Former No. 1 NHL draft picks set high standard for Lightning's Stamkos

Former No. 1 NHL draft picks set high standard for Lightning's Stamkos By: Donna Spencer, THE CANADIAN PRESS The bar is set high for Steven Stamkos. The last three forwards chosen first overall in the NHL entry draft - Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin - were impact players immediately in the NHL Kane and Ovechkin won the league's rookie award - the Calder Trophy - in their freshman years. Crosby lost out to Ovechkin for the rookie trophy in 2006, but won both the NHL scoring race and Hart Trophy as MVP the following season. The Tampa Bay Lightning made Stamkos's name the first one called in June. The 18-year-old from Toronto feels the spotlight on him, but also thinks he's in the right environment to succeed. "I think there's a lot of pressure and big shoes to fill," Stamkos said. "I'm coming into a great... [read full story]