The Nashville Predators’ struggles this
season have made Steven Stamkos the subject of trade conjecture.
Despite reports a month ago claiming the Predators haven’t approached
the 35-year-old right winger about his future, his name continues to
surface as a trade candidate.
Stamkos is signed through 2027-28 with
an average annual value of $8 million and a full no-movement clause.
The two-time Richard Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion has seen
his scoring decline since tallying 40 goals in 2023-24 with his
former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The combination of Stamkos’ age, contract and the drop in his production makes him difficult to move
during this season. Nevertheless, some observers continue to suggest
potential trade destinations.
Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon recently
proposed five possible landing spots for Stamkos, assuming he’s
willing to waive his no-movement clause. They include the Montreal
Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and
Detroit Red Wings.
The Canadiens were reportedly looking
into his availability in early November, but that seemed more like
due diligence. None of the others is believed to have made calls.
Given Stamkos’ reluctance to sign with
the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, it’s unlikely that he’ll want the
fishbowl existence that comes with playing for a Canadian team. The
Kraken need a scoring superstar, but Stamkos can no longer reliably
fill that role. Meanwhile, the Red Wings’ priority is improving their
defensive game.
The Hurricanes seem the most likely
destination on Dixon’s list. They’re in “win-now” mode, possess
the necessary cap space and the tradeable assets, and briefly
acquired Mikko Rantanen last season before trading him to Dallas.
However, Rantanen is younger than
Stamkos and is in his prime. The Hurricanes might not be keen
to pursue an aging star whose best years are behind him.
Meanwhile, the ongoing struggles of
starting goaltender Stuart Skinner had some pundits suggesting the
Edmonton Oilers should ship him out and find a suitable replacement.
However, that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported
Saturday that Skinner has not requested a trade from the Oilers. He
also said that they don’t intend to make a move for the sake of doing
so, or a lateral move. They’d prefer not to make a trade at all, rather than one based on panic.
The Oilers have little choice but to
stay patient. There are currently no suitable goalie upgrades available in the
trade market.
Friedman said there are teams with
spare goaltenders, such as the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh
Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. However, the Oilers don’t see any of
those as an improvement over their current netminders.
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