Lightning trade rumor lands Steven Stamkos for high-powered reunion

Lightning trade rumor lands Steven Stamkos for high-powered reunion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This would be one of the coolest possible outcomes before Friday's NHL trade deadline.

Steven Stamkos is on a red-hot goal-scoring binge for the Nashville Predators, and he seems to be available. The Tampa Bay Lightning might come calling.

Yes, the Lightning for whom Stamkos built such an incredible legacy.

"Stamkos recently told reporters he wasn’t looking to expedite his way out of Nashville, but The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported there are multiple destinations he might consider attractive enough to waive his no-movement clause: Minnesota, Dallas, New Jersey and Tampa Bay," The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote in his new trade board article. "A trade involving Stamkos might not materialize until the summer. However, given how he’s turned back the clock and filled the net this season, his name is worthy of a long look in the days ahead, too."

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Early this season, Stamkos looked like he might be washed up.

Lately, he's looked anything but.

"The future Hall of Famer has been on a heater after a slow start and just hit the 30-goal mark for the 10th time in his career," Johnston writes. "That's difficult to ignore."

Stamkos is under contract for two years after this one with an $8 million annual average value, so he's not cheap, and acquiring him means a multi-year commitment.

Given the long tenure of Stamkos with the Lightning, that'd make as much sense as anywhere. 

Stay tuned, because a Stamkos trade, especially to the Lightning, would grab a lot of headlines.

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• A salary cap rule may make 2 Flames trades difficult
• Canadiens know trade cost for Robert Thomas
• It'll be complicated to trade for Steven Stamkos
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future