Steven Stamkos' Nashville Struggles Could Put the Leafs on Alert
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed on Thursday that 2x Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos may be looking for a new place to play if his struggles continue in Nashville.
When the Nashville Predators broke the bank in the summer of 2024, it was supposed to bring the team unparalleled success, and the additions of names like Jonathan Marchesseault, Ryan O'Reilly, and Brady Skjei caused a shockwave through the NHL when they all signed in Music City.
However the results were less than spectacular, with the team finishing 30-44-8, and sitting near the basement of the Central Division, ahead of the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks.
But the one name who has struggled the most since coming over has been 2x Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos, who went from premier talent to pretty mediocre by his standards.
Steven Stamkos Could Exit Predators If Season Doesn't Improve
That's continued into this season, with only two points in eight games (1 goal, 1 assist) and it's the complete opposite of what we expect of Stamkos, and it could lead to him wanting out.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, who appeared as a guest on the DMase, Vingan & Daunic podcast; both sides may need to have a chat about his future:
If this continues the way it's going, I could see a situation where both sides sit down and talk and say, what are our options here?
Stamkos isn't getting any younger, as he'll be 36 later on this season and injuries have caused his shelf life to lower a bit.
Maple Leafs Could Be In Play For Steven Stamkos
Obviously he still desires to win, so spinning his wheels in Nashville might not be it, so what if he came back to help dominate the Atlantic again?
If (and it's a big if) the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to somehow make a deal for Stamkos, it would give them the exact star they need to hopefully elevate their production.
It's going to take a lot for the team to bring him in, not only asset-wise but also in terms of financial cost for the next few seasons. Do they want to commit $8-million to a 36-year old when they can add a younger and potentially cheaper player in free agency?
Look, the team as it stands is not doing what they need to and while all the talk about Mitch Marner is exhausting, there's no denying he made them better.
They lack that extra star, and even an aging Stamkos can still offer an elite level of production plus give them a serious playoff demon (101 points in 128 games).
You also have to appreciate the fact that he could have had much more had Tampa not been eliminated four times in the first round, and he's leaps and bounds a better playoff player than any of the current Leafs.
There's a good chance that Steven Stamkos ends up leaving Nashville much sooner than he anticipated, and if the Maple Leafs want to make a true identity change; who better than the 'Stammer?'
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