Stamkos-Seguin comparison more realistic after Bruins RW breaks out
Seguin/By S. Bradley
TAMPA — From the second he pulled on a Bruins sweater at last June’s draft, Tyler Seguin has been compared to Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos.
Whenever he’s been asked about the comparison, Stamkos has been gracious enough to say he’s flattered that anyone, including Seguin, would be deemed as “the next Stamkos.”
So now that Seguin, who scored just 11 goals in 74 regular-season games as a rookie, has emerged as a scoring star with three goals in two games of the Eastern Conference Final between Boston and Tampa Bay, the Lightning sniper must be even more flattered.
“Well, it’s good for him. I mean he got an opportunity and he’s risen to the occasion and on the biggest stage of his career so far – the Eastern Conference Final,” said Stamkos after his team’s morning skate at the St. Pete Times Forum in preparation for tonight’s Game 3. “So he’s a good player for them. Everyone knew what type of player he was. He’s been give the opportunity now. So he’s obviously someone we’ve got to try to stop. He’s playing really well and been their top player.”
Stamkos didn’t want to declare which game of his rookie season in 2008-09 was his breakout game on par with Seguin’s two-goal, two-assist performance in Game 2, Tampa’s young star brought up the hat trick he scored against Chicago Feb. 17 of that season as a turning point.
“I don’t know if I remember specifically. It could’ve been the hat trick my first year. You gain a lot of confidence, momentum. We’ve got to try to slow him down,” said Stamkos.
Even if Ryder is a loser you can’t break that line up yet.
Perhaps his real problem was pairing him with two losers like Ryder and Wheeler
I don’t know how anyone would want to change his past now more time less time. What ever was done has worked he is prepared healthy and has more energy then anyone else in the playoffs everything worked out. I havent seen anyone call him a bust but if they did then they are just ignorant, the future looks extremely bright for him and the Boston Bruins!
I would’ve preferred Seguin have been given one position at the start of the season, preferably wing, and linemates that could’ve brought him along, like Bergeron and Recchi. Being bounced from center to wing and back and being on a line with Wheeler and Ryder didn’t do anything to get him going.
That said, the way he ended the season he deserved to be scratched at the start of the playoffs and I give CJ credit for doing that. I give Seguin credit for really using that time to see what it takes to succeed in the playoffs and putting in the effort in practice until he got his chance.
claude is stupid
As the saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. A lot of people would have preferred it if Seguin’s development was helped along by more playing time all season. I’m one of them. But I certainly can’t fault CJ too much, and as far as the team is concerned, things seem to be turning out as well as we could hope.
The thing I can’t stand is all the bagging on Seguin people were doing up until the last game–he’s too soft, he’s a “fail” or a “bust” etc. And the sarcasm about his success now and people’s appreciation of it is pretty annoying too. He is 19 years old, for crying out loud. I’d want the kid to know he’s got support, even if he does have a bad game or shift or whatever. The more confidence he has is only going to help the team (and him)… so why the heck not? I don’t think journalistic integrity or whatever precludes a little diplomacy or understanding.
I hope he is the next Stamkos, that wicked wrister the other night that Stamkos ripped off was where momma hides the cookie jar – pure sniper
His T.O.I for all season was par for his play. He wasn’t preforming like this all season. Seguinitas what a crazy thing, Im pumped to see him scoring and dangling now and the future is sooo bright for this kid, But if I hear another person say Claude is stupid or something along that line cause Seguin didn’t get playing time im guna lose it!!
He was also compared to Yzerman and Sakic. To me, the most accurate thing about Seguin I read was that he has Bure speed but needs time to figure out how to use it.
think i hit a nerve!
espn has tyler listed at 12:13 atoi
The 2008-2009 Lightning were the second-worst team in the NHL. 24-40-18. So yeah, Stamkos got a lot more time, and therefore more opportunity to find his feet. Just like Hall this year. You can’t compare the rookie seasons of a kid getting fourth line minutes on a very good team with a kid who is dropped onto a top line and allowed to work through the rookie issues. Of course the second will score more goals.
ribzzy, the point is that he didn’t have a stamkos-type year but the comparisons are out there. don’t be so sensitive.
MK
“just 11 goals in 74 games”Matt that sounds really bad for a rookie of tylers status.but what of his t.o.i. for those 74 games how abot being buried on fourth line.Cannot compare him based on reg season.You got your dig in though