Steven Stamkos

He also became the second-youngest player in NHL history to record a natural hat-trick; current record-holder Bobby Carpenter was 18 when he scored three on February 25, 1982.

Though Stamkos was heavily criticized for his lack of production during the first half of the season, in which he was limited to less than ten minutes of ice time some games (largely due to a dispute amongst then-head coach Barry Melrose and upper management, mainly co-owner Len Barrie on how to approach the development of Stamkos in the NHL), he finished the season with 19 points in his final 20 games.

In his rookie season, Stamkos totaled 23 goals, 23 assists and 46 points, as well as a −13 plus-minus rating in 79 games.

Steven Stamkos (born February 7, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Nicknamed "Stammer", he has scored the most goals and the most points of any player born in the 1990s decade.

He played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Markham Waxers.

Stamkos attended Central Park Public School and St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, Ontario.

After being drafted by the OHL's Sarnia Sting, he attended Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School in Sarnia.

Stamkos won eight OMHA titles in a row in minor hockey and led his Waxers club to the OHL Cup title in March 2006.

Following a season with the minor Waxers in which he scored 197 points over 66 games, Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2006 OHL Draft by the Sarnia Sting.

Stamkos played with other notable current and former NHLers in his minor and junior hockey career, including Logan Couture, John Tavares, Michael Del Zotto, Cameron Gaunce, Cody Hodgson, and P. K. Subban during his minor hockey career in the Greater Toronto Area.

Joining the Sting in 2006–07, he recorded 92 points (42 goals and 50 assists) over 63 games as a junior rookie.

He was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team, ranking behind Sam Gagner at the center position.

Stamkos also won the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL's scholastic player of the year for his academic efforts off the ice.

The following season, Stamkos improved to 58 goals and 105 points over 61 games.

He was named to the OHL second All-Star team, but was later selected to the CHL first All-Star team, which encompasses all three national major junior leagues.

Playing in his NHL draft-eligible season in 2007–08, Stamkos was top-ranked throughout the campaign by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and International Scouting Services.

He also won the CHL's Top Draft Prospect Award.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, by virtue of their 2007–08 campaign in which they won an NHL-worst 31 games, owned the first pick.

As expected, Stamkos was selected first overall by Tampa Bay.

Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning.

As the 2008 NHL Entry Draft approached, Stamkos was largely seen as the best available center.

His primary competition for the top overall pick was top prospect defencemen Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian, as well as Russian winger Nikita Filatov.

On July 29, 2008, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning in which he could earn as much as $8.55 million in performance bonuses.

Leading up to the start of the 2008–09 season, the Lightning centered their promotional efforts around Stamkos, including a website with the slogan "Seen Stamkos?"

Stamkos played in his first NHL game on October 4, 2008, in Prague, Czech Republic, at the start of the 2008–09 season.

The Lightning fell to the New York Rangers 2–1 and were eventually swept in Prague.

He recorded his first point — a secondary assist — in his eighth game, on a goal scored by Vincent Lecavalier which was against his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

Following the game, Stamkos commented that his hometown support was "louder than when the Leafs scored".

He scored his first goal the next game against Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.

Roberts got to know Stamkos in the 2008–09 season, his last in the NHL.

After 54 games, Stamkos recorded the first NHL hat-trick of his career, on February 17, 2009.

The Lightning held a 3–1 lead midway through the second period on the strength of Stamkos' natural hat-trick, but were still beaten by the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, 5–3.

The three goals enabled Stamkos to become the first rookie in Lightning history to score three goals in a game.

Prior to the 2009–10 season, Stamkos spent the summer training extensively with newly retired NHL player Gary Roberts, working on adding strength and endurance.

He is a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (2010 and 2012), is a two-time NHL second team All-Star (2011, 2012), and has been named to seven NHL All-Star Games.

Stamkos captained the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

Stamkos is of Macedonian and Scottish descent.

He grew up in Unionville, Ontario, and played for the Markham Waxers in the Eastern AAA Hockey League of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA).

During one of his seasons with the North York Canadiens, he was teammates with NHLer P. K. Subban.