Steven Stamkos Reveals Big Development for Predators' Future

Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos

The Nashville Predators came up short in their chase for a playoff spot this season, their second straight year missing out on the dance after the huge free agent influx of big names like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.

The franchise is now in the throes of a search for a new general manager. But while many observers expect big changes to come with that in order to remake the team, Stamkos has revealed that he doesn't think that's the case.

The message was the expectation is still to be a competitive team and to push for the playoffs. I don't anticipate any huge changes. We've talked about, is there going to be a rebuild or this or that? It's safe to say that's not going to be the case.

—Steven Stamkos

The 40-goal scoring veteran also told Alex Daugherty of the Nashville Tennessean and others in the media that he, and all the current players on the team, want to be a part of the solution in Nashville.

"We saw it for 60 games, what the process can look like. The integration of some of the younger guys. The veteran guys pulling their weight. The goaltending that we have here. There's going to be some changes for sure, but the overall message that was portrayed to us today was let's have a great summer and get off to really good start next year and push for the playoffs."

Those 60 games he spoke of saw the Preds pick themselves up after another brutal start to the season (6-12-4, dead last in the West), going 32-22-6 the rest of the way, putting themselves in the thick of the chase for a Wild Card playoff berth until the final week of the season. They ultimately finished four points back of the LA Kings for the second WC spot.

'We should be a little pissed off that we're not' in the playoffs, says Stamkos

Naturally, once a new GM is hired, all this talk about keeping the team mostly intact, no rebuild, no retool, etc. is... just talk from the outgoing regime (Barry Trotz). We'll have to see how a new hockey boss decides to approach things.

We'll let Stamkos have the last word for now, as he suggests that they're not far off from playoff contention.

"We should be a little pissed off that we're not playing hockey right now," Stamkos said. "But . . . there is a path there. I think all of us believe that."