Steven Stamkos added another chapter to his Hall of Fame résumé Tuesday night, becoming just the 53rd player in NHL history to reach 1,200 career regular-season points. The milestone came in classic Stamkos fashion-ripping home a goal in the second period of the Nashville Predators’ matchup against the Calgary Flames. It was his seventh of the season and the 589th of his career, a number that continues to climb with every game.
With that tally, Stamkos joins an elite group of active players to hit the 1,200-point mark: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Anze Kopitar, and Patrick Kane. That’s not just a list-it’s a who's who of the modern NHL, and Stamkos fits right in.
Now in his second season with the Predators after signing with the club in July 2024, Stamkos has 34 goals and 29 assists for 63 points in 107 regular-season games wearing Nashville gold. Through 26 games this season, he’s posted seven goals and three assists. While those numbers may not be eye-popping by his standards, Tuesday night’s goal was a reminder: Stamkos still has the touch, and he’s still writing his legacy.
Over the course of 1,190 career games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and now the Predators, Stamkos has racked up 589 goals and 611 assists. That’s 1,200 points in total-numbers that speak to both his consistency and his elite offensive instincts.
He’s a two-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner, leading the league in goals in 2009-10 (51 goals) and again in 2011-12 (a career-best 60). He’s also delivered eight 80-point seasons, five 90-point campaigns, and hit a personal high of 106 points in 2021-22.
But it’s not just the regular season where Stamkos has made his mark. He’s played in 128 career playoff games, captaining the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, and leading them to the Final in 2015. His leadership, clutch scoring, and ability to elevate his game when it matters most have defined his career as much as the stats.
Drafted No. 1 overall in 2008 after a dominant junior career with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting-where he posted 197 points in 124 games-Stamkos arrived in the NHL with sky-high expectations. And he’s more than delivered. From teenage phenom to franchise cornerstone to veteran leader, his journey has been one of the most compelling in the modern NHL.
As for his current club, the Predators are still trying to find their footing this season. They sit at 8-13-4 with 20 points, currently at the bottom of the Central Division, the Western Conference, and the league overall. Ryan O’Reilly leads the team in points with 18, Filip Forsberg has chipped in a team-high nine goals, and Luke Evangelista leads in assists with 13.
But amid the struggles, Stamkos’ milestone is a bright spot-a reminder of the elite talent Nashville added and the kind of leadership he brings to the locker room. Even in a tough season, moments like this matter. And for Stamkos, it’s another significant number in a career full of them.