Report: Devils could target Stamkos in trade

The New Jersey Devils have internally discussed trying to acquire veteran sniper Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports.

No deal is imminent, but it was reported in November that Nashville is willing to listen to offers on Stamkos as well as Jonathan Marchessault.

Stamkos is in the second season of a four-year contract worth $8 million annually. He signed with the Predators last July after an illustrious 16-year run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but his production has drastically tailed off since the move. After posting 81 points in his final season with the Bolts, Stamkos dropped to 53 points in 82 games in his debut campaign with the Predators.

This season, the 35-year-old has managed eight goals and three assists in 27 appearances. The Predators sit 30th in the league standings at 10-13-4 and own the NHL's second-worst goal differential at minus-23.

Stamkos has a full no-movement clause, so he'd have to approve any trade.

The Devils entered Friday's action holding the second wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference, but only three points back of top spot in the Metropolitan Division.

New Jersey has approximately $2.8 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia.