NHL Trade Rumors: Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens In For $32 Million Trade Candidate
Amid the highs and lows of the 2025-26 NHL season, we have quietly approached the point in the season when trade rumors are gaining traction again. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the community is looking forward to emerging storylines that link players across the league to different teams.
Taking the excitement up a notch, an insider has named the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks as interested clients for a seasoned NHL veteran whose legacy speaks for itself.
Canadiens and Canucks Keeping Tabs on Steven Stamkos
Sure, Stamkos’ offensive production has witnessed a dip, especially since his high-profile trade to the Nashville Predators. The Predators had added Stamkos to strengthen their case for a deep playoff run. After all, the 35-year-old had been crucial in propelling the Tampa Bay Lightning to Stanley Cup glory in 2020 and 2021.
However, the challenging cap situation had led to the Lightning and Stamkos parting ways, triggering his move to Nashville. Currently, Stamkos is signed to a four-year, $32 million contract with the Predators that pays him $8 million annually: an amount the veteran has failed to justify lately.
According to Pierre LeBrun, discussions about a potential move that would take Stamkos away from Nashville have yet to occur.
“There have not been any conversations between the Nashville Predators and any other team to this point this year regarding Steven Stamkos, nor have there been even conversations, I’m told, between GM Barry Trotz and Steven Stamkos, which would have to happen because Stamkos has a full no-move clause,” TSN Hockey Insider, LeBrun noted.
However, this season has only brought bad news for the team, which is currently languishing at the bottom of the Central Division. If Nashville’s season doesn’t take a turn for the better, things can come to entertaining calls from teams interested in Stamkos. Among such teams, Jeff Marek believes, the Canadiens and the Canucks are foremost.
“Make no mistake about it, Vancouver is part of that conversation, as is Montreal, as are a number of teams,” Marek stated on Sekeres and Price.
Of course, there will be no conversation about any move surrounding Stamkos without the veteran’s active enthusiasm, thanks to his no-movement clause. From what we know, the 35-year-old enjoys living in Nashville, but for whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to make a strong case for his fit with the team.
If the Predators continue performing the way they have, the season is guaranteed to be a disaster. Only then can the community expect further developments in this storyline. If Stamkos ever has to consider leaving the Predators, he would only have a select few destinations in mind.
At any rate, the standout forward has only accumulated five points in 20 games so far: a shocking decline in the performance of a two-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner.
