Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter
Few players in NHL history have the kind of season that Sidney Crosby had in his rookie year, especially in this the era of defense-first hockey. Crosby’s 2005-06 rookie season saw him post 39 goals and 102 points, making him one of the most proficient rookie scorers in NHL history.
Crosby’s 102-point effort was second only to Alex Ovechkin’s 106 points, with then-St. Louis Blues (now Boston Bruins) forward Brad Boyes a distant third with a respectable 69 points.
For some players, their rookie season represents the pinnacle of their careers. Many players are never able to duplicate their original success, casting them from the spotlight and into the depths of players with missed opportunities.
When Steven Stamkos arrived as a rookie in 2008-09 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he came with enormous, if not unfair, expectations. Many were calling him the second coming of Crosby, with many suggesting he may one day surpass Sid the Kid as one of the NHL’s biggest stars.
Stamkos had a rather ordinary rookie season, posting 23 goals and 46 points. Early on in the seaso ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Ritter
Is Steven Stamkos the NHL’s Next Big Star?
March 12th, 2010 by Mark Ritter Leave a reply »
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