Steven Stamkos isn’t requesting a trade out of Nashville. But with the March 6 trade deadline approaching and the Predators teetering on the playoff bubble, his camp has taken a practical step: they’ve built a list.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Stamkos has identified three teams he’d waive his no-movement clause for — Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Minnesota, in that order.
At 28 goals and 39 points over his last 24 games, Stamkos is playing some of the best hockey of his later years. The question is whether Nashville is built to take full advantage. GM Barry Trotz — himself a lame duck after announcing his end-of-season retirement — has publicly said everything is on the table. Here’s what makes each destination a fit for Stamkos.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay is the storybook destination, and also the most logistically challenging.
Stamkos was drafted first overall by the Lightning in 2008, spent 16 seasons in Tampa, and won two Stanley Cups. He departed only when the franchise chose not to re-sign him ahead of 2024-25, instead pivoting to Jake Guentzel on an eight-year deal. Guentzel is still on the roster, Nikita Kucherov just captured his second straight Art Ross Trophy with 121 points, and Brayden Point is anchoring the middle.
Tampa Bay is near the salary cap ceiling, and GM Julien BriseBois has admitted there’s limited maneuverability. But Stamkos feeding Kucherov on the power play would create one of the league’s deadliest units. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer returning to where it all began isn’t just a storyline, it’s a move that puts the rest of the NHL on notice.
Sometimes narrative and on-ice impact align in ways that defies even the loftiest expectations.
Dallas Stars
Of the three destinations, Dallas makes the most immediate sense.
The Stars sit third in the Central Division and are navigating a narrowing contention window. A looming extension for Jason Robertson will eventually reshape their cap structure, and an injury to Tyler Seguin has opened more than $9 million in LTIR space at the trade deadline.
Stamkos plugs directly into that void. He can center a second line, anchor the power play, and immediately upgrade a team that finished top-10 in goals despite bottom-10 shot generation. Efficiency and finishing are Dallas’ lifeblood, and Stamkos’ skill set matches perfectly.
Pair him with Mikko Rantanen, and the Stars suddenly boast one of the Western Conference’s most dangerous top-six combinations — the type of addition that can tilt a playoff series.
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota is the most aggressive buyer, and the team with the clearest structural gap Stamkos can fill. The Wild’s blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes — which cost Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick — transformed their blue line but left a glaring hole down the middle. Joel Eriksson Ek remains reliable, but depth behind him is thin, and injuries have limited his availability.
Since acquiring Hughes, Minnesota has gone 16-5-5 and leads the NHL in scoring, averaging 3.91 goals per game — nearly half a goal more than the next-best team. But high-event regular-season hockey doesn’t guarantee playoff success, particularly when center depth is tested in a series.
Stamkos, at $8 million AAV with two years remaining, is a cost-effective, proven solution: a second-line presence with power-play firepower and playoff experience. All signs point to a first-round showdown with Dallas, and if Minnesota wants to challenge the Stars down the middle, Stamkos may be the exact piece they need.
