The Nashville Predators “won the offseason” two summers ago when they signed both Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos in the summer of 2024. It was a huge move for head coach turned general manager Barry Trotz. Success did not follow, as the Predators finished as a lottery team in 2024-2025.
Stamkos had a particularly bad season but finished with a respectable 27 goals. It seemed the Tampa Bay Lightning were justified in letting their long time captain walk in such an unceremonious fashion. After a slow start to this season Stamkos’s offensive output turned around and he currently has 25 goals entering play Tuesday. If the Predators are once again sellers at the deadline Stamkos has emerged as their best trade chip. A report from November said the Predators were listening to trade offers for the 35 year old top six right winger.
Here’s the problem for Nashville: although they haven’t played good enough to be labeled playoff contenders, they’ve clawed their way back to an over .500 record. Entering play on Tuesday they are just three points back of the Western Conference’s second wild card spot in a year their conference seems to be wide open. Should they try to chase a playoff spot down the stretch? Trading Stamkos would be a sure fired punt on the season.
How much does Nashville re-emerging in the playoff picture change their deadline plans as March 6th approaches? Stamkos’s revived offensive touch has helped lead the charge. It also increased his trade value to the highest it’s been since he put on a Predators jersey. Yahoo Sports predicts that league parity would likely mean less sellers at this year’s deadline. That doesn’t do much for helping determine if the Predators will be one as they sit in this murky middle of the conference standings.
Also complicating matters is that Stamkos has a full no trade clause. The rumored price for Stamkos is a first round pick so it’s not like Nashville is getting rid of him on the cheap. Stamkos’s tenure in music city so far has been a disappointment. Trading him would give Trotz a “get out of jail” free card on the final two years and $8 million AAV on his contract in a singing that’s largely been seen as a mistake.
The clock might be ticking but Trotz still does have a few weeks to make a decision. Unfortunately those few weeks include the NHL’s Winter Olympic break. If the team rapidly either increases their place in the standings or makes a quick race to the bottom would make Trotz’s decision much easier, but both represent two drastic opposite outcomes for Nashville’s season.
The returns of the Marchessault and Stamkos signing make you think that Nashville’s cup window isn’t in the now. Although the instant gratification of making the playoffs this season might be tempting for Trotz, the opportunity cost would be draft capital that could help build the next true Nashville contender. This is a team that needs to get younger before anyone expects them to be built for long term success. Does that nudge Nashville to the “sellers” column? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.