Los Angeles Kings urged to pursue Predators' Steven Stamkos after Kevin Fiala's season-ending injury

The Los Angeles Kings suffered a crushing blow when Kevin Fiala fractured his left leg during Switzerland's Olympic quarterfinal loss to Finland. The 29-year-old star winger underwent successful surgery and will miss the remainder of the regular season, leaving a massive hole in the lineup as the Kings battle for playoff positioning.

Now it is upto GM Ken Holland to find a suitable replacement for his forward unit with the March 6 deadline just 3 weeks away. The Kings are already at a precarious position, sitting fifth in the Pacific Division with a 23-19-14 record. They are still in the playoff race, but with Fiala out of commission, they now need someone to power them through the home stretch.

Speculations suggest GM Ken Holland might be looking at Nashville at the trade deadline

Trade speculation immediately turned to high-profile replacements, with one prominent voice suggesting a blockbuster addition that would pair perfectly with the Kings' recent acquisition of Artemi Panarin from the Rangers.

The Hockey News' Adam Proteau recently proposed the Kings pursue Nashville Predators captain Steven Stamkos as the answer to their Fiala dilemma. The suggestion carries weight given how cleanly the financials align.

With Stamkos carrying an $8 million salary cap, the Kings won’t have a hard time matching it with Fiala being on a similar $7.875 deal. Additionally, the Kings still have over $15 million in cap space, which will give Holland enough flexibility to make a major move without any roster gymnastics.

The 36-year-old veteran is defying age with 28 goals in 57 games this season, putting him on pace for 40 goals. Adding a pure goal scorer alongside playmaker Panarin could create a lethal power-play combination that would terrify Western Conference opponents through the playoffs.

Stamkos isn't a rental piece. He has two years remaining on his contract beyond this season, providing stability for a Kings team built to contend over multiple years rather than just chasing a one-year rental. The biggest obstacle isn't cap space or term.

Stamkos holds a full no-movement clause, giving him complete control over any potential trade. He would need to approve a move to Los Angeles before any deal could happen. Nashville GM Barry Trotz reportedly hasn't received an offer compelling enough to approach Stamkos about waiving his clause.

The Kings would likely need to include premium assets like a top prospect or high draft picks to convince Trotz to make the call. The Kings need to act quickly, with the Olympic roster freeze lifting February 22 and just two weeks until the deadline.

Sitting fifth in the Pacific, every point matters as they try to secure home-ice advantage in the first round. Holland has already shown aggression by acquiring Panarin, signaling the Kings are pushing their chips to the center of the table for a legitimate Cup run this season.


Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.