Stamkos’ broken tibia suffered Monday against the Bruins sent shockwaves across the sport as soon as the Tampa Bay Lightning star went crashing into the goal post at TD Garden. Many have weighed in on what the injury to one of the game’s best players means, and even Wayne Gretzky gave his 2 cents about what losing Stamkos means to the NHL.
“It’s horrible,” Gretzky said at the Hockey Hall of Fame induction Monday, according to the Toronto Star. “The players today are bigger, better and stronger than we were when we played. They are really incredible athletes. They play a high-risk, physical game, a fast game.
“They all carry themselves so well, from [Sidney] Crosby, [Alexander] Ovechkin, Stamkos, [Corey] Perry, [Ryan] Getzlaf. Our game should be very proud of how they conduct themselves as people. You don’t want to see anyone get an injury like he sustained [Monday]. It’s unfortunate. That’s the risk of being a National Hockey League player or professional athlete. It really is difficult. Hopefully, he mends from this and comes back even stronger. he’s a wonderful young man. I’m sure he’ll come back a better player.”
Stamkos is scheduled to have surgery in Boston on Tuesday morning, and it’s unclear what his recovery timetable will look like.
