We're into the dirty dozen of our top 25 under 25 list, and we've finally come to our first figure skater - errr hockey player. Truth be told, I don't really know diddly-poo about hockey. However, I do know one thing. When you join the company of Wayne Gretzky in anything involving the game of hockey you've pretty much established yourself as a great player.
It didn't take Stamkos very long to do that, as he finished his 2nd full season in the NHL as tied for the lead in goals with Sidney Crosby (one of only two current hockey players I knew by name and face prior to writing this post). Stamkos, has become one of the best young players in the league in a very short time, though he seems to be playing in the shadows cast over the entire league by Ovechkin and Crosby who the NHL continues to spend most of their energy marketing. Even though the Lightning sit currently in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference Stamkos doesn't garner a ton of national media attention. Hockey fans may disagree, but they're hockey fans. I can tell you that as someone who doesn't follow hockey with any regularity I had heard the name Stamkos before but if he were in an elevator with me I wouldn't have known it.
Nonetheless, my crack research revealed his talents and he is surely one of the league's top talents. With regard to the previous Gretzky reference, Stamkos became the 3rd youngest player in league history to record at least 50 goals - only Gretzky and Jimmy Carson were younger.
He was the first overall selection in 2008 by Tampa Bay, and there was some disagreement between coach and management about how to handle his development and playing time. Due in part to the rift, his ice time was limited as a rookie and his play suffered. However, given the full endorsement in 2009 he flourished, finishing 5th in points and sharing the goals title.
The Canadian born Stamkos is another young bright spot for the NHL as they try to win back fans lost over their missed season. They haven't yet won this writer back, but more talent like Steven Stamkos can't hurt. He currently has the league lead in goals scored with 40 and is first in points with 75. He is also a bit of a distributor, in the top 20 in assists with 35. At just 21 years of age he's not yet even reached his athletic peak years and already has accomplished quite a bit. Tampa fans are hoping that list of accomplishments gets longer and includes a Stanley Cup in the near future.
If you haven't seen Stamkos yet, you really should.
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