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Stamkos starts with familiar Lightning linemates

 
Lightning coach Jon Cooper conducts drills on the first day of training camp at Amalie Arena. “After each session, I was utterly impressed with everything that went on,” he says.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper conducts drills on the first day of training camp at Amalie Arena. “After each session, I was utterly impressed with everything that went on,” he says.
Published Sept. 20, 2014

TAMPA — Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said players were told not to read too much into what groups they practice with or what lines they are on during training camp.

But Stamkos centering a line with LW Ondrej Palat and RW Ryan Callahan during Friday's first practice wasn't a random selection. The trio played together a little bit last season, and coach Jon Cooper said Stamkos will be paired with several familiar faces during camp before deciding on the top line.

"I don't think it's an open audition," Cooper said. "We've got a group that has some success with him last year, and why wouldn't we go back to that again? At least at the start of the year."

After Marty St. Louis was traded last season and Stamkos returned from right leg surgery, Stamkos played primarily with Palat and C Tyler Johnson, both Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) finalists, including in the playoffs. But Stamkos also saw time with C Alex Killorn and Callahan.

Stamkos said game situations will give him a better feel but he knows what he likes in linemates.

"Obviously you want a mix of everything on a line," Stamkos said. "You want a guy who can distribute the puck, a guy that can shoot and a guy that can go into a corner and get (the puck). With the guys I was playing with (Friday), we had a good combination."

For what it's worth, Friday's lines also included C Valtteri Filppula with Killorn and RW Brett Connolly, and C Tyler Johnson with RW Jonathan Drouin and LW Richard Panik. Defensive pairings were Victor Hedman-Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison-Andrej Sustr and Matt Carle-Radko Gudas.

"You have to start somewhere," Cooper said. "And that's how we started."

STRONG START: Cooper's emphasis on the team improving its defense showed Friday in all three group practices, which featured many 1-on-1 drills and players working in their end.

"After each session, I was utterly impressed with everything that went on," Cooper said. "They competed hard. They skated fast. Every facet of every drill they were working hard."

STEPPING IN: This year's first-round draft pick, D Anthony DeAngelo, welcomed the opportunity to practice in a veteran-laden group, paired with D Eric Brewer. "I thought he wasn't out of place at all," Cooper said. "He moved pucks. He was agile. He worked hard."

MEDICAL MATTERS: G Ben Bishop figured the first practice would be a good test for his surgically repaired right wrist and was encouraged by how he felt after the 90-minute practice, which was preceded by 15 minutes of individual drills.

"The first session felt really good. Got a little sore toward the end of the second session, but that's kind of expected," Bishop said

D Slater Koekkoek said his surgically repaired shoulders held up well in last weekend's prospect tournament and Friday.

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"They felt 100 percent," Koekkoek said. "I didn't play with any hesitation. I played my game, and I thought I did pretty well."

LW Adam Erne said his surgically repaired wrist is feeling good.

The 'A' TEAM: Cooper said he has thought about who will be the alternate captains this year and will gauge it during camp but no announcement will be made until the season.

Contact Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.



ESPN: Lightning, Rays No. 1 in game value

The Lightning and Rays are tops in their sports in terms of affordability of tickets, parking and concessions in ESPN The Magazine's new rankings of the 122 teams in Major League Baseball and the NFL, NHL and NBA. The overall rankings — part subjective, part formulaic — include quality of coaching, ownership and players; stadium experience and fan relations, and win and title possibilities. The Lighting is sixth, the Rays 35th and the Bucs 84th. This is the fourth time in eight years the Rays are baseball's most affordable team, the first time for the Lightning. The Bucs are 17th among NFL teams.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer