Two Big Names No Longer Likely Being Moved by Predators

Steven Stamkos is unlikely to waive his no-move clause for a trade, while Ryan O’Reilly is not thrilled with the trade talk that surrounds him, given that Nashville is back in the race.

Insider Nick Kypreos says no discussions have happened between the Stamkos camp and the Predators. With Stamkos on a 40-goal pace and the team in the hunt, it sounds like he’s staying put, ending any speculation that he might be on the move before the trade deadline. Stamkos scored back-to-back goals to cap off an incredible four-goal comeback against the St. Louis Blues in the third period the other night.

He had a slow start to the 2025-26 season, which led many to wonder if he’d be a better fit elsewhere. Stamkos then went on a tear and has 27 goals in 55 games this season.

Meanwhile, O’Reilly was a player many teams were looking at, with the market options at center limited.

Friedman reported that O’Reilly was a player the Montreal Canadiens considered. He also said, “I think he’s a guy that Minnesota’s looked at, but they’ve said, they’re not doing anything unless they have a reason to go to him.”

The Predators are a team buyers were considering. They have several big names who are popular, with O’Reilly, Stamkos, Erik Haula, and Michael Bunting among them.

What’s interesting about the Preds is that they are also in the middle of a serious management change. Barry Trotz has announced he will step down as the team’s GM, with a replacement to be named imminently. Having Trotz make big trades ahead of the deadline feels like a risky proposition, meaning the incoming GM would have to deal with the potential consequences of decisions he didn’t make.

That could mean the Predators could be a much quieter team at the deadline than people anticipated.

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