Steven Stamkos Draft
The first overall pick in 2008 who became the franchise's all-time leader in goals and points.
Steven Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. As the draft approached, Stamkos was largely seen as the best available center, with his primary competition for the top overall pick being top prospect defencemen Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian, as well as Russian winger Nikita Filatov. The Lightning, by virtue of their previous season in which they won an NHL-worst 31 games, owned the first pick. As expected, Stamkos was selected first overall by Tampa Bay.
Quick Facts
- Draft year
- 2008
- Selection position
- 1st Overall
- Previous team league
- OHL (Sarnia Sting)
- Key achievement
- Captained the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 20
Lore & Background
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?' 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. Stamkos played in his first NHL game on October 4, 2008, in Prague, Czech Republic, the first game 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 against his hometown team, the 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.
Reader's Guide
Stamkos holds the Lightning franchise record for most goals and points scored. He captained the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 as well as appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 and 2022. He is a two-time Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (2010 and 2012), while also the runner-up three other times (in 2011, 2013 and 2015), a Mark Messier Leadership Award winner (2023), a two-time NHL second team All-Star (2011, 2012), and has been named to seven NHL All-Star Games. Nicknamed 'Stammer', he has scored the most goals and the most points of any player born in the 1990s. He was also a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist in 2012 as the most valuable player to his team as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, a two-time Ted Lindsay Award finalist (2011 and 2012) as the best player judged by the National Hockey League Players' Association. In addition, he was the runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point-scorer two consecutive times (2012 and 2013).
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