If you told me at the start of the season that Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos might be weighing a mid-season move to the Dallas Stars, I would have politely suggested you spend less time on NHL trade simulator websites. But here we are. According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the two-time Stanley Cup champion, who is still playing at an elite level with 28 goals this season, has surprisingly provided Nashville management with a shortlist of preferred trade destinations. The biggest bombshell? The Dallas Stars are firmly on that list.
Let me be perfectly clear right away: Stamkos is happy in Nashville. He holds a full no-movement clause (NMC) and isn’t banging on the GM’s door demanding a one-way ticket out of town. However, with the NHL trade deadline looming, Stamkos and his camp are simply doing their due diligence. If the Predators decide to test the market, Stamkos is prepared. For a Dallas Stars team looking down the barrel of a brutal Western Conference playoff gauntlet against heavyweights like the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild, securing premium top-six depth isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Analyzing the Fit: Steven Stamkos and the Dallas Stars
From an insider’s perspective, this makes terrifying sense for the rest of the Central Division. Navigating the Western Conference playoffs requires battle-tested veterans who don’t wilt when the ice shrinks in May. Stamkos brings a pedigree that very few active players possess.
Even at 34 years old, Stamkos remains a lethal offensive threat. His 28 goals so far this season prove that his legendary one-timer from the left circle is as dangerous as ever. Slotting a right-handed weapon like Stamkos into a Dallas top-six that already features the two-way dominance of Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson would make their power play an absolute nightmare to defend.
The main hurdle, of course, is his contract. Stamkos has two years remaining on his current deal. For Dallas to pull this off, general manager Jim Nill would have to perform some serious salary cap gymnastics, and Nashville would likely need to retain salary or take a roster player back. But does Stamkos want to pass up a legitimate, immediate opportunity at a third Stanley Cup ring? Dallas offers exactly that.
What It Means for the Nashville Predators
On the flip side, Nashville’s management has a tough call to make. If they don’t see themselves as true contenders next season, leveraging a 28-goal scorer while his value is sky-high is just smart asset management. LeBrun noted that Stamkos hasn’t asked out, but preparing a three-team list indicates the veteran is realistic about the business of hockey. If Nashville approaches him next Friday with a blockbuster offer from Texas, do not be surprised if he waves that NMC.
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The post The Unexpected Trade Target: Why Steven Stamkos Has the Dallas Stars on His Radar appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
