Predators Trade Rumors: Steven Stamkos Linked to Metropolitan Team

Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators forward

The Nashville Predators are one of the key teams to watch in the coming weeks when it comes to trade activity. GM Barry Trotz is getting mighty impatient, as his explosive "I need (expletive) more from them!" rant proved late last month. Yes, they've won two in a row, but they're still one point out of dead last in the league.

Steven Stamkos, two-time Stanley Cup winner and future Hall of Famer, has been a supreme disappointment since coming to Nashville. He's sitting on eight goals and 11 points this season in 27 games. Last year, his first with the Preds, with 53 points, he recorded his lowest points-per-game total in 17 years, since his rookie season in 2008-09.

And while a move back to the Tampa Bay Lightning has been rumored, the Bolts have under $1.5 million in cap space at the moment, which will make it awfully difficult for them to fit Stamkos's $8 million cap hit onto their roster, even with retention from Nashville.

Devils have discussed trading for Stamkos

Another team is emerging as a possibility to take a run at Stamkos, according to insider Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic. "Keep an eye on Stamkos (and the New Jersey) Devils, he writes.

My understanding is that the New Jersey Devils have discussed his name internally, among many other trade targets, of course. The Devils were also among the suitors for Stamkos when he was a free agent in 2024. So there’s a bit of history there. It’s something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.

Now, an 'internal' discussion is still far from actual trade talks, but the fact that the Devils showed strong interest in the 18-year veteran in the summer of 2024 shows they're serious about his potential fit there.

As James Nichols writes in Sportsnaut, "The Devils have long needed a finisher next to Jack Hughes or Jesper Bratt since the departure of Tyler Toffoli at the 2024 NHL trade deadline." Stamkos certainly has the resume to fill that role, with 590 career goals and two 40-goal seasons in the previous four before this year.

Stamkos' $8M cap hit makes any deal difficult

But with two more years on his deal after the current season at $8M annually, it's a big commitment for a 35-year-old.

The Devils have $3.6 million cap space at the moment, so there would clearly need to be some retention on the Preds' part, plus some other roster moves for New Jersey to make it happen.

As LeBrun notes, Stamkos does have a full no-move clause, so he would have to agree to any move. But Nashville Predators, "would definitely listen to calls on him".