Junior stars now promising rookies

TAMPA -- It was like a mini-reunion of Team Canada's 2008 World Junior Championship team.

On the ice Saturday morning was Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 draft. Watching him was Brandon Sutter, the Canes' first-round pick last year and Zach Boychuk, the team's first-rounder this year.

"We played together and won a gold medal together," Stamkos said of the World Junior, played in late-December and early January in the Czech Republic. "It's pretty special we're all here in the National Hockey League now. We never would have dreamt of that."

Stamkos, a 6-1, 196-pound center from Markham, Ontario, did not have a goal or assist in the Bolts' first two games, played in Prague. That meant Sutter, who assisted on Dan LaCouture's game-winning goal Friday for the Canes, has a slight edge, causing Stamkos to smile.

"That was a great start for him," Stamkos said. "That's one more point than I have. Hopefully we can both get our first National Hockey League goals tonight. That would be pretty special."

Both Sutter and Boychuk expect Stamkos, who signed a three-year rookie contract that could be worth more than $11 million, to be a special player in the league and have an immediate impact. Obviously the Bolts are hoping for the same.

"He's just a great player who can do so many things," Sutter said. 

Boychuk is on the Canes roster and traveled with the team, although he won't be cleared for contact practice until next week.