The Tampa Bay Lightning, owners of the first pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft have launched www.seenstamkos.com, a website dedicated to consensus #1 prospect, Steven Stamkos.
I can't remember another example a franchise has launched a marketing campaign for a player they have yet to obtain rights to. Either way, this tells me two things:
1. Tampa is not trading the first pick.
2. The Lightning think Stamkos may be able to step into the line-up next year.
The last time the Lightning had the first overall pick was 1998 when they selected current superstar Vincent Lecavalier. Then-Lightning owner Art Williams made one of the all-time sports blunders and referred to Lecavalier as "the Michael Jordan of hockey"....No pressure.
While Williams is no longer the owner, one wonders if Tampa has not learned from their past mistakes.
Marketing blitz or no, Stamkos will be able to join Tampa Bay in much the same way as Crosby came to Pittsburgh, with somebody there who has been in his shoes. With Lecavalier, St. Louis
and Dan Boyle as established faces of the organization Stamkos's development should not be as rushed as Lecavalier's was.
By all accounts Stamkos, a skilled play-maker, will be a star in the NHL some day.
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