St. Louis' success is highly valued

The right wing's 15 goals, consistent play have been a high point in Lightning's recent slump.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 5, 2002

TORONTO -- It was about 20 degrees early Tuesday afternoon on the sidewalk in front of the Lightning's hotel, and the autograph seekers still waited.

Bundled against the chill and the wind, and with water vapor puffing from their mouths, they stood and hoped players returning from the morning skate on the team bus would stop and sign.

Most signed but kept walking. Martin St. Louis, with only a light jacket as protection, stopped and put his signature on every puck, trading card and piece of paper pushed at him.

"It took only two minutes to sign them all," the right wing said. "If they can stand out there and freeze, I can take two minutes and sign for them."

Truth be told, St. Louis doesn't mind the attention, and he still gets a kick out of watching himself on television when he is interviewed or his highlights are shown.

It is, after all, still relatively new for the 27-year-old from Laval, Quebec, who in three seasons has transformed himself from an obscure third-line checker for the Flames into one of the NHL's most dynamic players.

St. Louis, whom the Lightning signed as a free agent in the summer of 2000, entered Wednesday's games tied with four players for the league lead with 15 goals.

"I don't think you ever anticipate these situations," St. Louis said. "Whatever comes with success can be overwhelming, but it comes with it. And to sign autographs, and I'm doing more and more interviews and radio shows ... people want to talk to people who have success."

St. Louis, in the first year of a two-year, $2.5-million contract, has a team-high 28 points and has been one of the Lightning's few recent bright spots.

Tampa Bay, which faces the Oilers tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum, is 1-4-1-1 in its past seven games. It also has lost three in a row (one in overtime) and lost at least three points in the standings thanks to three third-period meltdowns in which it was outscored 8-4.

Even St. Louis had a five-game stretch from Nov. 17 through Nov. 27 in which he did not score. But he has four goals and an assist in his past four games, and is on pace for 49 goals and 94 points.

His career highs are 18 and 40.

"He's been very impressive," coach John Tortorella said. "His consistency level is the reason we have been able to compete in some games and win some games. He is a quality NHL player."

St. Louis was earning that distinction last season, when a broken right leg in January stopped him short at 16 goals in 48 games.

Despite the injury St. Louis might be a better skater. He has perfected a one-time shot and has learned how to finish breakaways, something he had been hard-pressed to do with regularity.

He score one of the season's prettiest goals Nov. 15 against the Sharks. With bent knees and leaning hard to his left in what has become an almost signature style, St. Louis swung around the net and beat goalie Evgeni Nabokov on a wraparound.

Even St. Louis had to check out the scoreboard.

"It's fun to watch yourself score a goal," he said. "After it's all happened, you think back and think, 'That was a nice goal.' "

It is not arrogance, and St. Louis points out, "I wouldn't be able to have my success without everyone around me playing well and having success."

St. Louis does not take it for granted. He wants to remember his humble beginnings. He had four goals in 69 games for the Flames and did not get a regular turn with the Lightning until a sit-down with former coach Steve Ludzik.

"He's a player that doesn't forget how difficult it was for him, and he doesn't want to be in that spot again as far as bouncing in and out of the lineup," Tortorella said. "So he's a determined athlete."

"If you get satisfied, that's when you stop getting better," St. Louis said. "I don't want to be satisfied and happy where I'm at. I want to push for more."