Insider Makes Bold Prediction About Steven Stamkos's Future

Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators forward

It was a shock to everyone on hockey when Steven Stamkos was forced to move on from the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. With the Nashville Predators, he went on to have his least productive year since his rookie season in 2008-09. Now, 2025-26 is looking even worse, with just one goal and two points in eight games.

With three years to go (including this one) on an $8 million cap hit, how long will the Nashville Predators—and Stamkos himself—continue to play the disappointing tune that has been the Stamkos run in Music City?

On the DMase, Vingan & Duanic show on The Game Nashville, Adam Vingan says there's some worry in town surrounding the seven-time All-Star.

"I'm starting to get a little concerned about Steven Stamkos... (that) he may have lost a little bit of that touch... I feel like I'm not noticing him on the ice much."

Insider Elliotte Friedman told Vingas that he shares his concern about the 35-year-old former two-time Stanley Cup champion.

I think the thing I'm most concerned about is that he's not making an impact on the power play... Stamkos's bread and butter was always the power play... That is the thing that stands out to me.

But then came the bombshell question from Vingas: "If Steven Stamkos sees how this Predators season is going, how this team is trending, could you see a world where he approaches (GM) Barry Trotz about waving his no movement clause, and joining a contender?"

Friedman's response was boldly in the affirmative:

If this continues the way it's going, I could see a situation where both sides sit down and talk and say, what are our options here?... If, if, if it doesn't get better, could you not see a situation where it is beneficial to both the team and player to explore it?

Stamkos has seven 40+ goal seasons on his resume, including 50-goal and 60-goal years, and he reached the 40-mark only two years ago in his 16th and final campaign with the Lightning in 2023-24.

However, after being a point-per-game player (++) for 15 seasons, he managed just 53 points in 82 games in his first year in Nashville during the 2024-25 season. To be fair, it was a dreadful year all around for the team, and he wasn't the only one to fall off.

But this is obviously something we need to keep an eye on if things don't drastically improve with the Preds.