On October 30, 2008, Steven Stamkos scored his first career NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. Two players got assists: Martin St-Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.
Fourteen years later, Stamkos has more than 1,000 points on the clock. St-Louis has been the head coach of the Canadiens for almost a year. And the two men will meet at the Bell Center on Saturday night, when the Lightning will visit the Habs.
In my head, it hasn’t been that long! Everyone knows what Martin meant to me as a mentor, as a player and as a friend. When I reached the 1000 point plateau, he wrote to me: I had [une passe sur] the first [but].
Steven Stamkos after practice on Saturday morning
In his rookie season in the NHL, Stamkos was 18 years old. St. Louis had 33. Ultimately, the two forwards spent six seasons together with the Lightning. Memories, there are. And Stamkos was quick to tell a few.
“Looking back, I never realized Marty was that age. He had this energy, this passion and this love of the game of a young 20 year old,” he mentioned, smiling.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Steven Stamkos and Martin St-Louis in 2009
“He’s super competitive. I think it rubs off on others. It definitely rubbed off on me. I was a young guy coming into this league and I watched it, whether it was in practice, on the golf course, or in a ping-pong game. No matter what we did, Marty wanted to win. »
Stamkos remembered a presence on the first wave of the power play, alongside St. Louis, during his rookie season.
“I made a backhand pass. It did not work. He told me: when you have 90 points, you will make backhand passes on the power play. He was very serious. He was demanding, but because he wanted to make you better. […] that’s what I learned from Marty. It goes beyond just the matches. »
“He’s one of the best guys I’ve played with. When I think of threesome mates like that, it’s him and Kuch [Nikita Kucherov]. They had a head start. »
Three goals from the 500e
Steven Stamkos could reach 500 goals on Saturday night. To get there, he would have to score a hat trick.
” I saw [Martin] this morning and he said to me: ‘you’re a few goals away from reaching the 500 plateau, save that for your return home to Toronto! ‘” the likeable striker said with a laugh.
A little earlier, St-Louis had said, more seriously, happy for his former teammate, emphasizing the “beautiful” relationship he developed with him despite their big age difference.
It’s quite an achievement. I’m not surprised. […] I know I helped him, but he helped me a lot to stay good late in my career. I was always a player who prioritized the pass and I found myself with one of the best shooters.
Martin St-Louis on Steven Stamkos
Today it is the turn of Stamkos to have an influence on the youngest. On that subject, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper had a lot to say.
“I’ve seen Steven’s progress as a young sniper until now. He is a family man, he has children. His leadership has truly reached another level in the past few years. Especially on our journeys to the Stanley Cup. I think Marty had a big part in that,” he said.
“Eventually, Stammer will pass that role on to the next Steven Stamkos. We were truly privileged to have that kind of leadership on our team. »