Ranking the Top Landing Spots for Steven Stamkos Amid NHL Trade Deadline Rumors

Just like that, the Olympic break is over, NHL play has resumed, and the trade deadline is one week away.

This will be an intriguing deadline: So many teams are on the playoff bubble that the buyer-seller situation is murkier than usual. It'll be a good time to sell, given the number of potential playoff teams. 

The Predators have unexpectedly inserted themselves into the playoff conversation, sitting two spots out of a playoff spot in the West, but it's a tight pack, and the franchise is rightfully focused on the future. 

Star forward Steven Stamkos, who holds a full no-move clause on his $8 million AAV contract, is the Predators' best trade chip. He might be willing to waive his no-move clause for the right contender.

He has prepared a list of preferred destinations in case the Nashville Predators propose trading him ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Thursday. LeBrun added that due to cap constraints and the unpredictability of trade deadline moves in the first place, a deal for Stamkos could be more of an off-season thing.

Stamkos did deny Friday afternoon that a conversation about his no-movement clause with the Predators has happened yet.

"I haven't talked to (general manager Barry Trotz) at all about that," Stamkos told The Tennesseean's Alex Daugherty, noting there's "zero" chance he'd waive his NMC.

Look, the Predators are a few points out of a playoff spot, and there are a lot of moving parts here. If Stamkos presented a list of potential teams he would waive his NMC for, it doesn't mean he wants to be traded, or that he will be. It just means he's flexible and willing to work with the club, but these things can get misinterpreted by the general public, so Stamkos' clarification could've been a message to his team and Predators fans that he wasn't requesting a trade or wanting out.

Regardless of whether a trade happens by this deadline or not, there are some intriguing names on the list, and those names didn't appear out of thin air. Let's power rank Stamkos' potential destinations before the decision is made.

3. Minnesota Wild

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Kirill Kaprizov

The Wild are the talk of the town this season, between Kirill Kaprizov's record-breaking contract, the team's rocky start, the turnaround that has lifted them to No. 2 in the brutal Central Division, and, of course, the shocking trade for Quinn Hughes that officially made them a top Cup contender.

Minnesota is projected to have $12.3 million in cap space at the deadline, according to PuckPedia, so they could make a run at Stamkos. Frankly, though, the Wild have a ton of veteran experience on the roster, and they're seeking a center that could slot in on a second- or third-line before or after Joel Eriksson-Ek's line to produce some more scoring. Stamkos has shifted from the center to the wing later in his career, so you'd think the Wild may seek a better all-around fit at the deadline.

Stamkos can provide a great deal of Cup-winning experience and leadership to the right team, and he makes any team better. The Wild need center depth, and he could jump back into the position and hold his own, but there are options more suited for both parties on Stamkos' list.

2. Dallas Stars

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Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque

The Stars have had an impressive trade deadline track record to say the least under GM Jim Nill, but they're still looking for that ticket out of the Western Conference Final. They've got one of the most complete rosters in the league, with emerging talent like Thomas Harley and Wyatt Johnston, prime talent like Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen, and a top goaltender in Jake Oettinger. 

Someone like Stamkos could be a perfect fit for Dallas: He'd contribute on the scoresheet and keep the defense tight, but he wouldn't need to fill in at center or fill a huge gap. 

Stamkos' full contract will fit on the Stars now that Tyler Seguin's contract is on LTIR due to his season-ending injury.

 The Stars have scored the seventh-most goals in the league this season, which isn't a bad thing, but scoring could certainly use a boost to get out of the gauntlet in the West, let alone contend for a Cup. Adding Stamkos, who leads the Predators with 29 goals, couldn't hurt.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

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What a storybook ending it would be for Stamkos to end up right back where it all began in Tampa Bay. Stamkos spent 16 years with the Lightning, winning two Cups and becoming a face of the franchise before hitting the free market and landing with the Predators in 2024.

You could understand why both sides couldn't make it work at the time, with the Lightning needing to spruce things up to get back into Cup-contending status. Now that the Lightning have accomplished that and sit at the top of the Atlantic Division, they're still missing what Stamkos provided at center as they deal with an ongoing slew of injuries.

The Lightning have been known to run it back and re-acquire fan favorites like Yanni Gourde while gearing up for the playoffs, so it's not out of the question.

The Lightning would have to clear out $5 million in cap space to make it work with Stamkos' full contract, but they've been known to get creative. If Stamkos is willing -- which he reportedly is -- why the heck not? It would be the perfect bow on the whimsical run to the top these Lightning have been on, and it would make us all feel better about the way things ended in Tampa Bay for a franchise legend.