Reported Detroit Red Wings offseason target Steven Stamkos is off to rough start with Nashville

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Jack Sutherland
November 23, 2024 (9:03 PM)

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Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was reportedly an offseason target for the Detroit Red Wings, but he ended up with the Predators - with whom he's having a rough start to the year.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was reportedly on the radar of the Detroit Red Wings during the offseason, and it seemed like a natural fit given the connection to former Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman.

Additionally, former Lightning assistant Derek Lalonde currently serves as Detroit Red Wings head coach, offering another incentive for Stamkos to consider signing in Detroit.

But despite those notable connections, Stamkos instead took his talents to Music City, signing a four-year contract with the Nashville Predators.

That was only the beginning of what would be one of the biggest offseasons in Predators history, as they also signed 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault along with defenseman Brady Skjei.

Stamkos and the Predators are off to an unthinkable start, having gone winless in their first five games, which included a pair of losses to the Red Wings at both Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Through his first 20 games with his new team, Stamkos has scored only six goals. Ironically, his first goal in a Predators jersey was against the Red Wings.

He's on pace for 25 goals, a far-cry from his total of 40 last season, his final year with the Lightning.

What's more, he's also a -14.

While there's still plenty more season for Stamkos and his teammates to figure things out, his tenure early on with the Predators after signing an $8 million per year contract has been extremely underwhelming at best.

Did the Detroit Red Wings make the right call by not signing him? That's something that only time will tell (and how Stamkos ultimately performs over the next 3.5 years).