Video: All 60 Steven Stamkos goals from the 2011-12 season
Last season Steven Stamkos became just the ninth different player since 1990 to score at least 60 goals in a season, and just the second (Alex Ovechkin being the other) to do so since 2000.
When you consider the current goal-scoring environment in the NHL, how far ahead he was from the No. 2 goal-scorer (Evgeni Malkin was 10 behind him), and how rare that milestone has been to reach over the past two decades, it has to be considered one of the best goal-scoring seasons we've ever seen.
If you happened to miss any of the goals, the video above (via Reddit Hockey) should have you covered as it features all of his tallies from the past season.
For another look at the goals, you should take a quick look at his shot charts (via somekindofninja.com) at both even strength (by clicking here) and on the power play (here). Is it a surprise to see so many of his goals coming from directly in front of the net, and so few coming from what had become his spot in the faceoff circle where he would pump in one-timer after one-timer?
The thing that is still most amazing about his season is that he did almost all of his damage at even strength, scoring 48 of his goals when the two sides were even. Only two other players in the league scored more than 30 (Malkin and Marian Gaborik) and none scored more than 38.
You have to go all the way back to the 1992-93 season to find the last time a player scored more than even-strength goals (and that year it was done by Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne). It's also worth pointing out that the average NHL game that season featured 7.25 goals, compared to the 5.47 we saw in 2011-12. So, again, we're back to Stamkos doing it in a decreased goal-scoring environment.
He's most likely not going to duplicate that 20 percent shooting percentage he had last season, so even if he keeps his shot totals in the same area he should be expected to see a decrease in his goals. And not just because it's almost impossible to consistently score that many goals in the NHL.
Just as a comparison, when Ovechkin had his 60-goal season back in 2007-08 he too had a career-high shooting percentage that year. Even though he came back the following season with even more shots on goal, his shooting percentage went back closer to his career norms (which it usually does for players) which resulted in a drop from 65 goals to "only" 56.
The NHL hasn't had a player put up consecutive 60-goal seasons since Pavel Bure did it in the early 90s as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
No matter how you look at it, what Stamkos did last season was pretty remarkable and it may be a while before we see somebody else match it.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @agretz on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
