Why Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Justus Annunen are giving trouble to the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have been looking to fight back for far too long against cycles of underachievement into the 2025–26 NHL season. Maintaining aggressive tactics in the free-agent market last Summer, the Tigers were unsuccessful in translating star power into a playoff run.

Now with a veteran-heavy roster, time is of the essence for a reboot, and several key names could very well be the albatross weighing the team down in terms of output; thus, a departure could be truly welcome.

Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Justus Annunen may not fit in the Nashville Predators' future

The acquisition of Steven Stamkos was supposed to be the transformation of the Nashville Predators. His exit from the Tampa Bay Lightning sent ripples, and Nashville went heavy with the acquisition, giving the good-sized contract of $32 million over four years to an older forward.

And the returns have been underwhelming. Just one year prior, Stamkos had scored 40 goals, but with 27 goals and 53 points, his production went down noticeably.

With three more years left on the deal, the specter of further dive only looms larger. If Stamkos doesn't return to elite-level play, his contract could very well become a hindrance in any sort of rebuilding for the franchise.

Jonathan Marchessault is also under scrutiny.

The offseason signing of Marchessault was possibly the best deal of the offseason. Expectations for the former 40-goal scorer were high, but the forward could not get into the rhythm of play throughout the campaign. Scoring 21 goals in 78 games, Marchessault remained out of sync with the Nashville system and did not warrant the $27.5 million contract the team gave him.

Also, being 34, his chances of returning seem quite hazy.

And his contract could very well stand in the way whenever the team wants to find room for anything new.The other goalie who was less in the spotlight but with equal concern is Justus Annunen, who was acquired from Colorado in a backup goalie swap. An average of 3.17 goals-against and a save percentage under .890, Annunen didn’t deliver a big enough punching bag behind Juuse Saros. For a team short of the goaltending depth, uncertain backup equals a bigger chink in the armor.

Maybe Nashville needs to identify a second, more dependable option if it ever intends to feel secure in the net.Also Read: Rasmus Ristolainen and two other players named by the Philadelphia Flyers have to move on by 2025If the Nashville Predators want to go forward, they must make big decisions. Letting Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Justus Annunen go may be an uncomfortable heel or two toward returning to competition and garnering space for a redress of the roster.