Trade rumors link Steven Stamkos to 5 teams, but his NMC complicates things for the Nashville Predators. We analyze which landing spot actually makes sense.
When Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet dropped his list of five potential trade destinations for Steven Stamkos, it naturally set the hockey world on fire. As we watch the Nashville Predators navigate the 2025-26 season, the chatter surrounding the 35-year-old winger is impossible to ignore. But as someone who has followed the intricacies of NHL contracts and player psychology for years, I have to be the one to pump the brakes on the hype train.
Dixon lists the Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, and Detroit Red Wings as suitors. On paper, sure, you can make the money work if Nashville retains salary. But we are forgetting the most critical piece of the puzzle.
The Full No-Movement Clause Factor
Let’s be real for a second. Steven Stamkos holds all the cards here. He possesses a full no-movement clause (NMC), meaning he isn’t going anywhere unless he explicitly wants to.
Dixon lists Montreal as a top spot. I understand the romanticism of an Original Six franchise, but we have to look at history. Remember 2016? Stamkos had the chance to go to the Toronto Maple Leafs—his hometown team—and he passed. Why? Because he likely didn’t want the suffocating media pressure that comes with a Canadian market. If he wasn’t keen on the pressure in his prime, why would he sign up for the Montreal fishbowl at age 35 while trying to find his game? The same logic applies to Winnipeg; the fit just isn’t there for a player at this stage of his career.
Seattle is an interesting thought, but they need prime scoring. Stamkos, while a legend, is seeing a production decline. The Kraken need the Stamkos of five years ago, not the version trying to find his footing in Nashville.
Can the Hurricanes Make It Work?
This leaves us with the Carolina Hurricanes. If we are looking for the only “sensible” option on Dixon’s list, this is it. The Canes are perpetually in “win-now” mode and could desperately use the Stanley Cup pedigree that Stamkos brings. However, even this is a stretch. Carolina has been hunting for big fish like Mikko Rantanen or Mitch Marner—players in their absolute prime. Pivoting to an aging Stamkos feels like a Plan C for a front office that relies heavily on analytics.
Ultimately, until Steven Stamkos walks into Barry Trotz’s office and waives that NMC, these five destinations remain nothing more than fantasy hockey fodder.
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