamkos became a Bolt

On a day just like any other back in 2008, the grass was green and the sun was shining in beautiful Tampa Bay. However, the story was different in Ottawa, Canada. The Tampa Bay Lightning held the first overall pick 2008 National Hockey League draft. As opposed to being the back-to-back Stanley Cup winning team they are known as today, the humble Bolts were looking for the next opportunity to bolster their roster. The 2007-2008 Bolts as according to the NHL tied for last in the National Hockey League posting a 31-42-9 record. After an abysmal season, the Bolts needed to strike gold with their first overall pick.

The Tampa Bay Lightning arrived in Ottawa ready to take the next step towards competing for a championship. The NHL draft is the premier place to improve one’s team. As a result, it was pivotal to make the “right” move because in the next few minutes, whatever decision the Bolts would make would dictate the shape of the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise moving forward. 

Steven Stamkos, the forward from Markham, Ontario as per the NHL, sat anxiously in his seat waiting to see where he would be picked. During the 2007-2008 OHL season, Elite Prospects lists Stamkos as having scored a whopping 58 goals and 47 assists for 105 points in a Sarnia Sting jersey. The young forward’s play had garnered much attention, including from the Bolts. All eyes were on the draft stage. In mere moments, the first overall pick would be announced. All attentively watched to see who would become the newest member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Suddenly, Stamkos heard his name called. It was at that moment Stamkos realized he had finally realized his childhood dream: he was now a hockey player in the National Hockey League. Following Stamkos’s induction to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the rest became history. No one could have ever imagined that the Lightning’s 2008 first overall pick would have become arguably the greatest Bolt to ever play for the franchise. 

Per Hockey Reference, Stamkos is Tampa Bay’s current all-time leader in goals, points, and powerplay goals among other numerous records. He finished his tenure in Tampa having won two Rocket Richard Trophies, one Mark Messier Leadership award, and of course, two Stanley Cups as according to the NHL.

While Stamkos is often known for his scoring, his leadership ability is often understated. Stamkos served as captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning for 10 seasons as per Elite Prospects. During that time, Stamkos experienced some of the greatest moments of his entire hockey career. By the same token, Stamkos experienced moments he would rather forget. Yet despite all the trials and tribulations that came with leading a National Hockey League club, Stamkos did it with class. Stamkos’s leadership was able to carry his Bolts towards the Stanley Cup not once, but twice. For any NHL Captain, Stamkos became the standard of what leadership looked like at the professional hockey level. 

When Stamkos officially became a Bolt, he had no idea what lay ahead. As much as any single person would love to be able to see into the future, it is simply outside the realm of possibility. Upon being drafted, Stamkos knew he would be entering into a completely new environment than what he was initially familiar with. Being a National Hockey League player would require everything he had. However one thing was certain: whatever he was going to face, he was going to do it in a Lightning sweater.