Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault snub the same team to play in Nashville

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Tyler Ball
July 12, 2024 (3:13 PM)

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This offseason the Nashville Predators made the biggest free agency splash landing both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault a new report revealed they were not the only team in on both players.

The Nashville Predators hit the lottery signing several big-name free agents this summer. Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos left the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning for free agency. Not long after becoming free agents, it was announced that both would be heading to Nashville.

Breaking: The Predators are adding star forward Steven Stamkos, former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei.

Now just a couple of weeks later reports are surfacing revealing that the Nashville Predators are not the only team that made an aggressive push to land both Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos.

Report confirms the Anaheim Ducks tried to land Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos

A new report today from NHL insider Frank Seravalli has confirmed that the Anaheim Ducks were a team the offered both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault long term contracts. According to Frank Seravalli's sources both players got bigger offers from the Anaheim Ducks but turned them down in favor of Nashville.

They made larger and more lucrative offers to both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. More term and more dollars, PHWA president Frank Seravalli reported on his DFO Rundown podcast. Both players just weren't ready for that. That's ok. They didn't get the top six forward and top four defenseman that they were looking for. They took the bat off their shoulder, they swung, and even the best hitters strike out.

It sounds as though despite making a significant run at both the situation Anaheim is currently in was not lucrative enough. Another consideration is the lack of state income taxes in Tennessee versus the high state income taxes in California. Regardless the Nashville Predators pick up a major boost to their roster at the expense of the Anaheim Ducks' misfortune.

Source: The Hockey News
'They Took the Bat off Their Shoulder, They Swung, and Even the Best Hitters Strike Out': Was Free Agency a Missed Opportunity for the Ducks or a Blessing in Disguise?