Two-time champion, who joined Nashville as free agent July 1, feels new team has personnel to do it
© Rebekah Mohrmann/Nashville Predators
Steven Stamkos knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup.
The new Nashville Predators forward did it twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning, in 2020 and 2021, and said the Predators have to believe they can win it as well.
“We want to win a Stanley Cup. That’s why we play the game,” Stamkos said Tuesday when he met the media at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. “I think some people are sometimes afraid to say that and it heightens expectations, but at the end of the day I’ve always been a big believer that you have to believe you can do it in order to achieve it.”
The 34-year-old signed a four-year, $32 million contract ($8 million average annual value) with the Predators on July 1. The No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Stamkos has 1,137 points, (555 goals, 582 assists) in 1,082 games over 16 NHL seasons, all with the Lightning. He has 101 points (50 goals, 51 assists) in 128 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Predators have never won the Cup in their 25 seasons. Their lone Stanley Cup Final appearance came in 2017, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Last season, Nashville had an 18-game point streak (16-0-2), the longest in its history, from Feb. 17-March 26 en route to clinching the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The Predators lost to the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the first round.
“When looking at the team that Nashville had last year, the amazing run they went on and maybe some unfortunate breaks in the playoffs, not being able to advance further, but the building blocks were here,” Stamkos said.
“You look at elite goaltending, you look at elite defensemen, you look at elite forwards, they check those boxes off. Then the excitement of free agency and adding the players that were added here, not only for their skill set on the ice but the character they bring into the room, the experience they have of winning Stanley Cups or going far in the playoffs, you can never have enough of those guys as well. The expectation will be to make the playoffs and go on a run. That’s a pretty fair assessment of what this group can accomplish.”
NHL Tonight talks about the Predators additions
Stamkos was one of a few key free agent acquisitions the Predators made this month. Forward Jonathan Marchessault, who won the Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of that postseason, signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract ($5.5 million AAV). Defenseman Brady Skjei, who has played 76 NHL playoff games, signed a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million AAV).
Nashville also signed goaltender Juuse Saros to an eight-year, $61.92 million contract ($7.74 million AAV) that will begin with the 2025-26 season and re-signed defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, $11.25 million contract ($3.75 million AAV).
Stamkos believes the Predators have the pieces in place to win the Stanley Cup.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have won a championship before and know how hard it is to get there and the experience that comes along with that,” Stamkos said. “We’ve added some players that have done that as well and that’s just a contagious attitude we can have in this dressing room.
“Something I spoke to ‘Trotzy’ (Predators general manager Barry Trotz) about at length was, we want to come here and give ourselves the best chance to win, and I think everyone saw that with how aggressive the team was in free agency. We have a lot to be excited about.”
News
Sidney Crosby responds to career based NHL related question not worked out
Sidney Crosby responds to career based NHL related question not worked out (Credit: IMAGN) Sidney Crosby has let people know what career he would have chosen if hockey hadn’t worked out. In a video shared by the Pittsburgh Penguins on…
Maple Leafs Welcome Two Surprises Guests to Training Camp
Two influential Maple Leafs legend accepted invites from Leafs GM Brad Treliving to attend Wednesday’s sessions at training camp. As the Maple Leafs’ training camp progresses and the team begins to trim their roster down bit by bit for the…
Maple Leafs Forced to Shuffle Lines Due Injury to Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports The Toronto Maple Leafs shuffled their practice groups Wednesday, but without Auston Matthews, the lines in their top group were shuffled significantly. After a very brief 25-minute practice, Matthews left the ice on Tuesday with an…
3 Oilers players who have impressed in training camp so far
The Edmonton Oilers are one week into training camp and have three preseason games behind them, so who are the players that have made the most noise so far? For those players, this is a battle and one of the…
PHOTO: “Aaron Rodgers’ Ex-Girlfriend Shocks By Wearing Bold Low-cut Clothes – Will It Make The Jets’ QB Want To Come Back?”
Mallory Edens (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Turner Sports) New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers may need to spin the block and get back with an ex-girlfriend. Prior to the start of the 2023 season, Rodgers was romantically linked to Mallory…
Superstar Jaylen Brown’s new look when he appeared at Media Day sent NBA Fans crazy
Jaylen Brown (Image Credits: Getty Images) Jaylen Brown, the shooting guard for the Boston Celtics, played a crucial role in the team’s success during the 2023-24 NBA season. The 27-year-old star delivered several dominating performances, especially in the playoffs, which led…
End of content
No more pages to load