Steven Stamkos was understandably upset after the Nashville Predators’ 3-2 overtime defeat to his former team. Losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning likely stings more, especially when acknowledging that a team with such offensive talent is struggling to score. When asked about the Predators’ scoring issues, Stamkos chose his words carefully, saying, “I have some thoughts on that…” He noted, “We definitely have players who can score, but we need to improve our ability to create opportunities, find open spaces, and identify passing lanes. Scoring goals is the hardest challenge in the NHL.”
He recognized that while some players have previously succeeded in scoring, the team is currently in a rut. “We’re not going to give up, but we have to find a way to turn this around, myself included,” he stated.
Stamkos expressed disappointment that players in a slump might not be putting in the effort to overcome it, emphasizing the importance of maintaining work ethic and hustle. He rhetorically asked, “If you’re not scoring, what else can you contribute to help the team win?”
Stamkos is visibly frustrated with the team’s slow start. This likely isn’t what he expected when joining the Predators in free agency, and just weeks into his time with the team, there is already talk of a rebuild, following a disappointing 7-12-5 record. He affirmed that he’s not ready to give up, but this certainly isn’t the beginning he had hoped for.
