Home cooking is the only thing new for Steven Stamkos on Toronto’s homecoming

TORONTO — When the Maple Leafs rolled out the red carpet for Steven Stamkos nearly six years ago, hoping to lure him to Toronto in free agency, Lightning coach Jon Cooper certainly thought there was a chance Stamkos would leave.

Sometimes you just can’t compete with the romance of coming home. The Leafs’ meeting with Stamkos not only included the team’s hockey bosses, but also the city’s mayor and the CEO of Canadian Tire to discuss sponsorship deals.

“Deep down, having been by his side for so long, it was hard for me to think he would go, but if there was one place he would have gone, this would have been the place,” Cooper said. . “There’s really nothing you can do to separate yourself from the player who comes back to his house. But for Stammer, he was comfortable and I think he looked ahead and saw what we had.”

Stamkos has lifted the Stanley Cup twice with Tampa Bay, while Toronto is still looking for its first playoff series victory since 2004. And now Stamkos, who grew up in Markham, a suburb of Toronto, has the opportunity to play in his hometown in the postseason. .

After 14 years in the league, Stamkos has seen a lot. Aside from home cooking, Stamkos said he doesn’t expect this series to be any different from others.

“I have to go to my parents’ house for dinner, so that’s different,” Stamkos said Monday before Game 1. “I’ve never done that on the road in the playoffs before. It was great. A home cooked meal is the best, right? To be honest, it really hasn’t felt (different).”

There was no hotter player entering the playoffs than Stamkos, whose 33 points in games on April 16 were the most by any player in any month since Mario Lemieux scored 34 points in 14 games in December 1995. But after from ending the regular season on a nine-game point streak, Stamkos was meaningless in the Lightning’s 5-0 loss on Monday.

“I think he’s been skating really well,” forward Alex Killorn said. “I think if you look at the way she’s been playing on both ends of the ice, she’s obviously scoring a lot. She has been putting herself in a lot of good situations. I think he himself would tell you that he has helped play with (Nikita Kucherov). But both are playing very well.”

Stamkos may not publicly accept the hype surrounding his return to Toronto, but after all these years, he still has a chip on his shoulder. He strives to prove that he can be the player he used to be despite going through a litany of serious injuries.

He only missed one game this season, and that was due to the birth of his second child. Stamkos made his way into Team Canada’s consideration for the Olympics with a fast start before NHL players were told they couldn’t go. And when the Lightning needed a boost late in the regular season, Stamkos delivered, finishing with career highs in points (106) and assists (64).

Follow all the action on and off the ice

Subscribe to our free Lightning Strikes newsletter

We’ll send you weekly Bolts news, analysis and commentary throughout the season.

You are all registered!

Want to get more of our free weekly newsletters delivered to your inbox? Let us begin.

Explore all your options

“I’m certainly proud of the way I’ve been able to overcome some adversity in my career in terms of injuries,” Stamkos said. “I have always believed in myself that I could make a difference in this league when I step on the ice. You’re always trying to prove people wrong.”

• • •

The Tampa Bay Times has commemorated Lightning’s second straight Stanley Cup title with a new hardcover coffee table book, knocking twice. Order now.

Subscribe to Lightning Strikes, a weekly newsletter from Bolts beat writer Eduardo A. Encina that brings you closer to the ice.

Catch the latest from the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter Y Facebook.