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TechnographStamkos selected No. 1 overall in NHL Draft
Lightning snag 18-year-old; defensemen, trades highlight remainder of Saturday's picks
By John Wawrow, The Associated Press
Posted: 6/23/08 Section: Sports
OTTAWA - Steven Stamkos was selected with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
The Lightning made no secret how much they liked the speedy, offensive-minded 18-year-old forward from suburban Toronto and chose him just minutes after they went onto the draft clock.
Tampa Bay, coming off an NHL-low, 31-win season, had the first pick in the draft for the second time. The Lightning chose Vincent Lecavalier No. 1 in 1998.
Lightning general manager Jay Feaster has been so impressed with Stamkos, that he's already got him penciled in as his second-line center for the upcoming season. Rated the top prospect by NHL Central Scouting, Stamkos is listed at 6-foot and 183 pounds. He produced 197 points (100 goals and 97 assists) in 124 games over two seasons with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League.
The draft then followed what many had predicted: plenty of defensemen being drafted and lots of trades, too.
Calgary completed two deals, trading center Alex Tanguay to Montreal for the Canadiens' first-round pick (25th) this year, and their second-round pick next year. The Flames then acquired Los Angeles Kings center Mike Cammalleri in a trade involving three teams.
Calgary sent its first-round pick, No. 17, to Los Angeles. The Kings then dealt that pick and the 28th selection to Anaheim for the Ducks' first-rounder, No. 12 overall.
Phoenix acquired Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and the 49th pick in this year's draft.
Columbus acquired Flyers forward R.J. Umberger and Philadelphia's fourth-round pick (118th), for the Blue Jackets' second of two first-round picks (No. 19) and their third-rounder (No. 67).
After Stamkos, four straight defensemen were selected to round out the top 5. The Kings took Drew Doughty from Guelph of the OHL with the second pick, and Atlanta followed with the selection of another blue-liner - Zach Bogosian from Peterborough of the OHL - at No. 3.
The Lightning made no secret how much they liked the speedy, offensive-minded 18-year-old forward from suburban Toronto and chose him just minutes after they went onto the draft clock.
Tampa Bay, coming off an NHL-low, 31-win season, had the first pick in the draft for the second time. The Lightning chose Vincent Lecavalier No. 1 in 1998.
Lightning general manager Jay Feaster has been so impressed with Stamkos, that he's already got him penciled in as his second-line center for the upcoming season. Rated the top prospect by NHL Central Scouting, Stamkos is listed at 6-foot and 183 pounds. He produced 197 points (100 goals and 97 assists) in 124 games over two seasons with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League.
The draft then followed what many had predicted: plenty of defensemen being drafted and lots of trades, too.
Calgary completed two deals, trading center Alex Tanguay to Montreal for the Canadiens' first-round pick (25th) this year, and their second-round pick next year. The Flames then acquired Los Angeles Kings center Mike Cammalleri in a trade involving three teams.
Calgary sent its first-round pick, No. 17, to Los Angeles. The Kings then dealt that pick and the 28th selection to Anaheim for the Ducks' first-rounder, No. 12 overall.
Phoenix acquired Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and the 49th pick in this year's draft.
Columbus acquired Flyers forward R.J. Umberger and Philadelphia's fourth-round pick (118th), for the Blue Jackets' second of two first-round picks (No. 19) and their third-rounder (No. 67).
After Stamkos, four straight defensemen were selected to round out the top 5. The Kings took Drew Doughty from Guelph of the OHL with the second pick, and Atlanta followed with the selection of another blue-liner - Zach Bogosian from Peterborough of the OHL - at No. 3.
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