Steven Stamkos: The Future is Now

Last season, Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning tied for the NHL league in goal scoring with Sidney Crosby earning himself the Rocket RIchard Trophy in just his second NHL season. Despite this and the fact that he was the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Stamkos hadn't attained the popularity of superstar players such as Crosby and Alex Ovechkin...or even players such as Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin, or Lightning teammate Vinny Lecavalier. Well, that's about to change if it hasn't already.

As of today, Stamkos is leading the league in both goals scored and points. The hockey world is finally starting to take notice, comparing him to such players as Guy Lafleur and Mike Bossy. Many think that Stamkos may be the next player to score 50 goals in 50 games. Simply put, the 20 year old is becoming a superstar before our very eyes. So, why is he flying under the radar and what does this mean for his collectibles?

Probably the biggest knock on Stamkos is that he plays in Tampa Bay which isn't exactly a hockey hotbed. If he were drafted by, say, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Stamkos would already be bordering on legendary status. Also, Stamkos doesn't have the flamboyant persona of someone like Ovechkin. He's pretty much an afterthought as far as sports personalities go. Of course, this doesn't make him any worse of a hockey player, but it does affect his popularity. Something tells me that if he stays on a goal a game pace for the rest of the season, his popularity wont be lacking for long.

So now for the card collecting spin. Unfortunately, card collectors love prospects and the first overall pick never really flies under the radar....even if they aren't producing. Stamkos didn't come into the league with the fanfare of Crosby or Ovechkin and for awhile the price of his collectibles lagged a bit. But, even though the hockey world barely noticed when Stamkos was having a league leading season last year, hockey card collectors were smarter and Stamkos collectibles started to sell for significant market values. Unfortunately, it looks like the chance to buy low on Stamkos collectibles has passed. Investors could only hope that he gets traded to someplace like Toronto or New York, or that he blows away the competition statistics-wise. Essentially, you will already be paying superstar prices for this third year player. If you don't already have a Steven Stamkos rookie card, you should probably grab one now if you are a serious hockey card collector. If you are into collecting only to turn a profit, perhaps it's time to sell high??

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