The Edmonton Oilers have made their priorities pretty clear over the past few seasons: squeeze every last drop out of the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl era and worry about tomorrow later. That’s why a player like Steven Stamkos starts to look awfully interesting if the Nashville Predators decide their path is going to be younger and more future-focused.
In this proposal, Edmonton would land Stamkos with $2 million retained. Nashville would get Trent Frederic, Beau Akey, Quinn Hutson, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick via St. Louis.
It’s a hefty price, but the fit is easy to see from Edmonton’s side. Even at 36, Stamkos is still one of the league’s most dangerous finishers.
He would give the Oilers another elite shot threat to pair with either McDavid or Draisaitl, and that matters on a team that already lives off offense. He’d also make the power play even more intimidating.
Opponents would already have to deal with McDavid’s creativity, Draisaitl’s one-timer, Evan Bouchard’s point shot and Zach Hyman’s net-front work. Add Stamkos’ release from either circle, and the matchup gets uglier fast.
The other part of Edmonton’s appeal is just as important: the Oilers would be swinging big without touching premier prospects like Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie. That keeps the future pipeline intact while still giving the roster another proven weapon for a win-now push.
From Nashville’s perspective, the deal only makes sense if the Predators decide they are not true Stanley Cup contenders over the next two seasons. If that’s the direction, the return is built for a younger timeline.
Beau Akey stands out as the headliner, a defense prospect with legitimate top-four upside. Quinn Hutson brings another layer of skill after showing offensive upside at the AHL level, and the 2028 first-round pick gives Nashville another valuable future piece.
Frederic would also bring something immediate to the NHL roster, as long as he agrees to waive his no-movement clause. His physical style fits the kind of identity Chris MacFarland has tried to build since taking over hockey operations.
Deals like this don’t come cheap, and history backs that up. When the Toronto Maple Leafs got Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari in 2023, they gave up a first-round pick, second-round pick, third-round pick and multiple players in a three-team deal that included salary retention. The Vegas Golden Knights paid a premium for Mark Stone too, sending top prospect Erik Brännström, Oscar Lindberg and a second-round pick before signing him long term.
Stamkos is older than O’Reilly and Stone were at the time of those trades, but the $2 million retained salary makes him a more attractive target for a contender trying to fit talent under the cap.
Whether Nashville would actually move one of the most respected leaders in franchise history is another matter. Still, if the Predators decide to lean into the future, this kind of package gives them a first-round pick, two prospects and an NHL-ready forward, while Edmonton gets the sort of blockbuster swing that fits the moment.
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