Tampa Bay Lightning: 20 Greatest Goal Scorers In Franchise History
Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
1. Steven Stamkos
Single Season High Goals: 60
Career High Goals: 287
As you can see, there are plenty of players in Tampa Bay Lightning franchise history who have laid it all out on the line and become some of the greatest goal scorers the National Hockey League has ever seen. However, there is one player still on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster who has the opportunity to outshine them all. That players name is Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
Aside from former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos is one of the best draft picks the Lightning has ever acquired. Stamkos was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft. If you were a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning back then, you knew from the very beginning that this young forward would achieve great things in his future.
In Stamkos’ second season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the then-twenty year old Steven Stamkos would already be making a name for himself in the National Hockey League. After putting up a whopping 51 goals and 41 assists for a total of 95 points, Stamkos would lead the Lightning to their first Eastern Conference Final since winning the Stanley Cup back in 2004.
In addition to the team’s accomplishments that season, Stamkos would earn an accolade of his own. Steven Stamkos would be the recipient of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, which is handed out at the end of the season to the league’s highest goal scorer.
Just two seasons later, Stamkos would put up another banner season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 2011-2012 season would be the season Stamkos would set a new franchise record for the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring an amazing 60 goals and 37 assists for a total of 97 points. This made Stamkos the highest single-season goal scorer in franchise history.
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Steven Stamkos has proved time and time again there is no stopping him when he has his mind set on something. Even in a season where he missed over three months thanks to a broken tibia, Stamkos would still manage to register over 20 goals and forty points.
While Steven Stamkos has only been a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning for going on eight seasons now, which is a far cry from players like Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, Stamkos has already carved out a place for himself in Tampa Bay Lightning history, and given the fact he is still an active player with many years in front of him, he has a unique opportunity to surpass those who came before him and potentially become the greatest goal scorer the Tampa Bay Lightning has ever seen.