Deadline Drama: Stamkos Slams the Door (For Now), While Ristolainen’s Phone Keeps Ringing
February 28, 2026 | NHL Trade Deadline: 6 Days Away. With the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline just six days out, two familiar names have dominated the rumor mill this week — and both storylines took decisive turns on Friday.
Stamkos Shuts It Down
Steven Stamkos didn’t leave much room for interpretation. Asked whether he would consider waiving his full no-movement clause and leaving the Nashville Predators, the 36-year-old winger delivered a blunt response. “Zero,” Stamkos told The Tennessean’s Alex Daugherty. “I haven’t talked to (GM Barry Trotz) at all about that. With this group, we want to be together. I love being here.” For now, Stamkos clearly wants to be part of whatever comes next in Nashville…which is not surprising…players love playing in Nashville..n
Ristolainen’s Market Heats Up
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Rasmus Ristolainen is once again hearing his name in trade conversations….and this time, he’s not pretending otherwise. He has been open about the fact he is fine going to help a contender… has always looked like a trade chip on paper — a 6-foot-4, 208-pound right-shot defenseman who was a tourney tying +9 in the Olympics is worth a lot in the NHL…Always… Also its kind of crazy, but Ristolainen has played 797 regular-season NHL games across 13 seasons and has NEVER appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He addressed that directly after the Olympics.
“I feel like that’s why you play the game,” he said. “You want to win. That’s where I feel I’m at my best.”
The Flyers sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division, eight points out of a wild-card spot and are in that weird spot where certain players are pushing on management to buy and let them make a playoff run…I don’t believe that will matter…but Konecny has a lot of pull on this team..
Many teams are very interested…Detroit, Edmonton, Montreal among the most likely…Carolina, Tampa…
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is THIS Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
.png){kind=spacer}