Lightning center Steven Stamkos to sit out part of training camp
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he is no hurry to get center Steven Stamkos back on the ice and plans to sit him for portions of training camp.
Stamkos did not participate in a scrimmage on Sunday and it is not known if he will participate in Monday’s scrimmage.
Stamkos, 24, is still making his way back from a broken leg suffered last November, even though he returned to action in March. He had a screw taken out of his leg last month.
"We've got a plan for him and we don't want to [rush him]. We need him for October, we don't need him necessarily right now," Cooper said to the Tampa Tribune. "We want to make sure that when we are getting down to the nuts and bolts of our team that he is going to be able to play. He's able to play now, we just want to see other guys. We know what he can do."
Stamkos scored 25 goals and had 15 assists in 37 games last season for Tampa Bay, who begin the season Oct. 9 against the Florida Panthers.
- Scooby Axson