Breaking down this insane trade proposal between Nashville Predators and Devils for Steven Stamkos

With a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs now a possibility, it makes you wonder just how aggressive the Nashville Predators are prepared to be in their selling and if they would still entertain trading a player like Steven Stamkos?

This is the time of year when bold and whacky trade proposal are put out there. Some of them make sense, and some are just outlandish. But his one from NHL Trade Rumors makes you really think.

The well-thought out trade proposal involved the Nashville Predators retaining salary, but not on Stamkos but on Justin Barron.

A loud "thumbs down" on this trade proposal involving Steven Stamkos, the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils

There's a lot to unpack here; first off, the proposal is reportedly made by an "up and coming NHL excecutive" according to a reliable source in Jeff Marek of The Sheet. So yes, this does call for some attention and isn't some random person throwing out a trade proposal.

Some of the aspects of this trade don't actually bother me all that much. I like getting Casey in this deal, a young right-shot defenseman who could be a swap with Barron, who I'm honestly not a believer in. So that part of the trade works fine.

My two big problems with this trade proposal is taking on Hamilton and furthering the idea that we're a retirement home for aging players. Hamilton will be 33 before next season begins and is having a massive down year currently at 15 points in 44 games when he was once just a few years ago a plus-70 point scorer.

Do we really think the gamble is worth trying out Hamilton in Nashville? I say no, and pretty confidently when looking at this hypothetical trade. We're already buried deep in hoping Brady Skjei pans out, and we certainly don't need to add another aging defenseman in Hamilton while also dealing with Roman Josi not getting any younger.

Also, if your goal is to make effective trades to get younger while also remaining in the playoff race and seeing it through so to speak, then swapping Stamkos for Hamilton and Cody Glass makes zero sense.

This is a pie in the sky type of trade proposal. Not to mention using a salary retention spot on Barron aso makes no logical sense when Trotz has already said he doesn't want to retain salary. Also worthy noting that Hamilton will cost you $9 million per year for another two years.

Not worth the risk for what I see is a very little return, if any. The only potential upgrade I see is Casey as a young right-shot defenseman who does have potential. But again, not worth taking on Hamilton's contract and losing Stamkos, who is $1 million cheaper.

If I'm trading Stamkos at this point, it's going to take moving mountain to do it. That means retaining very little, if any salary, and getting a dynamic prospect in return ready to play NHL games now. Throw in a 2nd-round draft pick maybe to sweeten it. Much like Ryan O'Reilly, I wouldn't be heavily pursuing trading Stamkos unless GM's are prepared to overpay and take the risk.

I will say a Cody Glass reunion would make some Nashville Predators fans very happy and dancing on Broadway.

It doesn't make sense for Trotz to take all of the risks on trading Stamkos right now, and that's what this trade proposal is to me.

So yeah, it's fun dissecting these hypothetcal trade proposals, but this one gets a big fat thumbs down from me.