The Tampa Bay Lightning captain will make his preseason debut Friday against the Nashville Predators, marking his first appearance since tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee back on Nov. 15, 2016.
He said he's felt good in training camp, but game action will be the true test.
"It's just getting in the flow of things where you're reacting out there, not thinking," Stamkos said, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "When you get injured the tendency is your mind is telling your body to protect that certain area that's injured.
"It's a natural reaction to an injured area. And really when you're over it is when you're not thinking about it. You're just going out there responding to the play, you're letting the game come to you. That's what I'm hoping for tonight."
It's not Stamkos' first comeback following a serious leg injury, seeing as he broke his leg early in 2013-14.
But prior to last season's setback, he registered nine goals and 11 assists in 17 games, and is confident he can get back to that high level of play.
"Listen, I snapped my leg in half and came back and was playing the best hockey of my career," Stamkos said. "So this is another hurdle. I'm confident that when you put in the work, you're going to find ways. It may be different ways. You may have to adjust certain parts of your game. But we'll handle that when I see how it feels in a game situation. We'll know more tonight."
Head coach Bill Peters is looking to fill that vacancy, one left open since the departure of Eric Staal in early 2015. As such, he's spoken extensively to team staff in the offseason, and a common theme emerged.
"(Skinner's) name came up in the conversation quite a bit, and they bring up that type of stuff, the way he looks after himself and the way he prepares," Peters said, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "He's passionate about it and he's hungry to win."
"He's a passionate guy and he's a passionate player," he added. "He's a real good pro in the fact that he looks after himself, he trains properly, and the guys have unreal respect for the way he looks after his body. The maturity he shows. I know guys bring it up quite a bit."
Skinner is entering his eighth season with the club, and only Cam Ward has been around longer. The 2011 Calder Trophy winner has rebounded from a series of concussions suffered early in his career, developing into one of the most important players in Carolina, both on and off the ice.
If the "C" were to be given to him, he'd gladly accept it.
"You want to be counted on by your teammates, by your coaches," Skinner said, according to Rosen. "That's obviously what a captain is supposed to do. They're supposed to lead and be the guy that people can count on.
"I want to be counted on."
A formal announcement is expected to be made following training camp, and while there are other candidates, including Jordan Staal, Skinner seems to be the likely choice.
Ray Shero, the Devils' general manager, couldn't recognize his starting goalie, but forward Miles Wood wasn't fooled.
Cory Schneider's acting performance was impressive, nonetheless. Acting all giddy when he got a fist bump from one of the players heading out onto the ice was classic, and asking a fan if Nico Hischier was "the new guy" was priceless.
Barry Trotz has been on Alex Ovechkin's case about discipline before, but it's become a renewed concern amid the NHL's crackdown on slashing infractions.
The Washington Capitals head coach expressed some frustration Wednesday night with his team as a whole, and particularly with his captain's penchant for hacking opponents.
Throughout the month of September, James Bisson and a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest players, teams, and moments in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League. This week's list focuses on the greatest team logos (active team logos courtesy NHL; defunct team logos courtesy SportsLogos.net):
It's one of the most recognized hockey logos of all time - which makes the entire fisherman experiment even more mind-boggling. The orange Long Island outline in the middle is what really does it for us.
19. San Jose Sharks (1991-2007)
When the Sharks broke in as the 22nd NHL team in the early 1990s, they brought a brand-new approach to logo design with them. We can't decide what we like more: the fearsome shark chomp or the implementation of teal.
18. Minnesota Wild (2000-present)
While this logo isn't quite as appealing as that of the North Stars, it's close. Using a river as a mouth, a star as an eye, and fitting in a row of pine trees, a red sky, and a bright yellow sun? This is a true work of art.
17. Calgary Flames (1980-present)
Some fans prefer the red-and-orange logo on a white jersey. Others favor the reverse color configuration. Whatever your preference, it's hard to argue with the flaming "C" as one of the coolest logos in NHL history.
16. Florida Panthers (1993-2016)
Florida's second NHL franchise came with a much livelier logo than the rival Tampa Bay Lightning; it looks like the cat is jumping right into your living room. If nothing else, it was a wildly popular jersey among younger fans.
15. Winnipeg Jets (1979-90)
The merging of the WHA and the NHL in the late 1970s brought some truly great logos into the fold - including this one. It's no wonder Winnipeg fans wanted this logo brought back when NHL hockey returned to Manitoba.
14. New York Rangers (1971-present)
After going with a few different iterations of this design - most of which featured strange font-size choices - the Rangers finally settled on this sleek version, and have stuck with it ever since. As shield-style logos go, this is the best of the bunch.
13. St. Louis Blues (1987-98)
Normally we could do without a city or team name within the logo - but this one is tucked nicely at the top of what is an otherwise flawless design. Combining homages to flight and music? It doesn't get much better.
12. Edmonton Oilers (1979-present)
In the never-ending Battle of Alberta, Edmonton gets the nod by a razor-thin margin. The unique font choice, coupled with a little splash of color on top, makes this a popular logo no matter how well the team is playing.
11. Colorado Avalanche (1995-present)
There's so much to love about the only primary logo the Avalanche have ever employed. Between the blue-and-white swoosh running through the middle (with a hidden puck attached) and the overall color scheme, it's a hit.
10. Colorado Rockies (1976-82)
It might not have the same stylistic swirl as the design above, but the Rockies' primary logo is still an all-timer. Colorado fans have been blessed with two of the best hockey logos the NHL has ever seen.
9. Boston Bruins (1949-present)
Fun fact: The spokes in the Bruins' primary logo are meant to represent Boston's reputation as an American "hub." Whether or not you agree, there's little argument that this tasteful logo is a pro sports classic.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs (1938-67, 2016-present)
Traditionalists were delighted to see the Maple Leafs go back to their roots last season. As great as the more angular option is, this logo harkens back to the Leafs' glory days - and it just looks better.
7. Minnesota North Stars (1985-91)
The first incarnation of the North Stars' logo was nearly perfect. Once the team got rid of that distracting circle, it was left with a flawless logo. The green-and-gold color combo is an all-time fave.
6. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993-2006)
This ranking might elicit some interesting feedback, but as a hockey logo, the Ducks' original option is sensational. Judging by the sheer number of original Anaheim jerseys sold and kept over the years, fans agree.
5. Montreal Canadiens (1956-present)
CHC. Club de hockey Canadien. It's so simple - and yet, this configuration with two "C"s and an "H" stands as one of pro sports' most iconic logos. Of all the variations, we like this one - featuring a thicker "H" - the best.
4. Quebec Nordiques (1980-95)
What is it supposed to be? Who cares! It's gorgeous! (We joke: Clearly it's an igloo, in honor of the name "Nordiques," which translates to "Nordics.") If NHL hockey returns to Quebec City, this logo has to come back, too.
3. Buffalo Sabres (1970-96, 2010-present)
Why the Sabres ever strayed from this primary design, we'll never know. It has all the elements of a great logo: Both sections of the team name are included without any clutter, and the color scheme is bang-on.
2. Hartford Whalers (1979-97)
When Hartford abandoned its whale logo, some people probably wondered what in the world the franchise was thinking. Then you see this awesome replacement, with the whale tail helping shape the "H," and you simply nod your head in approval.
1. Detroit Red Wings (1948-present)
No other design combines style, intricacy, relevance, and all-around coolness like the winged wheel, a fitting homage to the Motor City. In the 100-year history of the league, this is the greatest NHL logo of all.
(NHL logos are used with permission and are courtesy of the National Hockey League.)
Ah, the old "player increases level of play during his contract year" adage, it's a classic.
While it's difficult to determine through quantifiable evidence if this theory is true, athletes - on top of servicing us always reasonable, severely dedicated supporters of the game - play to make money, and when they have a chance at a raise, they generally try their hardest to earn it. Wouldn't anyone?
Entering the 2017-18 season, there are several interesting candidates that have an opportunity to cash in next summer on the strength of a productive campaign. Here are five that can help your fantasy squad this season.
The not-so subtle winger had a breakout season of sorts last year, overcoming cracked ribs suffered in October to score 28 goals and 43 points in 70 games. When he was finally healthy, Kane showed just how high his ceiling can be, ranking ninth in goals and second in shots league-wide from Dec. 1 onward. If he and Jack Eichel are healthy, Kane should be a target on the wing in all leagues.
John Tavares
Tavares will likely earn an eight-year contract no matter what he produces this season, but he can boost his salary astronomically with a big year.
Amazingly, Tavares only makes $5.5 million per season, which is quite a bargain for a player that's recorded 537 points in 587 career games (enjoy the discount while you can, Islanders fans).
If healthy, you can pencil Tavares in for 70-80 points, but with the added motivation of landing an eight-figure salary in free agency or in the form of an extension with New York, you can bank on No. 91 exceeding expectations.
Elias Lindholm
While he won't land a contract as lucrative as Tavares, Lindholm has a good chance to cash in and emerge from his underrated shell.
Lindholm racked a career-high 45 points with the Hurricanes last season, despite a shooting percentage of just 7.3. The 22-year-old tallied 29 primary assists, and 21 of his 34 total helpers came at even strength.
The Hurricanes should be much better this season, and with a bit better luck converting his chances into goals, Lindholm can parlay his success into a long-term deal and some hidden value in your fantasy league.
Jacob Trouba
In year one of his "show me" deal that stemmed from his holdout, Trouba excelled with the Jets, netting 33 points in just 60 games.
At 23, Trouba has all the tools to prosper into a No. 1 defenseman in Winnipeg, and a repeat, or better, season should land him security far down the road and a hefty spike in pay.
From the time Trouba's season started (Nov. 11), the 23-year-old placed 14th among all defenseman in shots on goal (154), and can be a valuable asset in a keeper league.
Kyle Turris
At 28-years-old, Turris presumably will sign his final long-term contract next summer, be it with the Senators or any other team looking for a dependable middle-six centerman.
Turris recorded a career-high 27 goals last season and added 28 assists to go along with respectable contributions in both shots (185) and blocks (61) to boost his fantasy worth.
Scheduled to earn just $3.5 million in 2017-18, Turris, compared to those of a similar ilk around the league, is quite underpaid, and it's safe to assume he'll push to break the bank with another effective season.
Yes, it's the preseason, and yes, it came at the expense of a Detroit Red Wings team that's not expected to do much in the coming months, but head coach Joel Quenneville believes it may portend what's to come in Saad's second tour of duty with the club.
"I still think there's room where he can go to another level as far as production goes," the coach said after the game, according to Eric Lear of Blackhawks TV.
Saad began his career in Chicago, winning two Stanley Cups while establishing himself as a presence at both ends of the ice.
Traded to Columbus in 2015, he enjoyed career highs in goals (31) and points (53) as a member of the Blue Jackets.
During the offseason, Chicago general manager Stan Bowman pulled the trigger on a deal that brought Saad back at the cost of dynamic winger Artemi Panarin.
"It's always nice to be wanted and welcomed and these fans are the best fans in the league," Saad said, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times, "so it's good to be back."
