Not enough words can be said about the ageless wonder that is Tampa Bay Lightning forward, Martin St. Louis. St. Louis clinched the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s points leader with 60 points for the 2013 season. He scored 17 goals and added 43 assists during the abbreviated 48 game season.
St louis is the oldest player to win the award at the age of 37. He also won the award in 2003-2004 before going on to win the Stanley Cup with the Lightning.
The previous oldest to win the trophy was Bill Cook, who earned it in 1933 with the Rangers at the age of 36.St. Louis’ 1.25 points-per-game average at age 37 puts him with the most elite of company: Only Mario Lemiuex and Gordie Howe have scored at that pace at age 37 or older.
After the game, Marty somewhat downplayed what he had accomplished, especially after the season the Lightning had. The veteran also doesn’t like talking about his age but it was unavoidable Saturday night.
“Obviously I would trade a lot of that to be in a playoff and have a chance at the Stanley Cup, but when all that goes away the hope of that you try to finish strong and play the right way and then a couple things happen along the way, like somebody getting hurt and you find yourself in the situation that you can do something pretty cool,” he said.
St. Louis admitted though that he is proud of his achievement.
“It’s something nobody can take away from you, it’s in the books. As you get older, you always have to answer questions about your age and slowing down, so you’re fighting those,” St. Louis told reporters.
“You’ve got to give yourself the best chance to be successful, taking care of your body, putting the time in so that you are ready to have a good season.”
Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier had his own words to say about his teammate of 13 years.
“Age is just a number for him, ” Lecavalier said. “He’s a smart player, making all the right decisions, and he’s just as fast as he was when he was 22.”
St. Louis made smart decisions even in completely meaningless game. He had a goal and an assist against the Florida Panthers to secure the Art Ross Trophy. Nevertheless, St. Louis played like it was a playoff game until the last second expired on the clock.
Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper was surely impressed at St. Louis’s feat and his performance in the final game of the season.
“He wanted to win the game,” Cooper said post-game. “It’s a tribute to everything about him. He puts the team first.”
Cooper went on by saying that is his “proud to be a part of history.” History wasn’t only made by St. Louis capturing the NHL points title as the oldest skater. Don’t forget about Steven Stamkos here.
Stamkos finished second in the league in points behind St. Louis with 57 (29 goals and 28 assists) and second in the goals category. Stamkos and St. Louis are only the second tandem from a non playoff bound team to accomplish the feat since Chicago’s Doug Bentley and Roy Conacher did in 1949.
