Steven Stamkos propels Nashville Predators at Vegas, enters rare territory in NHL History

Steven Stamkos is infectious on this Nashville Predators team that is suddenly learning to win, and not only win, but make comeback wins over quality Stanley Cup contenders like the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights are just the latest victim to the surging Nashville Predators who have won five of their last six and all of the sudden just one point out of a wildcard spot as the calendar flips to 2026.

Back to the man of the night, and really the man of the month, and if we're being really fair, the man of the past decade plus. That man is Steven Stamkos.

Steven Stamkos joins rare company in NHL history, and the Nashville Predators keep their hot surge going in 2026

Stamkos hits 600 goals for his NHL career on a power play goal at 15:37 of the first period to tie the game at 2-2. He fell just short of setting NHL history all on his own in a different way; Stamkos was was in pursuit of his seventh game-winning goal of the month, something that has never happened.

I guess Stamkos will just have to settle for being tied for the most game-winners in a month in NHL history with the likes of Johan Frazen, Brian Propp, Mike Bossy, Bernie Geoffrion and Jean Beliveau, all with six game-winners in a single month.

Here's a look shared by the NHL's official account on X of Stamkos' historic 600th NHL goal, and the beautiful aftermath of his Preds teammates swarming him to celebrate with the future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The primary assist on the historic 600th goal by Stamkos comes from Filip Forsberg, and that's just very fitting. One historic franchise great for the Predators in Forsberg sets up a former all-time great for the Tampa Bay Lightning who is now trying to build a new legacy with Nashville as the elder statesman of the organization.

I don't think we are appreciating just how rare this is to see an active NHL player hit 600 goals. Sidney Crosby hits 600 goals in late November of 2024, but other than Crosby there are no recent active players who have hit this milestone.

Stamkos is now one of just 22 players in NHL history to reach 600 goals. And he's not far away from jumping over jari Kurri for 21st on the all-time list. Two more goals for Stamkos and he'll sit alone at No.21, but not far beyond that on the all-time list is Dino Ciccarelli with 608 and Bobby Hull with 610. Certainly attainable for Stamkos during this current season.

As for active NHL players who may be next up to reach 600, we honestly may be waiting a while again for that. Evgeni Malkin is the next-closest active player with 522 career goals. He has eight goals this season in 26 games and is at age 39. A long ways to go as father time catches up, but we'll see.

Realistically speaking, you have John Tavares at 509 and could be next up to hit 600. You have a lot of younger talents that should eventually hit 600, like Leon Draisaitl at 419, Auston Matthews at 416, David Pastrnak at 406, Nathan MacKinnon at 399 and Connor McDavid at 385.

The Predators continue this long road trip into January with a clash against the Seattle Kraken, another wildcard bubble team.

As Stamkos continues to stack up the numbers, his trade value also keeps going up. However, he has that vital No Move Clause and seems to love playing in Nashville and keeping his family there. I can't see GM Barry Trotz trading Stamkos away unless it's just an crazy overpay. Even then, you definitely shouldn't retain salary at this point to trade him. Especially as you see yourself in the midst of this wildcard race.