While trade rumours have been swirling around Nashville Predators star Steven Stamkos with the team off to another slow start this season, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the team has yet to hold any talks on the forward.
Stamkos has just two goals and three points in 16 games this season, while the Predators sit outside the early playoff picture at 5-7-4.
The 35-year-old centre had 27 goals and 53 points in 82 games last season, the first year of a four-year, $32 million contract that carries an $8 million AAV and a full no-move clause.
“I will say this to start, it’s pretty premature when it comes to that,” LeBrun said Thursday of trade talk involving Stamkos. “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.
“Having said all that, and you knew I was going to say that, if we get to the second half of the season and the Predators are out of a playoff spot, I do believe that the Predators would be open to fielding calls on Steven Stamkos, who has two-and-a-half years left on his contract at $8 million per.
“Again, this is up to Stamkos. He actually loves living in Nashville, I’m told, but obviously, hockey-wise, it’s not been a good fit. He’d be pretty picky here. This is not about going to any single situation if something arises. He would certainly have a short list of teams only, and that’s if he decides to go down that route.”
Stamkos is on pace for just 10 goals and 15 points over 82 games this season, which would be by far the worst output of his career. Prior to last season, the 2008 first-overall pick had scored at least 30 goals in every full NHL season dating back to 2017-18.
The Unionville, Ont. native has topped the point-per-game mark in 12 of his 17 seasons and has 584 goals and 1,193 points in 1,180 career games with the Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nashville finished with the third-worst record in the Western Conference last season after spending big to bring in Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in free agency.
