If there’s one player the Nashville Predators need to start scoring goals, it’s Steven Stamkos.
Through 11 games, Stamkos has one goal and one assist. His most recent performance − zero points on three shots in 16:23 minutes against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 28 − was more of the same. No dangerous looks from his usual spot on the left circle and no shots on the power play.
While Stamkos is hardly the only offensive problem on the Predators (4-5-2, 10 points), he’s certainly their most important. Nashville can’t afford an $8 million player with just one goal to his name.
Coach Andrew Brunette’s solution? Move the 35-year-old back to center, just like last season.
“(Stamkos and I) have had a lot of conversations,” Brunette said before the Predators’ 5-2 loss to the Lightning at Bridgestone Arena. “He’s been great. … he’s bought into what we’re trying to do. I think he understands where we are, he understands what style we have to play.”
Stamkos took over at center ahead of a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Oct. 26, replacing Fedor Svechkov, who was scratched after scoring zero points in nine games. The move mirrors last season, when Stamkos replaced Tommy Novak, who had a similarly unproductive start.
“My message to (Stamkos) all the time is: ‘I want you to have the puck more. Because if you have the puck more, you have a better opportunity to do what you do,’ ” Brunette said. “He still skates great. We just want him to have the puck more and as a center, it gives him a little more freedom.”
Stamkos, so far, is on board with the change.
“When we made the switch last year, it kind of worked out,” Stamkos said. “It’s been touch and go with the offensive production, so I’m definitely involved a little more, touching the puck a little more.”
Stamkos finished with 27 goals last season, a modest amount for any Predators forward. Moving him to center could spark his offense, but there’s a problem with Brunette’s logic: it’s not Stamkos’ lack of puck touches, it’s his lack of shots on goal. And moving him to center may not fix that.
According to Hockey Reference, Stamkos creates 7.6 shots every 60 minutes, slightly up from 7.1 last season, but far below the 10.6 he had with Tampa the season before. Most seasons, Stamkos gets north of 220 shots on goal, but last season he had just 174 and is on pace for 180.
As a center, Stamkos will have the puck more, but he’ll also draw more attention. That forces more passes, resulting in fewer shots. Brunette’s idea sounds good in principle, but, like last season, it will only give Stamkos more work and added pressure in the middle of the ice.
However it plays out, the larger issue is the Predators have not found a consistent line mate for Stamkos since he signed a four-year deal in 2024.
“He’s having trouble finding some chemistry. I think it’s been that way the whole time he’s been here,” Brunette said. “So we’re hoping, we’re tying, to find somebody for him. Something that can get him going, that can ignite him and ignite us.”
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.