The Tampa Bay Lightning are in Toronto to play the Leafs tonight, and that meant a rather large media horde was waiting for injured superstar Steven Stamkos, who’s still questionable to play for Team Canada at the upcoming Olympics.
From Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston:
Steven Stamkos says his healing leg felt "a lot better" today. Less pain than yesterday.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 28, 2014
Steven Stamkos says he wants to play at least one NHL game before the Olympics.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 28, 2014
From ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun:
Stamkos said it could also be a possibility perhaps to play in Sochi even if he doesn't play an NHL game first... depends how he feels...
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 28, 2014
Stamkos also said he’ll have an “honest” talk with Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman before making the final decision.
First and foremost, Stamkos (and Yzerman, who’s also the Lightning’s GM) will want to know that he’s not putting himself at serious risk by playing on a leg he broke just a short while ago in November. Remember, this rehab has been an aggressive one. If not for the Olympics, he probably wouldn’t be at this stage of the process.
But it’s also a matter of his effectiveness. With the likes of Claude Giroux, James Neal, and Martin St. Louis being left off Team Canada, there are more than adequate replacements available.