When Steven Stamkos suits up tonight against the Montreal Canadiens it will be his 1,038th game as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. When he steps onto the ice, he’ll become the Lightning’s all-time leader in games played, passing fellow overall number one pick, Vincent Lecavalier.
It’s taken 16 seasons, two ownership groups, four head coaches, three general managers, and an estimated $99 million in career earnings for him to ascend to the top of the mountain. There have been multiple major surgeries, on-the-ice heartbreak, and a couple of Stanley Cups along the way. In reaching this milestone Stamkos has cemented himself as the face of the franchise and no matter what happens after this season will have earned the right to see his number retired and hung from the rafters some day.
After he knocks this one out, the only major statistical category he won’t be on top of will be in career assists as Marty St. Louis sits at 588. Stamkos is at 562 with half of the season to go, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he can catch him by April.
Congratulations Mr. Stamkos. Here’s hoping to seeing you in a few hundred more games in the blue and white.
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