You'd never have expected it: St. Louis' 300th Lightning goal
by John Fontana on Nov 28, 2011 5:07 PM EST
in Lightning Team News
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PrintIt was tedious just to find the summer 2000 date when free-agent right wing Martin St. Louis signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, for what was the NHL league-minimum at the time ($262,000 per season).
The July 31st, 2000 signing (grouped with signings of Steve Martins and Brian Holzinger) wasn't breaking news on the St. Petersburg Times website. That was the 2000 Major League Baseball trade deadline dealings of the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp also dominated the headlines of the day with different football fodder. Oh, and Dennis Miller premiering on Monday Night Football was noteworthy too.
Of course, 2000 was a very different time for Tampa Bay Lightning hockey. The Bolts were only set to begin Year Two of a five-year rebuilding effort. The team hadn't managed more than 20 wins since 1996-97.
Lest I forget, Internet reporting also wasn't as immediate as you now know it.
But even the August 1st, 2000 article about the trio of players signed by Rick Dudley was almost dismissive of free-agent St. Louis being brought in from the Calgary Flames. There was plenty to go on with Holzinger and Martins. The St. Louis news took up two short paragraphs of a larger article that noted RFA issues that were being worked out between the Bolts and the likes of Pavel Kubina and Kaspars Astashenko.
11 years ago, if you read the article announcing the news, you never would have expected what has come from Marty in his time with the Lightning: 300 goals (with #300 being tallied Saturday night against the Panthers), 457 assists, 757 points, two Hart Trophy nominations, one Hart Trophy win, an Art Ross Trophy, two Lady Byng awards and too-many previous nominations for the Most Gentlemanly Player award (seriously, Marty? Fight somebody).
And his name on Lord Stanley's Cup.
Marty is now 3 points shy of 800 for his career, his consecutive-games-played streak is at 493 as of this writing.
300 goals scored by St. Louis, who didn't know if he'd survive 300 shifts with the Lightning when he signed, is an amazing feat to accomplish. We - St. Louis, Lightning fans, and the NHL as a whole - never saw it coming.
Congratulations, Marty.
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wow
congrats, Marty
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 28, 2011 5:15 PM EST reply actions
I remember the first game I saw him live..“Look at him go!!”
Through the years he’s amazed fans, his fellow Lightning team members, and opponents alike.
If anyone deserves the respect and admiration of all, it’s Marty St.Louis.
Congrats Marty and Thank You!
"Coach doesn't like hard-working...Coach likes Relentless." Eric Brewer
@b0lted_d0wn on Twitter ... Bolted Down on Facebook
I lurk, sometimes I even speak...Go Boltz!!
Congrats
and THANK YOU, Marty St. Louis.
Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!
by Rafael Amarante on Nov 28, 2011 5:47 PM EST reply actions
In retrospect, in memory, what stands out for me was the start of that season – for Marty, for the team. This was Brad Richards first year in the pros…
Eyes were on Richards because of his pedigree with what he had just accomplished in Junior and his links to Vinny…. But Marty… Marty caught your eye. What I SPECIFICALLY recall, adn I don’t remember what game it was, what Chad Schnarr (of Boltprospects.com) commenting during a game chat (on the original Boltsmag.com – which was part of Rivals.com) “If he could just FINISH”. Marty was being tenacious, he was getting the puck and going to the net – but couldn’t score. He was always thisclose.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
I really need to sit down and write this list out...
…because I don’t know who else is on it and how they’re ranked, but I do know that Marty is in the Top 5 professional athletes to ever play for a Tampa Bay team.
He’s the best offensive player that has played for a Tampa Bay team. Defense would likely dominate a best-players list from the Buccaneers (think about it, who stands out on offense on the Bucs? ). And not to discredit the Rays, but their best players in team history are still young, or have left the area (Carl Crawford – who is tops on my list from the Rays)
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Nov 29, 2011 9:41 AM EST up reply actions
Marty St. Louis Represents the Best of Hockey
I truly believe Marty St. Louis is one of the best play making goal scorers to ever grace the league. Look at the production of every center he has ever been lined up with. Look at his own production. He is in no uncertain terms one of the best, in a sport where considering someone one of the best is never taken lightly. I don’t think there’s very many legitimate fans of the sport that would argue with that.
Congrats on 300 Marty! Thanks for all the good times and passion for the sport you are showing the fans of hockey!!!
Now go get some more points.
"System Trumps Chumps" - Tampa t
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