Significant Turn of Events for Steven Stamkos for 2nd Straight Day

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos

We heard a report on Thursday that Steven Stamkos had provided the Nashville Predators with a list of three teams he'd at least consider a move to.

But on Friday, a significant turn of events in the Stamkos drama, as the player himself denied that report in an interview with Alex Daugherty in the Nashville Tennessean.

Stamkos has a full no-move clause. And he says there is "zero" chance he'd be willing to waive it this season.

I haven't talked to (GM Barry Trotz) at all about (a prefered teams list or his NMC).
Obviously there's stuff that gets reported. But what I'll say, with this group, we want to be together. I can only control what I can control, but I love being here.

The report by Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic suggested that Stamkos listed his old team the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild as places that the future Hall of Famer had as his prefered destinations if a trade were to take place.

He's pretty much put that to bed now, however.

The Predators have been on a good roll since December, and now are just two points back of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference after a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night.

The 36-year-old Stamkos is having a fine second season in Nashville, with 29 goals and 45 points in 58 games. He's about to register his 10th 30-goal season.

The Predators signed him to a four-year, $8M AAV free agent deal after he shocked the hockey world by leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024 following his legendary 16 years there.