No surprise as Lightning selects Stamkos No. 1
Offensive-minded center already penciled in as team's No. 2 center
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OTTAWA - Maybe it was emotion. Perhaps it was for effect. Oren Koules, who heads the new ownership group approved to take over the Tampa Bay Lightning, is a Hollywood producer, after all.
Koules stepped to the podium at the NHL draft Friday night and announced the Lightning’s selection of center Steven Stamkos with the No. 1 pick.
“I can’t think of a better way to start things off,” Koules said, his voice suddenly cracking as if he was going to tear up.
The Lightning came away big winners in selecting Stamkos during a first-round that featured numerous trades and a major run on what’s projected to be a talented crop of defensemen. Stamkos, the consensus top prospect, is already penciled in to be the team’s second-line center this season.
It’s far better than where the Lightning were last year, when they won a league-worst 31 games and lacked direction after Koules was part of a group who’s first attempt to buy the team unraveled.
“Yeah, I think it’s nice to bring some closure to everything,” general manager Jay Feaster said. “First, from the standpoint of ownership ... and finally to have this day here and be able to get Stamkos in the fold. It’s a good time for us.”
The Lightning made no secret how much they liked the speedy, offensive-minded 18-year-old forward from suburban Toronto. 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, and arrives in Tampa Bay 10 years after the team selected star Vincent Lecavalier with the No. 1 pick.
“I think that’s the best situation for me to have, having a guy like Vincent Lecavalier,” Stamkos said. “I’m putting the pressure on myself to make it to the NHL next year.”
On Saturday, Florida selected Swedish junior Jacob Markstrom, the top-ranked European goalie prospect, with the 31st pick to open the second-round of the seven-round draft.
Other notable players selected in the second round include right wing Jared Staal, who was picked 49th overall by Phoenix. Staal, who plays for OHL Sudbury, is the youngest member of the Thunder Bay, Ont., family that’s produced three first-round picks: Eric (selected No. 2 by Carolina in 2003), Marc (12th overall by the Rangers in 2005), and Jordan (selected No. 2 by Pittsburgh in 2006).
Should Jared Staal make it to the NHL, the family would become the first to have four players in the league since the Sutter family had six.
Center Philip McRae (OHL London), the son of former NHLer Basil McRae, was selected 33rd by St. Louis. The elder McRae spent 16 seasons in the league playing for numerous teams, including Quebec, Toronto and Chicago. Philip’s uncle Chris McRae also played in the NHL with Detroit and Toronto.
On Friday, there were several teams besides Tampa Bay that appeared to improve their stock.
Atlanta, at No. 3, landed the young defensemen it desired by selecting Zach Bogosian, who played for OHL Peterborough. Earlier in the day, the Thrashers also hired a coach, John Anderson, who had won five championships in 13 seasons in the minors. That included winning the American Hockey League title this year and coaching the Thrashers’ top affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
The Montreal Canadiens raised eyebrows, too, trading the 25th pick and a second-rounder next year to Calgary in exchange for center Alex Tanguay. Montreal also put itself in the running to acquire Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin after Toronto gave the Habs permission to negotiate a contract with the player, who’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Flames replaced Tanguay by acquiring Los Angeles Kings center Mike Cammalleri in a trade involving three teams.
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