Stamkos Struggles with the Predators
Steven Stamkos’ inaugural season with the Nashville Predators was far from stellar, registering his weakest performance since he began his NHL career in the 2008-09 season. Now, as the current season unfolds, the 35-year-old forward is struggling further, having accumulated only two points in his first 13 matches for the Predators. This lackluster output is not what the organization anticipated when they inked a lucrative four-year contract worth $8 million annually with the two-time ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy winner in July 2024.
Trade Speculation Surrounding Stamkos
As Stamkos continues to face difficulties on the ice, speculation about potential trades is beginning to circulate. Adam Proteau from The Hockey News suggests that if his situation does not improve, the Predators might enter discussions regarding his future. Citing insights from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, he hypothesizes a meeting between management and Stamkos to explore available options.
It’s important to note that Stamkos holds a full no-movement clause in his current contract, which adds a layer of complexity to any potential trade discussions. Nonetheless, observers including Proteau have speculated that he might consider waiving this clause if it meant joining a team with a better shot at the Stanley Cup, highlighting the possibility of the Carolina Hurricanes, the Los Angeles Kings, or the Toronto Maple Leafs as viable landing spots.
In a related note, Paul Chapman from The Province reported CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal mentioning that the Vancouver Canucks, who are enduring their own struggles, have expressed interest in Stamkos as a potential acquisition. While Chapman believes that Stamkos may have passed his peak performance years, he acknowledges the Canucks’ search for solutions amidst their injury woes.
Currently, there are no indications that Stamkos has requested a trade, nor that the Predators have contemplated such a move. However, if a trade were to occur, teams like the Hurricanes, armed with both financial flexibility and valuable assets, could outmaneuver the Kings, Leafs, or Canucks in a bidding scenario.
On a related note, Nashville’s head coach, Andrew Brunette, is proposing a switch for Stamkos, suggesting a transition to the center position in hopes of revitalizing his performance, as he has still only netted one goal in 11 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Surprising Performance
Turning now to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they are surprisingly contending for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, propelled by the impressive play of veteran center Evgeni Malkin, who, at 39 years old, is one of the league’s top scorers with 18 points. Despite this strong showing, there are doubts about whether the Penguins can sustain their current momentum.
Interestingly, Malkin is in the final year of his contract, and there are whispers he may consider a trade if approached by management. Sportnet’s Luke Fox suggests that Malkin could attract considerable interest as a trade piece, particularly from teams such as the Florida Panthers, looking to fill the void left by injured center Aleksander Barkov.
This line of speculation first emerged when Barkov’s season-ending knee surgery was announced. Malkin, while expressing his desire to continue with the Penguins, has remained non-committal about his future if approached by GM Kyle Dubas regarding a trade.
Dubas has indicated intentions to evaluate Malkin’s future during an upcoming meeting set for the February Olympic break, making any trade involving him unlikely for the time being.
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