The Montreal Canadiens are like every other team in the Atlantic Division, as they are chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens now find themselves in third, trailing the Red Wings by a single point and looking up at a seven-point gap between them and the division-leading Lightning.
While the division isn't out of the question, Montreal has to make up some serious ground in a short period of time if it hopes to challenge the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, the challenge is that the trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Lightning are not just going to sit idle and will be trying to improve their roster over the next week.
One of those moves could be bringing back Steven Stamkos, who is currently a member of the Nashville Predators. The Predators aren't out of playoff contention yet but have a tough four game stretch before the deadline that could change their perspective on the season.
Steven Stamkos isn't asking for a trade but would consider one to the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Predators are a veteran team, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Nashville try to get younger by trading some of their older players, like Stamkos. Recently, Pierre LeBrun was on Insider Trading on TSN and said that while the Predators haven't approached Stamkos about a trade, the player has a list in mind of teams he would consider going to.
Stamkos has a full no-trade clause, so he can dictate where he goes next, but LeBrun did note that he is happy in Nashville and not looking for a trade. However, the teams LeBrun mentioned did include the Tampa Bay LIghtning and that certainly would have a big impact on the race for the Atlantic Division.
The Canadiens know Stamkos well from his time with the Lightning where he played 16 seasons before leaving in free agency to sign with Nashville. In his career, Stamkos has averaged almost a point per game against Montreal with 52 points in 54 regular season games.
So far this season, Montreal has played the Lightning twice and gone 0-1-1 with two more games on the schedule. A Lightning team with Steven Stamkos would only make it tougher for Montreal to come away with wins and catch Tampa Bay for the division.