Steven Stamkos is simply not human.
Just 13 days after suffering a broken leg that many speculated would be season-ending, the 23-year-old Lightning star walked into his first meeting with the media Monday morning without the use of crutches or a walking boot — a shockingly speedy recovery that has surprised even Stamkos.
“I can’t believe that I’m able to walk without any boot or crutches less than two weeks later,” he said, via The Tampa Tribune.
Stamkos is not yet ready to begin on-ice activity — though Lightning beat reporter Missy Zielinski reports that he was walking around the locker room Monday with skates on — but he has started his rehab process and has not ruled out returning in time to represent Canada in the Sochi Olympics in February.
Stamkos injured his leg when he went crashing into the net during a game in Boston on Nov. 11. The center was diagnosed with a fractured tibia and stayed overnight at Mass General Hospital, where he says Bruins coach Claude Julien paid him a visit. Stamkos also said that he received a text from Zdeno Chara on behalf of the Bruins players wishing him the best in his recovery.
“Pretty classy,” he said.
