Yes, it's only the preseason, but Friday's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators offered a rare splash of significance in the exhibition slate.
That's because Steven Stamkos was on the ice, captaining the Lightning for the first time since suffering a knee injury last Nov. 15 that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
If his debut is any indication, you can expect big things from Tampa Bay's superstar in 2017-18.
No signs of rust
Stamkos, of course, is most recognized for his ability to create offense, and that he did.
It took only 33 seconds for him to find the score sheet, as he recorded the primary assist on Victor Hedman's first-period marker. He added another primary helper to his name with a feed to Nikita Kucherov later in the opening frame.
In the 17 games he played last season, Stamkos recorded 20 points, and he looks determined to pick up where he left off.
The dynamic duo
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Stamkos and Kucherov notched two points apiece in the 3-1 win, and their early chemistry should immediately put the rest of the league on notice.
If they both stay healthy, Stamkos and Kucherov have potential to be the most productive duo in the NHL this season, no questions asked. The Lightning have a chance to deploy two 40-goal scorers on one line. Let that sink in for a minute.
He's finally fully healthy
Stamkos has endured numerous injuries on top of his torn meniscus in the past, including a blood clot and a broken tibia. Now, though, the 27-year-old is fully reset.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign of Stamkos' performance is he played 19:05, which led all Lightning forwards.
Stamkos: “It was nice to just go through a game day, I haven’t done it in a long time... I was glad with how the first one went.” #NSHvsTBL
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 23, 2017
"I couldn't have felt any better," Stamkos told Joe Smith of The Tampa Bay Times.
It certainly showed.
