Can the Predators actually move Stamkos and Marchessault?
The Fourth’s Dave Pagnotta joined Sirius XM NHL Network Radio along with Steve Kouleas and Nate Thompson and was asked about the Nashville Predators situation and whether Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault could be traded.
Transcribed by NHLRumors.com
Steve Kuras: “It feels like the Ryan O’Reilly situation is going to happen after two years and four-and-a-half years on a handshake deal, unless he really, really, really doesn’t want to go and there’s a lot of natural fit and his name has been reviled. I think you and I discussed it in October and then certainly in November. Can Starmer be traded? Realistically speaking.”
NHL Rumors: Nashville Predators and Steven Stamkos
Dave Pannotta: “I think he is, if the Preds are willing to keep a significant portion of this contract. I don’t think they want to eat half of his $8 million salary cap hit, but are they willing to take him to the $6 million mark or the $5 million mark to another team?”
I don’t think favoritism is either. I think the priority is, if you’re moving Stamkos, or you’re moving him when he’s at full strength, but I think if a team is willing to compensate for that, lower the cap, I think both he (Stamkos) and Marcheseo would be willing to listen.
I think both Stamkos and Marchessault are willing to give up to go to a top contender, not just this season, but for the duration of their contracts. Stamkos still has two years left after this year. Marchessault had three. But in Stamkos’ case, the issue is money and how far Predz is willing to keep the deal, if at all.
If so, then I do think there will be creative ways to achieve this. If they’re not, then he’ll stay and they’ll look at moving someone else on the roster because they do have a lot of productive players right now. Whether it’s Ryan O’Reilly, like you mentioned, or some of the other guys, some of the other guys with pending contracts or expiring contracts, pending UFA deals for (Michael) Bunting, (Michael) McCarron, (Nick) Blankenburg, (Eric) Haula, et cetera.
NHL Rumors: Is Andrew Brunette’s situation in jeopardy in Nashville?
They could be a very active team this season. “
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