Steven Stamkos linked to surprising Western Conference squad

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has been the face of the franchise ever since being selected with the 1st overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, and he's gone on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history along with winning back to back Stanley Cup championships with a third straight trip to the Cup Final afterward. 

He also happens to be in the final year of his current contract, and prior to this season, he wasn't exactly shy about voicing his displeasure with the state of new deal negotiations. But where could he potentially end up if he decides to leave the only NHL team he's ever suited up for? 

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the Nashville Predators could provide an intriguing possibility for him. He said the following about a potential Stamkos-to-Music City deal over the summer: 

"Oh, I heard one the other day that I loved. Nashville. Wouldn't Nashville be great for him? Think about where he is. Maybe he's a guy after his time, you know, in the sun, on the jet skis, wants to go play in a super pressure market and get the rub that you'd get when you play in Boston or play in New York or play in Toronto. Or he says, 'I've never wanted that' and goes to another place that has one beat writer like Nashville. I don't know what he wants."

"I do know they can afford him and I do know that with the maturation with this team, being a playoff team this year, having a good core of young players and a really good coach in Brunette, I think he could do pretty well there as a mentor/guy who can probably score a ton of goals on the wing for them if he wants to."

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