Steven Stamkos began his NHL career with great expectations after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the first overall draft pick in 2008. The young center was destroying competition on his own age level for years and then he exploded when he played for his first professional team the Markham Waxers.

Playing his first and only season with the Waxers, Stamkos destroyed the competition, scoring 105 goals and 197 points in 66 games. Stamkos caught the eye of most NHL scouts long before he was ripping OMHA competition to shreds.

The center was a coveted prize by the time the NHL Draft was held in 2008. Stamkos went first overall for Tampa Bay and he is an apparent perfect fit for the Lightning.

Stamkos scored 23 goals and 23 assists in his first season with the Lightning and the natives were restless in Tampa Bay. This was suppose to be the center who would deliver them a Stanley Cup?

Stamkos responded to the rumblings and he produced his best season of his career in 2009-2010. He broke through the mystical 50 goal mark with 51 goals scored and he added 44 assists, just missing another key milestone by scoring 95 points.

Stamkos tied another young legend of the game, Sidney Crosby, with the 51 goals. The career of the young Uniondale, Ontario, native is just beginning. The next five years of Stamkos career will determine if he is known as an above average center or if his destiny is the Hockey Hall of Fame.

With the season set to begin now might be a good time to check out the NHL prop bets at your favorite sportsbook.

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