TAMPA, Fla. — Martin St. Louis walked into the Amalie Arena interview room and nearly stopped himself, stunned by how full it was — wall-to-wall reporters, photographers and cameramen squeezing into each inch of the place.
“Oh, geez,” the 39-year-old right wing whispered to himself.
If his 12-minute press conference is any indication, Wednesday night is going to be interesting on many fronts for the Rangers’ alternate captain.
St. Louis makes his return to Tampa Bay after last March’s blockbuster trade unsure of what to expect, whether the home fans will recognize his mostly brilliant 12-plus seasons or hold onto a grudge because he wanted out. The Lightning are planning a video tribute.
“I am expecting the worst, but am hoping for the best,” said St. Louis, riding a four-game point streak and with seven goals in his previous 10 games.
When the schedule was released in August, St. Louis said he circled this date.
“Obviously it’s weird to go past the [Lightning] dressing room and not make a left turn in it. But I’ve moved on and I think tomorrow is going to be special for me to play here,” he said. “It was 13 great years. … I grew up here pretty much — it felt like it — as a professional.”
He was Mr. Tampa Bay for more than a decade, the team’s captain who led the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup, registered six 30-goal seasons and a 100-point year. But there was a falling out last season with general manager Steve Yzerman — it reportedly arose from Yzerman, the Canadian National Team GM, initially leaving him off the Canadian roster for the Winter Olympics, though St. Louis also wanted to be closer to his family in Connecticut — and he requested the trade. Yzerman swapped him for Ryan Callahan.
St. Louis politely declined to rehash the history of what led to his decision. He’s happy in New York, playing on Broadway, and is pleased to see the Lightning, at 14-6-2 with 30 points, have moved on so well without him.
When asked what he would say to the fans who still feel betrayed, St. Louis took a deep breath.
“People are entitled to their opinion, and I respect that, and I know a lot will heal over time,” he said. “I’d like for people to remember the great years. … I look in the mirror and know I gave my heart and soul for this franchise for 13 years.”
After getting off to a slow start in New York, St. Louis found his game in the playoffs, becoming an essential piece in the Rangers run to the Stanley Cup final, registering 15 points, eight goals and seven assists, in the postseason. He spent the early part of this year out of position at center, when Derek Stepan went down, and has become one of the Rangers’ leaders.
Wednesday night has a chance to be extremely special for St. Louis, and not just because he is returning to the place he called home for so long.
St. Louis is just two points shy of 1,000.
“For sure I definitely thought about it and am hoping for it,” he admitted. “It’s funny the way things line up sometimes. When they cancel the game in Buffalo [last Friday], and now here we are here. I know I am going to get it. Would it be great if I got it here?
“Absolutely.”