Last summer, NHL free agents steered clear of the Nashville Predators.
With the ownership situation in limbo, players such as Paul Kariya jumped ship. That left the Predators to scramble late last summer to meet the league's payroll floor.
This summer, however, is expected to be different.
"I will be shocked if the Nashville Predators don't have the biggest increase in payroll - both percentage-wise and in sheer dollars - of any team in the NHL," David Freeman, who heads the Preds' ownership group, told the Nashville Tennessean.
"There's always been that chicken-and-egg question about who should go first: Should the team increase its payroll and then hope fans and sponsors follow suit? Or should the fans and sponsors put up the money, and then the team will spend the money?
"We are very clearly saying we're taking the lead. We're spending the money first."
The Predators reportedly have about $34 million US committed for next season, with players such as goaltender Dan Ellis, defencemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, along with forward Martin Erat, unsigned.
Predators GM David Poile expects to sign the latter three, no matter what it takes.
"I'm working with David Freeman and ownership as to what it's going to take to sign players we'd like to bring back, in conjunction with a budget that works for the ownership," Poile told the newspaper. "But again, (the payroll) is going to be up considerably. So under different scenarios, there may be room for free agents and there may not be room for free agents."
From the Ottawa Citizen
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Nashville Predators Coach Barry Trotz, Staff Get New Deals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Predators coach Barry Trotz and his staff received contract extensions after an unexpected fourth straight trip to the playoffs in what began as a shaky season.
The extensions for Trotz, associate coach Brent Peterson, assistant coach Peter Horachek and goaltending coach Mitch Korn were announced Tuesday by David Poile, Nashville's president of hockey operations and general manager.
The previous contract for Trotz, the expansion franchise's only coach, expired at the end of the season. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Trotz guided the Predators to the playoffs this season despite a chaotic year in which the franchise survived the threat of relocation, a botched sale, new owners, a long negotiation on their arena lease and the shedding of top players. He has coached all 738 regular-season games in the Predators' 10 years, going 324-308-106.
Nashville has yet to get past the first round of the postseason or win any road playoff games, falling in six games to the Detroit Red Wings in this year's Western Conference quarterfinals.
"Despite much adversity of the past year, the team never used that adversity as an excuse — a tribute to the efforts of the coaching staff," Poile said in a statement. "I am pleased that this group will remain together in our pursuit of a Stanley Cup for Nashville."
Just making the playoffs this season was considered a success.
Last year, the team let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. They managed to make up for the lost production, becoming only one of seven teams to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.
The contract extension also keeps Trotz as the second most-tenured coach in the NHL with his current team. The only coach with a longer active tenure with one team is Buffalo's Lindy Ruff, who has been with the Sabres since 1997.
From the Associated Press
The extensions for Trotz, associate coach Brent Peterson, assistant coach Peter Horachek and goaltending coach Mitch Korn were announced Tuesday by David Poile, Nashville's president of hockey operations and general manager.
The previous contract for Trotz, the expansion franchise's only coach, expired at the end of the season. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Trotz guided the Predators to the playoffs this season despite a chaotic year in which the franchise survived the threat of relocation, a botched sale, new owners, a long negotiation on their arena lease and the shedding of top players. He has coached all 738 regular-season games in the Predators' 10 years, going 324-308-106.
Nashville has yet to get past the first round of the postseason or win any road playoff games, falling in six games to the Detroit Red Wings in this year's Western Conference quarterfinals.
"Despite much adversity of the past year, the team never used that adversity as an excuse — a tribute to the efforts of the coaching staff," Poile said in a statement. "I am pleased that this group will remain together in our pursuit of a Stanley Cup for Nashville."
Just making the playoffs this season was considered a success.
Last year, the team let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. They managed to make up for the lost production, becoming only one of seven teams to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.
The contract extension also keeps Trotz as the second most-tenured coach in the NHL with his current team. The only coach with a longer active tenure with one team is Buffalo's Lindy Ruff, who has been with the Sabres since 1997.
From the Associated Press
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Preds Owe It to Fans, League to Re-Sign Goalie Dan Ellis
The Nashville Predators have played a total of 12 home playoff games in the past four post-seasons and 11 of them have been legitimate sellouts. Come playoff time the fans in Nashville have been just as rabid and raucous as any others in the league and once the calendar hits mid-April, Music City gets a serious case of playoff fever.
It has been the same thing for the past four years, sadly, with the same result: A first round ouster.
Which is exactly why there’s little reason to believe this year’s playoff run will have any more of a long-term impact on this franchise than any other. Come next October, you’ll probably see the same sparse crowds, the same general ambivalence toward the on-ice product and the same stunning lack of enthusiasm from the corporate community.
Which is sad, really, because aside from the fact they haven’t been able to shake off their tag as first-round losers, the Predators have done almost everything right from a hockey operations standpoint.
Under GM David Poile, the Predators’ record for drafting and developing talent has been among the best in the league, for the most part their free agent signings and trades have been prudent and their front-office stability has been the envy of every other coach and GM.
And now it’s time for the new owners of the Predators to step up and prove they truly want NHL hockey to work in Nashville. They owe it to the diehards who support the team, they owe it to the fellow owners who supply the teat upon which the Predators rely for revenue sharing and they owe it to a league that shut its doors for a year, primarily to help teams such as the Preds survive.
So far, the Predators have gotten everything they’ve wanted. They got the CBA they so desperately needed and the City of Nashville is taking potential tax dollars out of things such as schools and social programs in an effort to keep the Predators from leaving town.
And like another CBA poster child – the Buffalo Sabres – the Predators have rewarded their fans by essentially stiffing them. Former owner Craig Leipold sold the team before getting a sweetheart deal to own the far more lucrative Minnesota Wild, but before doing that, forced Poile to strip the organization of some of its top veteran players in a desperate cost-cutting move.
This is where it must end. And it must end with the Predators doing everything they possibly can to sign goaltender Dan Ellis to a long-term contract extension. If they do, it will require a complete about face by team management, which, before the playoffs, seemed intent on allowing Ellis to depart as an unrestricted free agent and next season go with the tandem of Chris Mason and prospect Pekka Rinne.
But the way Ellis, who turns 28 in June, played down the stretch and in the playoffs should change everything. He recorded the best save percentage in the league during the regular season and was spectacular in defeat for the Predators, even though he was victimized by a one-bouncer that got past him in Game 6.
Ellis will command a long-term contract worth at least $3 million a season, one would think, and it will require the Predators to swallow hard before making that offer. This is a team, after all, which rewarded Chris Mason with a $3 million deal for his play last season, which was so good that when the Predators were forced to strip-mine their organization last summer, they traded Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers.
Mason didn’t exactly prove to be the No. 1 goalie the Predators were seeking and signing Ellis to a similar, if not more lucrative, deal would require a leap of faith by Poile & Co. Not to mention the fact if Nashville was to pay Ellis on the same level as Mason, it’d be spending a total of $6 million on goaltenders. (Would they be overpaid in that case? Of course they would, because all goalies in the NHL are overpaid if you apply the laws of supply and demand. But hey, it’s the going rate.)
That move would hardly put the Predators in a class by themselves, though. At least 10 teams will be using up $6 million or more in cap space on goalies next season and, after all, this is a team that is willing to give up $4.5 million in cap room to David Legwand, who is essentially a third-line center.
What the Predators have in Ellis is a very good goalie who is about to enter his prime. And while - with the exception of guys such as Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur - fans generally don’t pay good money to watch goalies stop pucks, they do pay to watch teams win. And with Ellis in their net, the Preds give themselves the best chance to do that.
Should Ellis hit the UFA market July 1, there will be no shortage of suitors. It will be a shock if the Ottawa Senators don’t think long and hard about Ellis, and the Red Wings - who will be looking for goaltending next season - just had a front-row seat for Ellis’s playoff show. The Atlanta Thrashers and possibly the Los Angeles Kings will likely be looking at him, as will the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche if their No. 1 goalies bolt for other teams.
Signing Ellis long-term won’t guarantee the Predators any sustained playoff success or the future of the franchise in Nashville, but what it will do is show its fans and the rest of the NHL it will not allow other teams to pick its carcass the way they did last summer.
And in the absence of any tangible success in the post-season, doing that is just as important as winning in the playoffs for the Predators these days. If they are willing to let quality players go as soon as they put themselves in a position to get a good contract, why should anyone in Nashville stick with them?
From The Hockey News
It has been the same thing for the past four years, sadly, with the same result: A first round ouster.
Which is exactly why there’s little reason to believe this year’s playoff run will have any more of a long-term impact on this franchise than any other. Come next October, you’ll probably see the same sparse crowds, the same general ambivalence toward the on-ice product and the same stunning lack of enthusiasm from the corporate community.
Which is sad, really, because aside from the fact they haven’t been able to shake off their tag as first-round losers, the Predators have done almost everything right from a hockey operations standpoint.
Under GM David Poile, the Predators’ record for drafting and developing talent has been among the best in the league, for the most part their free agent signings and trades have been prudent and their front-office stability has been the envy of every other coach and GM.
And now it’s time for the new owners of the Predators to step up and prove they truly want NHL hockey to work in Nashville. They owe it to the diehards who support the team, they owe it to the fellow owners who supply the teat upon which the Predators rely for revenue sharing and they owe it to a league that shut its doors for a year, primarily to help teams such as the Preds survive.
So far, the Predators have gotten everything they’ve wanted. They got the CBA they so desperately needed and the City of Nashville is taking potential tax dollars out of things such as schools and social programs in an effort to keep the Predators from leaving town.
And like another CBA poster child – the Buffalo Sabres – the Predators have rewarded their fans by essentially stiffing them. Former owner Craig Leipold sold the team before getting a sweetheart deal to own the far more lucrative Minnesota Wild, but before doing that, forced Poile to strip the organization of some of its top veteran players in a desperate cost-cutting move.
This is where it must end. And it must end with the Predators doing everything they possibly can to sign goaltender Dan Ellis to a long-term contract extension. If they do, it will require a complete about face by team management, which, before the playoffs, seemed intent on allowing Ellis to depart as an unrestricted free agent and next season go with the tandem of Chris Mason and prospect Pekka Rinne.
But the way Ellis, who turns 28 in June, played down the stretch and in the playoffs should change everything. He recorded the best save percentage in the league during the regular season and was spectacular in defeat for the Predators, even though he was victimized by a one-bouncer that got past him in Game 6.
Ellis will command a long-term contract worth at least $3 million a season, one would think, and it will require the Predators to swallow hard before making that offer. This is a team, after all, which rewarded Chris Mason with a $3 million deal for his play last season, which was so good that when the Predators were forced to strip-mine their organization last summer, they traded Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers.
Mason didn’t exactly prove to be the No. 1 goalie the Predators were seeking and signing Ellis to a similar, if not more lucrative, deal would require a leap of faith by Poile & Co. Not to mention the fact if Nashville was to pay Ellis on the same level as Mason, it’d be spending a total of $6 million on goaltenders. (Would they be overpaid in that case? Of course they would, because all goalies in the NHL are overpaid if you apply the laws of supply and demand. But hey, it’s the going rate.)
That move would hardly put the Predators in a class by themselves, though. At least 10 teams will be using up $6 million or more in cap space on goalies next season and, after all, this is a team that is willing to give up $4.5 million in cap room to David Legwand, who is essentially a third-line center.
What the Predators have in Ellis is a very good goalie who is about to enter his prime. And while - with the exception of guys such as Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur - fans generally don’t pay good money to watch goalies stop pucks, they do pay to watch teams win. And with Ellis in their net, the Preds give themselves the best chance to do that.
Should Ellis hit the UFA market July 1, there will be no shortage of suitors. It will be a shock if the Ottawa Senators don’t think long and hard about Ellis, and the Red Wings - who will be looking for goaltending next season - just had a front-row seat for Ellis’s playoff show. The Atlanta Thrashers and possibly the Los Angeles Kings will likely be looking at him, as will the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche if their No. 1 goalies bolt for other teams.
Signing Ellis long-term won’t guarantee the Predators any sustained playoff success or the future of the franchise in Nashville, but what it will do is show its fans and the rest of the NHL it will not allow other teams to pick its carcass the way they did last summer.
And in the absence of any tangible success in the post-season, doing that is just as important as winning in the playoffs for the Predators these days. If they are willing to let quality players go as soon as they put themselves in a position to get a good contract, why should anyone in Nashville stick with them?
From The Hockey News
Monday, April 21, 2008
Nashville Predators' Biggest Victory? Bonding, Creating New Fans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators' reward for surviving a year with enough twists and turns for a soap opera came in the form of a fourth straight playoff berth.
Still, coming up short in the first round against the Detroit Red Wings left the Predators disappointed after a chaotic season in which they survived the threat of possible relocation, a botched sale, new owners and a long negotiation on their arena.
They also endured a poor start after a fire sale shed their roster of their top four players.
"After the first eight games of the season, everyone thought we would be getting the first overall draft pick," forward Scott Nichol said. "This was very much a storybook season. Too bad it had to end in the middle of the book."
They can console themselves that they are just one of seven franchises to reach the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and their 141 wins in that stretch ranks sixth best in the NHL. Their penalty-killing unit ranked third in the NHL this season.
Yet they still haven't cracked the first round of post-season nor won any playoff games on the road, a skid that now has reached 10 games.
Nashville coach Barry Trotz wants his team to be proud of its accomplishments.
"This was sort of a special group and in a way a ragtag group, and it was easy to fall in love with them because no one really gave us a chance," he said.
This is the team that let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. That left a big void in scoring and in net.
But Jason Arnott, who took over as captain, tied for the team lead with 72 points with J.P. Dumont, who agreed to a new deal that will keep him in Nashville. They finished with Dumont, Arnott, Alexander Radulov and Martin Erat each scoring at least 20 goals. They also scored 147 full-strength goals, second in the Western Conference.
Chris Mason struggled but still teamed with free agent pickup Dan Ellis to post 10 shutouts. But Ellis, who only signed a one-year deal, took over the net at the end of the season and was the only reason Nashville was able to push Detroit to six games in the playoffs.
Ellis had the fifth-longest shutout streak in the NHL since 1943-44 with 233:39 scoreless minutes between March 22 and 30 as the Predators went 5-0-1 to reach the post-season. He had 238 saves in the playoffs, including a franchise post-season record 52 in Game 5's 2-1 overtime loss.
"It went much better than I anticipated. I was just blessed with a great year. That's something you want to build on. You want to be considered a good goalie, not just a flash in the pan," Ellis said.
The new owners, stocked with plenty of local partners, finally got a new lease last week designed to help them make as much money as possible in the Sommet Center. They also made it clear they want to keep general manager David Poile around, giving him the title of president of hockey operations last December.
Trotz, the only coach this franchise has known in its first 10 years, is not under contract past this season. Some fans were unhappy with his coaching in the playoffs, but he was a big key in guiding this team into an improbable playoff berth.
The biggest key for this franchise may be that fans finally have claimed the Predators as their own. They sold out every playoff game and boosted attendance enough to qualify for their share of the NHL's revenue-sharing plan. They will have to do better next season.
But anyone curious about hockey love in Music City only had to show up for Game 5 last week. The game being played in Detroit lured 3,500 to the arena to watch on the scoreboard.
"We had a city that rallied behind us," Trotz said.
That might have been the Predators' biggest victory of the season.
From The Canadian Press
Still, coming up short in the first round against the Detroit Red Wings left the Predators disappointed after a chaotic season in which they survived the threat of possible relocation, a botched sale, new owners and a long negotiation on their arena.
They also endured a poor start after a fire sale shed their roster of their top four players.
"After the first eight games of the season, everyone thought we would be getting the first overall draft pick," forward Scott Nichol said. "This was very much a storybook season. Too bad it had to end in the middle of the book."
They can console themselves that they are just one of seven franchises to reach the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and their 141 wins in that stretch ranks sixth best in the NHL. Their penalty-killing unit ranked third in the NHL this season.
Yet they still haven't cracked the first round of post-season nor won any playoff games on the road, a skid that now has reached 10 games.
Nashville coach Barry Trotz wants his team to be proud of its accomplishments.
"This was sort of a special group and in a way a ragtag group, and it was easy to fall in love with them because no one really gave us a chance," he said.
This is the team that let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. That left a big void in scoring and in net.
But Jason Arnott, who took over as captain, tied for the team lead with 72 points with J.P. Dumont, who agreed to a new deal that will keep him in Nashville. They finished with Dumont, Arnott, Alexander Radulov and Martin Erat each scoring at least 20 goals. They also scored 147 full-strength goals, second in the Western Conference.
Chris Mason struggled but still teamed with free agent pickup Dan Ellis to post 10 shutouts. But Ellis, who only signed a one-year deal, took over the net at the end of the season and was the only reason Nashville was able to push Detroit to six games in the playoffs.
Ellis had the fifth-longest shutout streak in the NHL since 1943-44 with 233:39 scoreless minutes between March 22 and 30 as the Predators went 5-0-1 to reach the post-season. He had 238 saves in the playoffs, including a franchise post-season record 52 in Game 5's 2-1 overtime loss.
"It went much better than I anticipated. I was just blessed with a great year. That's something you want to build on. You want to be considered a good goalie, not just a flash in the pan," Ellis said.
The new owners, stocked with plenty of local partners, finally got a new lease last week designed to help them make as much money as possible in the Sommet Center. They also made it clear they want to keep general manager David Poile around, giving him the title of president of hockey operations last December.
Trotz, the only coach this franchise has known in its first 10 years, is not under contract past this season. Some fans were unhappy with his coaching in the playoffs, but he was a big key in guiding this team into an improbable playoff berth.
The biggest key for this franchise may be that fans finally have claimed the Predators as their own. They sold out every playoff game and boosted attendance enough to qualify for their share of the NHL's revenue-sharing plan. They will have to do better next season.
But anyone curious about hockey love in Music City only had to show up for Game 5 last week. The game being played in Detroit lured 3,500 to the arena to watch on the scoreboard.
"We had a city that rallied behind us," Trotz said.
That might have been the Predators' biggest victory of the season.
From The Canadian Press
Social Distortion - "Ball and Chain"
This song pretty much sums up the sentiment around Nashville as the Predators exit the playoffs early (again!) thanks to the Red Wings. Until next year...
Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators (4/20/08)
What can you say? The Predators put up a valiant effort against a superior opponent, yet again. Although moral victories are getting a bit old, you've gotta be proud of the boys for even getting into the playoffs, much less taking Detroit to six games. But looking forward, we're ready for some real playoff victories to go with the moral ones.
Proud Exit
New ownership.
New fans.
Same old story.
For the fourth straight season, Nashville's Predators fell out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round, this time losing to Detroit 3-0 on Sunday in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series.
"It would be nice to be on the other end of that handshake for a change," said Predators center Scott Nichol, who played despite a broken thumb on his left hand.
Thus ended a wild ride for this NHL franchise. Over the course of the past 12 months, there has been a change of ownership, a drastic rewriting of the roster, approval of a new lease at Sommet Center and the recruitment of a new wave of hockey fans.
On the ice, the Predators started the season 2-6 but eventually squeezed into the playoffs with a late flurry and split the first four games of this series before being eliminated with back-to-back losses in Games 5 and 6.
"It's been a roller coaster," said Jerred Smithson, who has been with the Predators the past three seasons. "We had some stretches where we were right at the bottom of our division and then we had some stretches where we were just pounding teams. We learned a lot about ourselves this season."
And Nashville learned a lot about the Predators. Seven of the last 11 regular-season games as well as all three home playoff games were sellouts. On Friday night, a crowd estimated at 3,500 came to Sommet Center to watch the telecast of Game 5 from Detroit.
"We had a city that rallied behind us," Coach Barry Trotz said.
Sommet Center was rocking again in the early stages of Game 6 when the Predators had several scoring chances. But after Detroit stretched its lead to 2-0 barely four minutes into the third period, a sense of resignation took hold. The Predators had no miracles left in them.
"It was a hard series," Detroit Coach Mike Babcock said. "They took a lot out of us."
First round an albatross
That's nice to hear, but it does little to soothe the sting of yet another first-round playoff loss. The idea is to survive and advance.
Granted, Nashville is one of only seven NHL franchises that have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, but the Predators have yet to advance to the second round.
Beyond that, Nashville has yet to win a playoff game on the road. The Predators are 0-6 at Detroit in two series and 0-4 at San Jose in two series.
"As an organization, we're going to have to win a round in the playoffs. We're going to have to win a game on the road," Trotz said. " … We've got some goals and we know we can get there."
This time around, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. With captain Jason Arnott out for the second straight playoff game because of a concussion and with multipurpose center David Legwand playing on a badly bruised foot, the Predators couldn't generate enough offense to overcome a skilled, deep team like Detroit.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings had a telling 43-20 advantage in shots on goal.
"Everybody chipped in but we just didn't score enough goals to beat them," forward J.P. Dumont said.
Wings goalie turned tide
Detroit took the Predators' best shot early in the game and did not flinch. Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood made some big saves, and the first period ended 0-0.
"We weathered the storm the entire first period," Osgood said.
Osgood also stared down a five-on-three Predators power play late in the second period after Detroit had taken a 1-0 lead on Nicklas Lidstrom's bad-hop goal from center ice.
Credit Osgood and the Red Wings defense for changing the momentum of this series. Osgood replaced future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek during the second period of Game 4 and allowed only one Predators goal the rest of the series.
"Ozzie comes in and plays unbelievable for us," Detroit center Kris Draper said. "He was huge early for us when we needed him, and he was huge for us on that five-on-three when we only had a 1-0 lead."
While Detroit zips into the second round of the playoffs, the Predators will reflect on things that might have been.
"Detroit is the best in the league, but I really believed we were going to beat those guys," Nichol said. "Hopefully we banged 'em up a little bit so they're a little sore going into the next series."
For the Predators, there's always next year.
From The Tennessean
Friday, April 18, 2008
Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings (4/18/08)
Barry Trotz said it perfectly...the Predators wasted an incredible goaltending effort tonight. Dan Ellis stood on his head time and time again to keep Detroit to a single goal in regulation despite taking over 50 shots. After pulling Ellis, the Preds manage to get a goal late thanks to Radek Bonk. But the Wings strike back OT as Johan Franzen takes advantage of a turnover to slip the game winner by Ellis. The Preds now need a win in Game 6 at home and their first playoff win on the road back in Detroit for Game 7. The series ain't over 'til it's over.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jerry Reed - "East Bound and Down" (Movie Video)
Since "Convoy" seemed to give the Predators an edge going into Game 4, maybe another trucker classic will do the trick for Game 5. Pay close attention to the end and you'll see Jackie Gleason do a dead-on Chris Chelios impersonation when a penalty call doesn't go his way.
Predators Pull Even with Red Wings
The Nashville Predators are playing with the killer instinct often attributed to their first-round playoff opponent, the top-ranked Detroit Red Wings.
Greg de Vries scored what proved to be the winning goal 6:35 into the second period as the host Predators prevailed 3-2 over the Red Wings in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarter-final on Wednesday night.
"We haven't done anything yet," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "The only satisfaction is we got a win tonight."
Fittingly, the Predators relied on quick strikes — pouncing not once, but twice — to even the best-of-seven series 2-2.
First, Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber scored 32 seconds apart to put Nashville ahead 2-0 before a supportive crowd of 17,113 at the Sommet Center.
Then, de Vries scored 11 seconds after Pavel Datsyuk put Detroit on the board.
"I wish I could bottle that," Trotz said. "I could probably make a fortune with my fellow coaches."
The Predators have scored twice in less than 35 seconds in each of the past three games, leading one to wonder if the Detroit is easily rattled at times.
"We lost a faceoff and it ended up in our net," Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said. "To me, that is not running around or anything like that.
"That is losing a faceoff, so I think it is a different thing, totally. You can call it [rattled] if you want."
Martin Erat had two assists and netminder Dan Ellis, who led the NHL with a .924 save percentage, posted 39 saves as the eighth-seeded Predators were outshot in every period and 41-27 overall.
"We're starting to believe in ourselves a little more," Ellis said.
Datsyuk had both goals for the Red Wings, winners of the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top team for the third time in four years.
Dominik Hasek yielded three goals on 14 shots before being yanked in favour of Chris Osgood, who faced 13 shots.
"The one thing really hurting us in this series is we score a goal and they get one right away," Red Wings forward Kris Draper said. "When we get momentum, we have to figure out a way to keep it."
Predators strike twice
Hamhuis converted Alexander Radulov's centring pass for a power-play goal 5:18 into the contest, and Weber scored on a rising snapshot from the slot to make it 2-0 at 5:50 of the first period.
Detroit replied with a power-play goal 6:24 into the second period as Brian Rafalski threaded a pass through a crowded slot to Datsyuk, who faked a shot that forced Ellis to commit before firing the puck between his pads for his second.
But de Vries struck back at the 6:35 mark, beating a startled Hasek on a slapshot from the point.
Osgood replaced Hasek at that point, and held firm as the Red Wings pressured the Predators the rest of the way.
The Red Wings trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on a lovely play from Tomas Holmstrom, who circled the net and slid a pass back through the crease — and the legs of an unsuspecting defenceman — to Datsyuk, who flipped it into the open net for his second goal of the game and third of the series 3:23 into the third period.
From CBCSports
Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators (4/16/08)
Predators goalie Dan Ellis comes up huge in Game 4 as the Preds hang on to a 3-2 win against the Red Wings and even the first round playoff series at two games apiece.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
C.W. McCall - "Convoy"
You had to know it was coming sooner or later. But in the spirit of crashing the net with authority, here's another 1970's classic country hit to get the Predators fired up for a huge Game 4 tonight. We still have the 45 of this song around here somewhere!
Predators Gain Confidence Heading into Game 4
Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis knows what it is like to win an NHL playoff game, but now he wants to find out how it would feel to have an early lead to work with.
Monday night Ellis was in net for the Predators’ 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Sommet Center. He will be back between the pipes tonight at 8 when the Predators and Red Wings play Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals Stanley Cup Playoff series.
“It is always easier to play with a lead than battling from behind,” Ellis said. “We want to look to get out early and often in Game 4. Whenever you have the lead it takes the weight off of everyone’s backs. We can put the pressure on them and put them on their heels.
“That is what they have been able to do to us in the entire series. We want to make things easier on us. Sometimes the easy way isn’t the best way for this team.”
Ellis and the Predators will see what kind of a lift they get from their win as they try to even the series at 2-2 before returning to Detroit Friday for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
“It is a huge momentum-builder for us,” said Ellis. “To be able to battle back into a series that looked like it was somewhat slipping away from us was huge. You don’t want to get down 3-0 in a series. It’s very difficult to come back from that.”
Ellis faced only 26 shots in the win.
“We played a much more solid 60 minutes,” Ellis said. “We limited their opportunities much more than we did in the first two games.
“They were still able to break through with a few goals, but we didn’t give up as many odd-man rushes. We didn’t give up as many rebound chances as we did in the first couple of games. We want to use that momentum to push us into Game 4.”
Center Jason Arnott, the Predators’ captain, said he can still hear the sound of the more than 17,000 fans ringing in his ears. He thinks that kind of fan response will be the boost the Predators need if they are to again triumph.
“This should fire us up,” Arnott said. “Especially after coming back after being down by two and then being down by one in the third. We stuck with our game plan and stuck with each other and worked through it kind of like we did all season long.
“The crowd gave us that extra push to give us a chance to win. That should be a big confidence booster for us to come in Game 4 firing on all cylinders. We need contributions from everybody and we are getting that right now.”
Arnott was still feeling the effects of his goal celebration Monday night. Right wing Alexander Radulov knocked Arnott down and he was off the ice for the final 3:48 of the game. Both Arnott and coach Barry Trotz downplayed any injury that Arnott may have suffered.
“I was collecting my thoughts,” Arnott said with a laugh. “I told Radulov to slow down next time. He came at me pretty quick. It hurt a little bit, but not too bad. It was more or less excitement on his part I guess.”
Radulov is one of the more emotional players for the Predators. Trotz told him to be more careful about how he decides to celebrate.
“I told Radulov to hit the guys in red, not the guys in blue,” Trotz said. “You could tell he was excited and just ran Arnie over. Arnie got rattled. He bounced off of the boards. Arnie has more of a whiplash than anything, but he will be all right.”
Despite the euphoria of the win, the Predators have a long way to go in this series. Trotz mixed up his top lines with by pairing Arnott with wingers Martin Erat and Radulov and center David Legwand between J.P Dumont and Jan Hlavac.
“David is such a good two-way center man I can put him in any role,” Trotz said. “It doesn’t matter who Detroit puts out. I can put David out there and feel comfortable.
“We changed things up because you get a feel for which guys are going good and which guys you need together more. You have a Plan A and work yourself through to Plan Z if you need to do it. We have to be flexible and change when we need to do it.”
Monday night Ellis was in net for the Predators’ 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Sommet Center. He will be back between the pipes tonight at 8 when the Predators and Red Wings play Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals Stanley Cup Playoff series.
“It is always easier to play with a lead than battling from behind,” Ellis said. “We want to look to get out early and often in Game 4. Whenever you have the lead it takes the weight off of everyone’s backs. We can put the pressure on them and put them on their heels.
“That is what they have been able to do to us in the entire series. We want to make things easier on us. Sometimes the easy way isn’t the best way for this team.”
Ellis and the Predators will see what kind of a lift they get from their win as they try to even the series at 2-2 before returning to Detroit Friday for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.
“It is a huge momentum-builder for us,” said Ellis. “To be able to battle back into a series that looked like it was somewhat slipping away from us was huge. You don’t want to get down 3-0 in a series. It’s very difficult to come back from that.”
Ellis faced only 26 shots in the win.
“We played a much more solid 60 minutes,” Ellis said. “We limited their opportunities much more than we did in the first two games.
“They were still able to break through with a few goals, but we didn’t give up as many odd-man rushes. We didn’t give up as many rebound chances as we did in the first couple of games. We want to use that momentum to push us into Game 4.”
Center Jason Arnott, the Predators’ captain, said he can still hear the sound of the more than 17,000 fans ringing in his ears. He thinks that kind of fan response will be the boost the Predators need if they are to again triumph.
“This should fire us up,” Arnott said. “Especially after coming back after being down by two and then being down by one in the third. We stuck with our game plan and stuck with each other and worked through it kind of like we did all season long.
“The crowd gave us that extra push to give us a chance to win. That should be a big confidence booster for us to come in Game 4 firing on all cylinders. We need contributions from everybody and we are getting that right now.”
Arnott was still feeling the effects of his goal celebration Monday night. Right wing Alexander Radulov knocked Arnott down and he was off the ice for the final 3:48 of the game. Both Arnott and coach Barry Trotz downplayed any injury that Arnott may have suffered.
“I was collecting my thoughts,” Arnott said with a laugh. “I told Radulov to slow down next time. He came at me pretty quick. It hurt a little bit, but not too bad. It was more or less excitement on his part I guess.”
Radulov is one of the more emotional players for the Predators. Trotz told him to be more careful about how he decides to celebrate.
“I told Radulov to hit the guys in red, not the guys in blue,” Trotz said. “You could tell he was excited and just ran Arnie over. Arnie got rattled. He bounced off of the boards. Arnie has more of a whiplash than anything, but he will be all right.”
Despite the euphoria of the win, the Predators have a long way to go in this series. Trotz mixed up his top lines with by pairing Arnott with wingers Martin Erat and Radulov and center David Legwand between J.P Dumont and Jan Hlavac.
“David is such a good two-way center man I can put him in any role,” Trotz said. “It doesn’t matter who Detroit puts out. I can put David out there and feel comfortable.
“We changed things up because you get a feel for which guys are going good and which guys you need together more. You have a Plan A and work yourself through to Plan Z if you need to do it. We have to be flexible and change when we need to do it.”
Monday, April 14, 2008
Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators (4/14/08)
Wow! The Predators are a lot of things but they are not a team without heart. Down 0-2 in the first round playoff series with Detroit, and down 3-2 with four minutes left in Game 3, the boys keep pushing until they score two back-to-back goals followed by an empty netter to take a critical win at home. Game 4 remains in Nashville, where the Preds will be gunning hard to even the series.
Sean Avery Gets Creative with Screening the Goalie
Screening the goalie is a longstanding hockey tactic that every team employs whenever possible, especially on the power play. Look no further than Tomas Holmstrom of the Red Wings in the Predators playoff series for a masterful goalie screener. But is there an unspoken line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to screening the goalie? Or can you do anything you want short of touching the goalie in the name of distraction? In the clip below, Sean Avery of the Rangers pushes the limits (and Martin Brodeur's patience) with some creative screening antics.
The NHL has come out against Avery's tactics and said it would call a penalty if it happens again. I tend to disagree. NHL referees already let players get away with murder when it comes to clearing out in front of their goalie, so there's no reason a Devils player shouldn't have just knocked him out of the way. Most rules of hockey (and sportsmanship) go out the window in front of the net, and Avery's mime show is no worse than say, a cross-check to the back. If you call him for a penalty, you really should start calling every brutal cross-check that takes place in front of the net.
The NHL has come out against Avery's tactics and said it would call a penalty if it happens again. I tend to disagree. NHL referees already let players get away with murder when it comes to clearing out in front of their goalie, so there's no reason a Devils player shouldn't have just knocked him out of the way. Most rules of hockey (and sportsmanship) go out the window in front of the net, and Avery's mime show is no worse than say, a cross-check to the back. If you call him for a penalty, you really should start calling every brutal cross-check that takes place in front of the net.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Steve Earle - "Copperhead Road" (Official Video)
It's pretty clear the Predators are going to need some help staying fired up to get the series evened up with Detroit as it heads back to Nashville. Maybe Steve Earle can pitch in some energy...
Arnott, Dumont Get Shut Down
DETROIT — The most disappointing stat of Game 2 for Predators forwards Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont was this: They totaled more penalties than they did shots on goal.
The two players who finished tied for Nashville's scoring lead during the regular season have been stifled by Detroit's defense through the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
In Saturday's 4-2 loss, Arnott posted just one shot on goal — his only shot of the series so far — and Dumont mustered only one as well.
Detroit's top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, which again went head-to-head with Nashville's top trio for most of the afternoon, produced a goal and two assists.
Arnott did come close to scoring once, when Dumont's pass across the top of the Detroit crease resulted in a short-range stuff opportunity. But Dominik Hasek turned Arnott away.
"It's frustrating for us that we're not on the scoreboard yet, but we did have a lot more chances than we did in the first game,'' Arnott said. "We've just got to keep our heads up and keep going. We can't get down on ourselves.''
Dumont was called for two roughing penalties, both of which occurred in the offensive zone. The latter penalty negated a Nashville power play late in the second period. Arnott was called for an interference penalty in the neutral zone late in the game.
With the Predators having the option of the final line change in the next two games, they likely will try to keep their top line away from Detroit's top trio, which is usually backed by defensemen Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski.
"I'm sure (Detroit) is going to try to keep it the same way,'' Arnott said. "We'll have the last change. It'll be up to (the coaches) to see who's going.''
Hordichuk gets call: The Predators chose to insert Darcy Hordichuk into the lineup on Saturday following the injury to center Scott Nichol.
Predators Coach Barry Trotz had considered using seven defensemen, but opted to go with Hordichuk, who wound up seeing just 2:14 ice time.
"We needed the forwards and Darcy gives us an element with the physical part of the game,'' Trotz said.
The Predators had also contemplated putting David Legwand back in the lineup, but he missed his 14th straight game because of a bone bruise on his foot. Trotz said Legwand was day-to-day.
Rebounds, rebounds: Predators goalie Dan Ellis led the league in save percentage this season but at times allows some juicy rebounds.
Detroit forward Darren McCarty scored during just one situation on Saturday, following up Dallas Drake's shot to tap in an easy rebound.
"He's doing a good job but sometimes he gives up the rebounds,'' Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek said. "We are talking about it … It's very important to create traffic in front of him and it's possible he gives up more rebounds.''
Rinne ties record: Milwaukee Admirals goalie Pekka Rinne tied a franchise record on Saturday when he recorded his 36th victory of the season.
Rinne stopped 21 of 23 shots in a 3-2 victory for Nashville's top minor league affiliate, which has clinched an American Hockey League playoff berth.
Prospects play for title: Two Predators prospects played for the NCAA hockey championship on Saturday.
Forward Ryan Thang, a third-round pick of the Preds last summer, and forward Ben Ryan, a fourth-round '07 pick, both suited up for Notre Dame.
The Irish met Boston College for the title Saturday night.
Thang was Notre Dame's second-leading scorer this season, with 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in 46 games. Ryan was the fourth-leading scorer, with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 46 games.
From The Tennessean
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings (4/12/08)
The Predators continue digging a playoff hole by dropping Game 2 to the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Let's see if the Preds can regain some confidence and a couple of wins as the series heads home to Nashville.
Q&A with Legendary Coach Scotty Bowman
Scotty Bowman is the most successful coach in NHL history. He holds virtually every record for coaching excellence, including nine Stanley Cup championships as a coach with Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit, a 10th as a director of player personnel in Pittsburgh and 13 coaching appearances in the Stanley Cup final, his first in 1967 with the first-year expansion St. Louis Blues. He also was the winning coach for Team Canada in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup international tournament. He is currently a consultant for Detroit.
Q: Coach, the Washington Capitals have just completed a remarkable resurgence by capturing the Southeast Division title and with it entry into the playoffs. Given that hockey wisdom holds that a team with late-season momentum and a hot goaltender (like Cristobal Huet) can do some serious damage in the playoffs, how realistic is it to expect the Caps to go deep into the playoffs? — Zed
Scotty Bowman: There’s no set way to end the season. The Capitals have really been a Cinderella story, especially the last two months. They did get the third seed. What they have to guard against, especially with so many young players, is to think — consciously or unconsciously — that just making the playoffs is their championship. That will be a big motivational challenge for their coaching staff. I’ve seen teams shut it down unintentionally and I’ve seen other teams build some momentum where they go on adrenaline for a few rounds.
But realistically, you have to look at the fact that they’re pretty healthy, they made three tremendous additions at the trade deadline with Huet, Fedorov and Cooke. All three have contributed. The first series is going to be really tough for them. If they build momentum on winning that series, who knows how far they can go? But they don’t open until Friday and they finished last Saturday. I’m sure they would have preferred to play earlier, but they have to work with the hand they’ve been dealt.
Q: Scotty, I was wondering what your thoughts are on Alex Ovechkin. I think he is the greatest offensive player I have ever seen, and I’ve been watching hockey since 1979. Better than Mario, better than Gretzky. Where do you rank Ovechkin, given his short career? — aj
SB: While it’s early in his career, he’s proven to be one of the most prolific goal scorers of recent times. But when you start to compare him to Mario and Wayne, it’s a little premature. We’ll have to wait a few more years to make that comparison.
Q: Scotty, What tactics do you think opposing coaches will use against Crosby and the young Penguins in the playoffs? If you were coaching the Penguins, what would you do to offset those tactics? — felixwas
SB: I think they’ll probably use their No. 1 tandem on defense — that would be the first priority, to have their top defensemen out against him. If I was coaching Pittsburgh in that situation, you have to know that you can’t stop the opposition from playing certain players against your players. The only thing you can do is to play your best players as many minutes as you possibly can.
Q: Will Pittsburgh be any more successful in its playoff effort than it was against Ottawa last year, and if so, why? — rick kalson
SB: Well, the Penguins have more experience this year. They’re a better team and they’re going against a team that is banged up. Ottawa has a player from each of their lines who is injured — Alfredsson, Fisher and Kelly.
Q: Hi. I was wondering if you see a big difference in style between the Western and Eastern Conferences, notably in terms of defensive play. The Western Conference has the bigger names, but does that necessarily make them better defensive pairings? — J MacAdam
SB: I think for this season, the Western Conference has enjoyed spectacular goaltending from more than a few teams and that’s the only real difference that I’ve seen. People think the West plays differently, but I haven’t been able to detect any difference other than the goaltending. There’s been some excellent goaltending in the East, too, but there have been a few more good goaltenders in the West.
Q: Mr. Bowman, in light of the success of Anaheim’s rough (some would say too rough) style of play last year, do you have a guess on how the league will direct the officials this playoff season? — James Harris
SB: The league is emphatic that, for all intents and purposes, the standard that was used during the regular season will be used in the playoffs. I think they’ll stick to that.
Q: Why has NHL officiating become so inconsistent, despite the presence of two referees on the ice? There have been clear instances this season of one ref overruling the other or calling a second penalty (e.g. diving) to compensate for what he thinks is the other’s error (e.g. a hooking call). Whatever it is, hockey officiating seems to be clearly behind other major sports when it comes to consistency and professionalism. — Bill Katz
SB: You have to remember that when the league expanded to the two-referee system, there was a lot of melding involved. A number of young referees hit the NHL who hadn’t worked in a two-man system and there’s still some of that. Now that’s supposed to be taken care of in the next few years, because the developmental leagues will have two referees working games. But the necessity of having to double the number of referees at the outset wasn’t easy. As for over-ruling, my understanding is that while the referees have territories of responsibility during play, they also have the ability to call penalties in any instance during the game. So that’s well within their responsibility.
Things should improve in the playoffs, because the league tries to have two officials working together who have developed some chemistry. And also in the playoffs, you should get better officiating because those who have performed better during the season are rewarded with work during the playoffs. I don’t know if hockey officiating is behind other sports because it is so much more difficult to officiate than the other sports. Fans are often very critical of the officials but, except for the goals, the officials don’t have a second look at plays the way the fans do at home.
Q: As a Rangers fan, I’d like your opinion on the likelihood of a team with a poor power play, limited offense and strong defense succeeding in the playoffs. — Fred Winters
Q: Why have the Rangers been such a tease this year; inconsistent play all year, aging stars, locker room cliques, too many new players to integrate into their system, what’s up? And who is going to win the Cup? — mh lager
SB: I think the Rangers are a dark-horse entry in the Eastern Conference this year. They’ve been able to get their team to play a system. They’re not easy to score against, as we’ve seen in their season series against the Devils. They’ve had excellent goaltending. Their best defensemen are inexperienced, and it’s taken some time, but I think Tom Renney has done a good job of integrating his forwards into helping his defense. If you’re stingy in the playoffs, you have a good chance to win. As for who will win the Cup, I might be prejudiced in this, but I’m a big supporter of the Red Wings. I think they’re poised to have a good run and I think they have the best chance to win the Cup.
Q: Coach Bowman, with the Rangers facing the Devils in the first round, can you please forward any advice to Tom Renney? Many thanks for answering, and for all of your years of amazing coaching — the sport is better for having had you in it — Scotty Hockey
SB: Thanks for your kind words. My advice to Tom Renney would be not to change much from the style they used during the regular season.
Q: What does the rest of the hockey world outside of Vancouver attribute to the failure of the Canucks to reach the playoffs? — Tom Brophy
SB: I think what happened in Vancouver is that they played a very tight, defensive style of hockey, and they suffered a lot of injuries to their defense corps. No team can stand those. A lot of times they were missing some of their regular defensemen, and for a long stretch they were missing their top three or four. You can’t overcome that, especially with the style of play they were successful with a year ago.
Q: Mr. Bowman: Do you feel the overall play league-wide this past season has reverted back to the neutral-zone trap of the late ’90s and early ’00s? It seems as if the ice has shrunk again and players are having a difficult time finding open space to make plays. — William Makin
SB: Because the center line has been removed, teams decided not to worry as much about the attacking zone or the neutral zone to defend. They’ve chose to protect the scoring area in front of their own goal and bring their wingers down in that area with their defensemen — that’s why scoring is difficult. The scoring area is being protected now more than it ever has. In the choice scoring area, you’ll find too many players from both teams. There’s no room or time to score.
Q: Scotty, several years back you took a look at the Swedish “torpedo” system to see if it might carry over as an effective NHL strategy, and I remember one reason you declined to use it at the time was due to the two-line pass rule that applied to the NHL, but not in Europe. Since that rule disappeared coming out of the lockout, does that change your opinion as to whether the torpedo might be effective in today’s NHL? — Dirk Hoag
SB: I don’t think the torpedo system would be as effective in our rinks, because the rinks in Europe are 200 feet by 100 feet and there’s more ice to move around. I doubt if it would be effective on a smaller ice surface.
Q: How do you feel about some owners’ call for the downsizing of goaltenders’ equipment? — Marie Weinmann
SB: I’ve been a supporter of that for a long time, as long as they can give the goalies the right protection. I think some of the goaltenders have been protecting their net more than themselves. As long as the equipment protects them against injury, I think it’s something the league has to take a long look at.
Q: Thank you for considering our questions, Mr. Bowman! I’m curious about your views on goaltending during the playoffs. What do you look for in making your choice, and what goes into deciding to switch goalies once the playoffs have begun? — Dan H
SB: Historically, teams that have won have stuck to one goaltender. The best example is Edmonton. They had Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog. Each played 40 games, but when the playoffs came, they used Fuhr. It was the same with the Islanders. They had Billy Smith and Chico Resch and Rollie Melanson, but when the playoffs came, it was Smith. I’d say that unless he struggles or gets injured, you have to run with one goalie.
Q: I was thrilled when a rookie netminder named Ken Dyrden led the Canadiens to the Cup in 1971. Could you please compare Dryden with Carey Price, and comment on the prospects that history might repeat itself in 2008 for the Habs and their rookie goalie? — Steve Valley
SB: I think a more favorable comparison for Price was Patrick Roy, who also won the Stanley Cup as a rookie for the Canadiens. Both Roy and Price joined the farm team when the junior career was over, they both won the Calder Cup for the farm team of the Canadiens, Roy in Sherbrooke when he just came out of junior and Price in Hamilton. The difference between them and Dryden is that when Dryden went in against Boston in the ‘71 playoffs he’d only had a half dozen NHL games, although he’d played minor pro with the Montreal Voyageurs. Price has played half a season now in the NHL, so he has more NHL experience than Dryden, although not as much minor pro. Dryden was 22 or 23 — he was older because he had played for Cornell — and Price is 20 and so was Roy. So the dynamics are more favorable for a comparison with Roy.
Q: The Red Wings are entering the playoffs for the 17th straight year, but the age of the team is often blamed for their lack of success. Why do you think they make the playoffs, then struggle, and do you think their age has anything to do with it? Thanks for taking our questions and for all the years of joy you gave the fans in Detroit. — CathyAnn
SB: Thank you for the nice compliment. I think one of the main reasons the Wings are well poised for the Cup this year is because, in February, some of their veterans — Lidstrom, Rafalski and Hasek — suffered injuries which forced them to rest. That wouldn’t have happened otherwise. So the veteran players are rested and the best offensive players, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, are not that old.
Q: Hi Scotty. I was just reading a Detroit Free Press article where the writer was very thankful that the Red Wings would play Nashville in the first round since it cut down on travel and time zone changes. In your experience, how much of a disadvantage is it that Detroit is one of two teams in the Eastern time zone but plays in the Western Conference? Has there been talk of a realignment putting Detroit in the Eastern Conference or any other resolution that would solve this? — Wayne Keast
SB: Well, fortunately, this year, the series in the West have worked out so there’s less travel than ever. Calgary-San Jose is the longest trip. If you have to travel a lot in the early going, you may have to travel through all four time zones with a three-hour change, and you have to decide if you leave after the game or wait until the next day. In those circumstances, regardless, it feels like you play every day, which is a real mental drain. This year, the Western teams will have it easier and they’ll be back in their home cites and home time zones earlier and more frequently than in previous years. I don’t think there’s been much talk of putting Detroit in the Eastern Conference right now until there’s another expansion, because who wants to leave the East?
Q: Mr. Bowman: How will the Wings neutralize the Predators’ ability to generate offense off cycling in the offensive zone during their first-round series? The Predators were one of the few teams who seemed able to exploit the Wings via cycling and pushing the puck out to the slot. Second, do you believe that the Wings will offset the loss of Tomas Kopecky by playing Justin Abdelkader in the playoffs? Is Abdelkader ready for the playoff grind? — George Malik
SB: One thing the Predators did during the regular season was that they worked on neutralizing the Red Wings defensemen, especially in the Nashville zone. The Red Wings defense is good offensively but Nashville tried to take that away from them. They didn’t play the generic game of collapsing down low. They covered the points pretty well. So the Red Wings will have to move the puck down low and work the Predators’ defense. As for Justin Abdelkader, he did play a couple of useful games down the stretch, but he’s still a rookie and I don’t think they’ll put him in right away. The coaches will track how some of the Wings’ veterans will be playing and if some of them struggle, then they would make the change. It’s hard to say if Abdelkader is ready for the playoff grind. You never can tell with a young player.
Q: Why is it that when the Red Wings win the Presidents’ Trophy, they are out by the second round of the playoffs? Is there some ancient ritual we Red Wing fans need to perform to reverse this curse? — Kathleen Mazure
SB: Well, it has happened in the past. But I don’t think it’s a curse. The team this year had some adversity toward the end of the season to win the Presidents’ Trophy, with some injuries and big lead. I think the adversity in this case is a good thing for them rather than bad.
Q: Mr. Bowman, In your opinion, what are three creative ideas or changes to the game you feel would increase the popularity of the NHL in the US and need to be considered by the league? — Ryan
SB: That’s a good one. Hmmm. Well, one thing is that I think the fans who come to the games should get the same information as the fans watching at home on TV. I’m thinking here about the video replay decisions. I know the league is concerned about inciting the crowds against the officials, but 99.9 percent of the time they get it right. I’d like to see the fans at the games not be shortchanged compared to the fan who stays at home. Another thing I ‘d like to see would be that any time two players get coincidental penalties, they are not substituted for, and that would include major penalties. So, for example, if there were matching fighting majors, you’d go to four-on-four for the full five minutes and you make the players serve the time. Any ideas to get to four-on-four without making it permanent are fine. I’ll have to think some more about a third one, but there are two.
Q: Hello, Mr. Bowman, We here in Philadelphia have suffered for years and years. The last Stanley Cup in Philly, as I’m sure you’re aware, was over 30 years ago. Do you feel the Flyers can win a Cup within the next three or four years? Thank you and I wish you the best! — John
SB: The Flyers made great strides last off-season. To go from where they were to where they are and get in the playoffs was a giant step. They’ve insulated themselves with some pretty hefty contracts. Now, the trick will be to make sure they develop some players through their system, which is a little more difficult. You can’t sign all those big free agent deals every off-season, so they have to make sure they develop some of their own players.
Q: A few people [submitting questions] asked about the need for a shootout. What about a clean sheet of ice for overtime? Play four-on-four for three minutes — switch sides — then play three-on-three for three minutes? If there is no scoring the game is a tie, and both teams get one point. The way it used to be. —JFB
SB: I wasn’t a big supporter of the shootout, but I think it has proven to be popular. The fans enjoy it. They don’t leave the building. They stand up for the shootout. So, it’s been a big asset to the game’s excitement. It would be tough to get rid of it now.
Q: Coach Bowman, years ago, I read Ken Dryden’s fine book “The Game,” and in it he described the practices you put the Montreal Canadiens through during your tenure with les Habitants: practices with constant flow, skating, and pace. Mr. Dryden also stated that your philosophy of player positioning was strict in the defensive half of the ice, but unstructured and unlimited — by design — in the offensive half of the ice. My question: As you coached in the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond, did these two tenets come to change? — Todd Seaver
SB: This hasn’t changed much, but I do think the high-tech use of video is probably the one area that has changed the game on the defensive side. Teams know their opponents a lot better because of video and can defend better. They learn what the offensive tendencies are. This makes it tougher for the offensive team to score.
Q: Mr. Bowman, I’ve heard from a few old-time players that you gave Herb Brooks some key advice that helped the U.S. team win in 1980. If this is so, what did you tell him? — Ian Cropp
SB: I really never gave Herb Brooks any key advice. We did talk a lot. We had a lot of the same philosophies about the flow system, and we both felt that the point of attack on the power plays could be generated from the goal line as well as the blue line – that you could put two of your most creative forwards down low in the offensive zone, one near each corner around the goal line, and use them to generate offense when you had the extra man, instead of using defensemen with big shots on the point. I don’t think anyone has ever used it the way we thought it might work. We tried to do it in Detroit in 2002, but only using one guy — usually Igor Larionov — down low, not two. Teams don’t try that as much as I think they could. Herb was an innovative coach who was way ahead of his time and if he were around today, with the advances in video, I think he’d be using it to improve offenses.
Q: The average age in the NHL continues to drop as more young and speed-oriented players enter the league. Yet the playoff teams rely on veterans and stress defensive styles of play. How are these two trends going to reconcile each other? — Ken M
SB: First of all, players continue playing now at a much older age. The conditioning methods have improved dramatically and that allows them to stay in very good shape. Those blue-chip players make a good living and, if they stay in shape, they are not inclined to leave. I think it’s easier for savvy veterans to play a more conservative type of game as their careers wind down. But it’s been proven that you can’t win with just youth and speed and you can’t win with just veterans. The right combination, the right blend, is what you’re looking for.
Q: Living in Buffalo, I know you keep an eye on the Sabres. What moves do you think they need to make in order to get back on top? Thanks — Dan Farrell
SB: First of all, it’s hard for teams to sustain the loss of one player, but the loss of Drury, Briere and Campbell was quite a lot. They have to ensure themselves they don’t have any more losses of that kind. They do have some young players that are going to come into their team, a few are there now, but it’s most important they retain the players who they have to sign.
Q: Scotty, could you please identify one or two of your best coaching adjustments made between periods during a playoff game? — Jason
SB: Jeez! That’s a tough one. I think the biggest adjustment during the playoffs wasn’t really between periods but between the regular season and the playoffs in Pittsburgh. We had to go from an offensive team right into a defensive mode — and this was a team that had not played much defense. That was probably the biggest adjustment I was involved with in the playoffs.
Q: Mr. Bowman, as Gordie Howe turned 80 last week, there were lots of people trying to compare and figure out where he ranks now in the all time greats. How would you rank him next to Gretzky? Lemieux? Richard? — mike ward
SB: I’d put Bobby Orr in that group, too. He only played 10 seasons but he had a big impact on the game. I’ve always felt that if you were ever going to make a mold for a hockey player with five strengths — offense, defense, durability, toughness and versatility — you wouldn’t look past Gordie Howe. In my estimation, he was the best ever. It’s so hard to rank players from different eras, but to think that he got 100 points when he was 40 years old, he made 20 straight All-Star teams and was in the top five in scoring for 20 seasons and most of it in the six-team league. I have a hard time thinking you can get a better hockey player than Gordie Howe.
From The New York Times
Friday, April 11, 2008
Rites of Spring at Vanderbilt Campus 4/18 & 4/19/2008
So if you're itching to hear some live music in between Predators playoff games, you could do worse than checking out the Rites of Spring music festival on the Vanderbilt University campus. Click here to learn more.
Defense Will Be the Difference for Nashville
Three days before the Western Conference quarterfinal series between Nashville and Detroit began, veteran NBC and TSN broadcaster Pierre McGuire pinpointed what he thought the Predators needed most to pull the upset.
"I think the three young defensemen, when you talk about Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Danny Hamhuis, are going to have to step up huge on (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg," McGuire said. "Especially Shea Weber. He's got to be a physical presence throughout the entire series. He just brings it all the time."
One game into the series, McGuire appears dead on. The reason Detroit won the series opener, 3-1, was because of a fortunate play by Datsyuk and Zetterberg that resulted in the game-winning goal.
Datsyuk and Zetterberg prevented Weber from clearing the puck. Datsyuk then had the puck come to him with Zetterberg dashing toward the slot. He made a cross-ice pass to Zetterberg, who one-timed the puck into the back of the net.
Game 2 is Saturday, when NBC debuts its 2008 National Hockey League playoff coverage. It represents another chance for Nashville's young blueliners to be the difference in what could turn into a long series.
"I like Pierre's comment about the three big Ds because they're the guys that are going to have to make a difference, and I love watching Weber play," NBC and Versus play-by-play specialist Mike “Doc” Emrick said. "We like collisions and we like guys that can generate them, and it'll be interesting to see because they do have that bucketload of adrenaline and character."
The broadcasters, including Mike Milbury and Don Cherry, who all were on a conference call Monday, hit on many bits and pieces of what could be interesting subplots in this 1 vs. 8 series between the Presidents' Trophy winners and one of the final teams to clinch a playoff berth.
However, the goaltenders – Detroit's veteran Dominik Hasek and Nashville's young Dan Ellis – generated the most discussion.
"Is Hasek going to be able to perform at the level that he has done in the past and drive them deep into the playoffs?" Milbury asked. "If he can't, with (Chris) Osgood, they've been just OK. But I think a rested Hasek should be OK for Detroit, certainly good enough to beat Nashville."
Hasek was just fine Thursday, stopping 19 of 20 shots. Cherry, the outlandish CBC commentator, also is curious to see how Hasek will hold up.
"I would say that Hasek doesn't seem as though he's got that bounce," Cherry said. "He's stopping pucks, don't get me wrong, but remember when he was with Buffalo and they went to the Final and he was out challenging guys and yelling at the referees? This year he doesn't seem the same guy.
"If he's on, they're home-free as far as I'm concerned, but he's got to be on."
Ellis was peppered with 39 shots and brushed aside 37, but he stood strong in the second period by stopping all 17 of Detroit's shots. The Red Wings held a 13-3 advantage in the third to put the game away.
Ellis's performance didn't in any way shock Emrick, who spent a portion of the conference call praising the 27-year-old, who grabbed hold of the starting job right around February, when Nashville began its playoff push.
Ellis went 4-0-1 down the stretch, including 2-0-1 with two shutouts and a 0.33 goals-against average from March 25-30 to earn the NHL Second Star of the Week honors. He finished the season 23-10-3 with a 2.34 GAA, pretty good for a guy who spent three years in college and four in the minors, save for a one-game stint with Dallas in 2003-04, before making it big in the NHL.
"We've had some goaltenders that have come in and have been really strong with long undefeated streaks at the beginning of their careers, but this guy is not 22 now," Emrick said. "He's a college guy that's had some seasoning in the pros before he came in, and to catch on at just the right time when Nashville needed him to get into the playoffs and to fight their way in, I think that's the impressive test that he's had to go through.
"The pressure of playing Detroit is probably going to be equivalent to what he's had the last couple of weeks. To register what he did, and be an NHL Player of the Week two weeks from the end when it really is crunch time for his team, I think that's impressive."
The pressure, though, mounts Saturday as Nashville must win to avoid falling into the dreaded 0-2 hole before heading back into its own building.
From NHL.com
"I think the three young defensemen, when you talk about Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Danny Hamhuis, are going to have to step up huge on (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg," McGuire said. "Especially Shea Weber. He's got to be a physical presence throughout the entire series. He just brings it all the time."
One game into the series, McGuire appears dead on. The reason Detroit won the series opener, 3-1, was because of a fortunate play by Datsyuk and Zetterberg that resulted in the game-winning goal.
Datsyuk and Zetterberg prevented Weber from clearing the puck. Datsyuk then had the puck come to him with Zetterberg dashing toward the slot. He made a cross-ice pass to Zetterberg, who one-timed the puck into the back of the net.
Game 2 is Saturday, when NBC debuts its 2008 National Hockey League playoff coverage. It represents another chance for Nashville's young blueliners to be the difference in what could turn into a long series.
"I like Pierre's comment about the three big Ds because they're the guys that are going to have to make a difference, and I love watching Weber play," NBC and Versus play-by-play specialist Mike “Doc” Emrick said. "We like collisions and we like guys that can generate them, and it'll be interesting to see because they do have that bucketload of adrenaline and character."
The broadcasters, including Mike Milbury and Don Cherry, who all were on a conference call Monday, hit on many bits and pieces of what could be interesting subplots in this 1 vs. 8 series between the Presidents' Trophy winners and one of the final teams to clinch a playoff berth.
However, the goaltenders – Detroit's veteran Dominik Hasek and Nashville's young Dan Ellis – generated the most discussion.
"Is Hasek going to be able to perform at the level that he has done in the past and drive them deep into the playoffs?" Milbury asked. "If he can't, with (Chris) Osgood, they've been just OK. But I think a rested Hasek should be OK for Detroit, certainly good enough to beat Nashville."
Hasek was just fine Thursday, stopping 19 of 20 shots. Cherry, the outlandish CBC commentator, also is curious to see how Hasek will hold up.
"I would say that Hasek doesn't seem as though he's got that bounce," Cherry said. "He's stopping pucks, don't get me wrong, but remember when he was with Buffalo and they went to the Final and he was out challenging guys and yelling at the referees? This year he doesn't seem the same guy.
"If he's on, they're home-free as far as I'm concerned, but he's got to be on."
Ellis was peppered with 39 shots and brushed aside 37, but he stood strong in the second period by stopping all 17 of Detroit's shots. The Red Wings held a 13-3 advantage in the third to put the game away.
Ellis's performance didn't in any way shock Emrick, who spent a portion of the conference call praising the 27-year-old, who grabbed hold of the starting job right around February, when Nashville began its playoff push.
Ellis went 4-0-1 down the stretch, including 2-0-1 with two shutouts and a 0.33 goals-against average from March 25-30 to earn the NHL Second Star of the Week honors. He finished the season 23-10-3 with a 2.34 GAA, pretty good for a guy who spent three years in college and four in the minors, save for a one-game stint with Dallas in 2003-04, before making it big in the NHL.
"We've had some goaltenders that have come in and have been really strong with long undefeated streaks at the beginning of their careers, but this guy is not 22 now," Emrick said. "He's a college guy that's had some seasoning in the pros before he came in, and to catch on at just the right time when Nashville needed him to get into the playoffs and to fight their way in, I think that's the impressive test that he's had to go through.
"The pressure of playing Detroit is probably going to be equivalent to what he's had the last couple of weeks. To register what he did, and be an NHL Player of the Week two weeks from the end when it really is crunch time for his team, I think that's impressive."
The pressure, though, mounts Saturday as Nashville must win to avoid falling into the dreaded 0-2 hole before heading back into its own building.
From NHL.com
The Moody Blues Coming to Ryman on 4/18/2008
OK, so this is the same night as Game 5 of the Predators-Red Wings playoff series, which better go to 5 (and beyond!). But if you can't score tickets to the game, a concert at the Ryman Auditorium is hardly a bad runner-up night out. Buy tickets to the show here. Watch some vintage Moody Blues below.
Predators Center Nichol Breaks Thumb - Out For Series vs. Detroit
Detroit, MI. (AHN) - If the Nashville Predators are going to shake off their opening game playoff loss to Detroit and topple the Red Wings, they will have to do so without Scott Nichol.
The Predators stellar center suffered a broken left thumb in Tuesday night's loss to the Red Wings and will be unavailable for the rest of the series.
It is a tough blow for the Predators to deal with, as Nichol is a terrific penalty killer, face-off man and boasts the experience of seven years on the ice.
The Predators will not use Nichol's injury as an excuse to not be at their best when the teams' clash again for Saturday's game two.
"He has a real competitive intangible in the room,'' Predators Coach Barry Trotz told Freep.com. "He's one of the leaders that drive our hockey club. We're going to miss him, but we've missed a lot of players over the past year. We'll just have to find another way to get things done.''
Predators center Dave Legwand, who missed the previous 13 games due to a foot ailment, could be ready to play or the team may call up a player from the minors to replace Nichol.
From AHN
The Predators stellar center suffered a broken left thumb in Tuesday night's loss to the Red Wings and will be unavailable for the rest of the series.
It is a tough blow for the Predators to deal with, as Nichol is a terrific penalty killer, face-off man and boasts the experience of seven years on the ice.
The Predators will not use Nichol's injury as an excuse to not be at their best when the teams' clash again for Saturday's game two.
"He has a real competitive intangible in the room,'' Predators Coach Barry Trotz told Freep.com. "He's one of the leaders that drive our hockey club. We're going to miss him, but we've missed a lot of players over the past year. We'll just have to find another way to get things done.''
Predators center Dave Legwand, who missed the previous 13 games due to a foot ailment, could be ready to play or the team may call up a player from the minors to replace Nichol.
From AHN
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings (4/10/08)
Despite a very strong performance by goaltender Dan Ellis, the Predators make just enough mistakes to let Detroit take Game 1 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Yeah, Chelios is Still Sissyish
So Chris Chelios was on a Detroit-area radio station this morning and gave the following quote regarding Nashville Predators fans:
"Yeah, they're hillbillyish. ... I don't know what to say, hillbilly or country. They are a very emotional crowd, exciting crowd, loud, so it's actually a fun place to play on the road."
Dude, seriously? Hillbillyish? That’s where you went with that? So many places to go on this one. Hmmm... let's see.
1. Chris must still be miffed about that whole "Chelios is a sissy" chant from back during our team's first playoff appearance--the arena chanted that silly insult every time he touched the puck, and it was kind of funny.
2. I think "hillbilly" or "redneck" or "country" is about the easiest joke a person can make about Nashville. That joke is older than Mel Brooks. Give me a break, Chris. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, it offends me as a comedian! Have some originality or maybe just don’t try to be funny.
3. I think Nashville fans should show up at the first home playoff game on Monday all wearing straw hats and wife-beaters, with a strand of hay hanging out of their mouths. And they should all tell Chelios how "purty" he is. Or maybe they all wear three-piece business suits and monocles.
4. I don’t care for one second that he tries to redeem himself with the tail end of that quote by saying Predators fans are exciting and make Nashville a fun place to play. Too late. You can’t insult an entire city and then backtrack within the same 30 seconds.
5. If Chelios is allowed to mock Preds fans based on overused stereotypes about our town... then we can do the same thing: Detroit fans are dirty and poor. Just very, very poor and dirty... and homocidal-ish. And they all live in trailers and have nightly rap battles.
Oh, but they’re exciting fans, though. Fun place to play.
See, Chris, it's not that hard. Wait, wait... let me guess... Calgary fans say "Eh?" all the time, right? And Dallas fans are a bunch of cowboys and they all ride horses to the game and tie them up outside, right?
Sweeping generalizations are easy. Staying classy as a hockey player, even into your forties, is apparently quite tough.
From Bleacher Report
It's Play-off Time in Nashville
Come support the Predators in their playoff battle vs. the Detroit Red Wings! Join us Thursday, April 10th at O'Charley's in Rivergate at 5:30pm CT for Game 1 of this playoff duel. Woody and Jim from 107.5 The River will broadcast from the event with great prizes from O'Charley's and the Predators. Be sure to come by to cheer on our team!
Inside the NHL - Vernon Fiddler
In this episode of Inside the NHL, we get a rare glimpse into the mind of Vernon Fiddler, western Canada native, old school country music fan, and master scrapper for the Preds.
Goalie Clearly Living In Net
NASHVILLE—After reporters and fans observed a number of personal belongings accumulating around the south goal in Nashville's Sommet Center, members of the Predators organization acknowledged Tuesday that goaltender Dan Ellis has been residing in the net since signing as a free agent last June.
"One day it just occurred to me that Dan would never leave the arena with the rest of the team after practice, even though he got along great with everyone," team captain Jason Arnott said, adding that he did not suspect anything even though Ellis was always the first player on the ice each day. "Before long, a pillow and blankets appeared, shoved into the corner of the goal, but I didn't put two and two together until the rink began to get really musty and the crease started to fill up with socks and cans and crumpled up chip bags."
Arnott said that shortly after he realized Ellis was living in the net, he noticed the 27-year-old goalie was only consuming hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, beer, and soda purchased from vendors in the stands. Recently, Ellis' teammates have left non-perishable canned goods outside his net.
"It was really heart-wrenching," Arnott said. "Watching that poor guy climb into the stands between the second and third periods, buying dozens of hot dogs and filling up his helmet with popcorn so he would have enough to last a couple days. Fans loved it, though."
Predators coach Barry Trotz said he had no intention of asking Ellis to move out of the net, considering the goalie led the NHL in save percentage with .991, stopped 177 of 182 shots in the final five games, and had six shutouts on days when the team skipped warm-up slap-shot drills in order to let him sleep in.
According to team sources, the netminder's housing situation created a great deal of curiosity amongst the Predators, prompting the intensely private Ellis to hang long curtains along the crossbar of goal frame. In addition to protecting Ellis' belongings from thieves, the drapes also provide the goaltender, who played 2,228 minutes this season, with a way to occasionally of seclude himself from the 17,000 fans in attendance.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stressed that the integrity of the game was at stake and therefore maintained that he would not enact any rule changes despite numerous complaints from opposing goalies claiming Ellis' goal area was "too disgusting to defend" when the teams switched sides each period.
"If I were to prohibit Dan Ellis from dwelling in the net, it would directly interfere with his ability to perform," Bettman said, insisting he would not tamper with one of the most sacred rules of hockey. "It's one of the oldest traditions of our sport that anything behind the goal line is his business."
While Predators defenseman Ryan Suter admitted that the large spreading stains on and even in the ice around the goalie area baffled and disturbed him, he quickly pointed out that he was impressed by Ellis' defensive tenacity and his uncanny ability to inform him where he should position himself.
"Dan really knows every single square inch of that ice," Suter said, adding that he too might try sleeping in his skates. "He was always screaming 'Get out of the backyard! Go over there around the recycling bin! Set up there, where my bike is parked!' and I end up exactly where I need to be to make a play."
Suter recalled an incident that occurred during the Predators warm-ups before their game against the Blackhawks on March 22, when an errant puck reportedly slipped past Ellis and cracked the housing of the goaltender's television set. According to Suter, Ellis played with such tenacity over the next eight days that he stopped 147 consecutive shots and would not allow players from either team within 12 feet of the goal.
Although no one in the Predators organization has a definitive theory as to why Ellis moved into the team's net, there has been growing speculation that when he joined the team he did not feel that he could find a comparable apartment in the greater Nashville area.
From The Onion
"One day it just occurred to me that Dan would never leave the arena with the rest of the team after practice, even though he got along great with everyone," team captain Jason Arnott said, adding that he did not suspect anything even though Ellis was always the first player on the ice each day. "Before long, a pillow and blankets appeared, shoved into the corner of the goal, but I didn't put two and two together until the rink began to get really musty and the crease started to fill up with socks and cans and crumpled up chip bags."
Arnott said that shortly after he realized Ellis was living in the net, he noticed the 27-year-old goalie was only consuming hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, beer, and soda purchased from vendors in the stands. Recently, Ellis' teammates have left non-perishable canned goods outside his net.
"It was really heart-wrenching," Arnott said. "Watching that poor guy climb into the stands between the second and third periods, buying dozens of hot dogs and filling up his helmet with popcorn so he would have enough to last a couple days. Fans loved it, though."
Predators coach Barry Trotz said he had no intention of asking Ellis to move out of the net, considering the goalie led the NHL in save percentage with .991, stopped 177 of 182 shots in the final five games, and had six shutouts on days when the team skipped warm-up slap-shot drills in order to let him sleep in.
According to team sources, the netminder's housing situation created a great deal of curiosity amongst the Predators, prompting the intensely private Ellis to hang long curtains along the crossbar of goal frame. In addition to protecting Ellis' belongings from thieves, the drapes also provide the goaltender, who played 2,228 minutes this season, with a way to occasionally of seclude himself from the 17,000 fans in attendance.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stressed that the integrity of the game was at stake and therefore maintained that he would not enact any rule changes despite numerous complaints from opposing goalies claiming Ellis' goal area was "too disgusting to defend" when the teams switched sides each period.
"If I were to prohibit Dan Ellis from dwelling in the net, it would directly interfere with his ability to perform," Bettman said, insisting he would not tamper with one of the most sacred rules of hockey. "It's one of the oldest traditions of our sport that anything behind the goal line is his business."
While Predators defenseman Ryan Suter admitted that the large spreading stains on and even in the ice around the goalie area baffled and disturbed him, he quickly pointed out that he was impressed by Ellis' defensive tenacity and his uncanny ability to inform him where he should position himself.
"Dan really knows every single square inch of that ice," Suter said, adding that he too might try sleeping in his skates. "He was always screaming 'Get out of the backyard! Go over there around the recycling bin! Set up there, where my bike is parked!' and I end up exactly where I need to be to make a play."
Suter recalled an incident that occurred during the Predators warm-ups before their game against the Blackhawks on March 22, when an errant puck reportedly slipped past Ellis and cracked the housing of the goaltender's television set. According to Suter, Ellis played with such tenacity over the next eight days that he stopped 147 consecutive shots and would not allow players from either team within 12 feet of the goal.
Although no one in the Predators organization has a definitive theory as to why Ellis moved into the team's net, there has been growing speculation that when he joined the team he did not feel that he could find a comparable apartment in the greater Nashville area.
From The Onion
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Hockey Show (4/9/2008)
The NHL's new show, The Hockey Show, debuts with a look at the 2008 playoffs.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Stompin' Tom Connors - "The Hockey Song"
Let's kick it old school for the Predators as they prepare to open up the playoffs against the Red Wings this week.
Nashville Predators 2008 Playoff Schedule - Round 1
| Thurs, April 10, 2008 | 7:00 PM | Nashville at Detroit | VERSUS | |
| Sat., April 12, 2008 | 2:00 PM | Nashville at Detroit | NBC | |
| Mon., April 14, 2008 | TBD | Detroit at Nashville | VERSUS | |
| Wed, April 16, 2008 | TBD | Detroit at Nashville | VERSUS (JIP) | |
| Fri., April 18, 2008 | 7:30 PM | Nashville at Detroit | VERSUS | |
| Sun., April 20, 2008 | 3:00 PM | Detroit at Nashville | NBC | |
| Tues., April 22, 2008 | TBD | Nashville at Detroit | ||
Predators Survive Off-Ice Soap Opera, Reach 4th Straight Playoffs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No team in the NHL had to endure a season like the Nashville Predators had.
Their owner announced he was selling to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie a month after last season ended. Then that sale was off. Relocation to Canada or Kansas City were possibilities. A fire sale followed that stripped some of the best talent off the roster, and the payroll.
Finally, a group of local investors came to the rescue and bought the team.
Now a franchise that had to fight to stay in the city where it was born has scratched its way into the playoffs for a fourth straight season. What better preparation for the pressure and intensity of the post-season?
"I know it's not going to hurt us," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said Monday.
"I do know it's going to help. It's one of those things. We've gone through a lot of stuff. Things are going to happen in the playoffs. Circumstances will change, and it's how you react to those circumstances. I think we're more prepared for that in those situations that might come up. We didn't get too rattled too many times this year."
A big assist goes to Trotz himself in what may be his best coaching job in his 10 seasons and to David Poile, president of hockey operations.
Trotz helped the players focus on hockey, while Poile did his best to fill the holes after the series of moves he was forced into last summer.
Poile had to trade away goaltender Tomas Vokoun along with captain and defenceman Kimmo Timomen and forward Scott Hartnell. He couldn't spend the money needed to keep top scorer Paul Kariya, and Peter Forsberg chose Colorado over Nashville when he came back to the NHL.
And yes, the players left noticed.
"All year we've been up and down," forward Scott Nichol said. "Geez, from about June first when they were going to try and sell the team, we didn't know if we were going to be here. It's been a very emotional year, the ride on the way in the last two, three months to just get in the playoffs."
Nashville lost Martin Gelinas and Jed Ortmayer to season-ending injuries. Top offensive threat Steve Sullivan hasn't come close to playing this season because of back problems. Poile helped fill the holes by trading for left-wing Jan Hlavac from Tampa Bay and grabbing right wing Brandon Bochenski from Anaheim before the trade deadline.
The Predators struggled through a handful of losing skids, including a six-game stretch at home.
But captain Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont filled the scoring gap, leading the team with 72 points apiece. Chris Mason struggled in goal, but Dan Ellis goes into the playoffs leading the NHL with a .924 save percentage and has won 23 games for Nashville.
Fans helped sell out seven of the last 11 home games in Nashville, and the Predators still are talking about the long standing ovation they were given during their regular-season finale at home last week.
"You start talking on the bench, and you can't hear yourself," defenceman Greg Zanon said.
So the Predators aren't starting with home-ice advantage for the third straight playoffs. That didn't help as they lost to San Jose in five games in each of the past two years.
The Predators went 5-0-1 to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference before ending the regular season with a 3-1 loss in Chicago on Friday night. A franchise that has won only four playoff games combined in its last three post-season appearances will open the best-of-seven quarter-finals against Detroit on Thursday night.
"It may sound kind of cheesy, but we all do really care for each other," Nichol said. "We've been through a lot this year. But that's it. We've made it. That's what we wanted. We have one out of 16 chances to play for the Stanley Cup. ... There's always a Cinderella, feel-good story of the year. Why not us?"
From The Canadian Press
Their owner announced he was selling to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie a month after last season ended. Then that sale was off. Relocation to Canada or Kansas City were possibilities. A fire sale followed that stripped some of the best talent off the roster, and the payroll.
Finally, a group of local investors came to the rescue and bought the team.
Now a franchise that had to fight to stay in the city where it was born has scratched its way into the playoffs for a fourth straight season. What better preparation for the pressure and intensity of the post-season?
"I know it's not going to hurt us," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said Monday.
"I do know it's going to help. It's one of those things. We've gone through a lot of stuff. Things are going to happen in the playoffs. Circumstances will change, and it's how you react to those circumstances. I think we're more prepared for that in those situations that might come up. We didn't get too rattled too many times this year."
A big assist goes to Trotz himself in what may be his best coaching job in his 10 seasons and to David Poile, president of hockey operations.
Trotz helped the players focus on hockey, while Poile did his best to fill the holes after the series of moves he was forced into last summer.
Poile had to trade away goaltender Tomas Vokoun along with captain and defenceman Kimmo Timomen and forward Scott Hartnell. He couldn't spend the money needed to keep top scorer Paul Kariya, and Peter Forsberg chose Colorado over Nashville when he came back to the NHL.
And yes, the players left noticed.
"All year we've been up and down," forward Scott Nichol said. "Geez, from about June first when they were going to try and sell the team, we didn't know if we were going to be here. It's been a very emotional year, the ride on the way in the last two, three months to just get in the playoffs."
Nashville lost Martin Gelinas and Jed Ortmayer to season-ending injuries. Top offensive threat Steve Sullivan hasn't come close to playing this season because of back problems. Poile helped fill the holes by trading for left-wing Jan Hlavac from Tampa Bay and grabbing right wing Brandon Bochenski from Anaheim before the trade deadline.
The Predators struggled through a handful of losing skids, including a six-game stretch at home.
But captain Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont filled the scoring gap, leading the team with 72 points apiece. Chris Mason struggled in goal, but Dan Ellis goes into the playoffs leading the NHL with a .924 save percentage and has won 23 games for Nashville.
Fans helped sell out seven of the last 11 home games in Nashville, and the Predators still are talking about the long standing ovation they were given during their regular-season finale at home last week.
"You start talking on the bench, and you can't hear yourself," defenceman Greg Zanon said.
So the Predators aren't starting with home-ice advantage for the third straight playoffs. That didn't help as they lost to San Jose in five games in each of the past two years.
The Predators went 5-0-1 to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference before ending the regular season with a 3-1 loss in Chicago on Friday night. A franchise that has won only four playoff games combined in its last three post-season appearances will open the best-of-seven quarter-finals against Detroit on Thursday night.
"It may sound kind of cheesy, but we all do really care for each other," Nichol said. "We've been through a lot this year. But that's it. We've made it. That's what we wanted. We have one out of 16 chances to play for the Stanley Cup. ... There's always a Cinderella, feel-good story of the year. Why not us?"
From The Canadian Press
Monday, April 7, 2008
Nashville Predators Top Moments 2007/2008
Enjoy the ten Top Moments of the Predators 2007/2008 regular season, as voted on by the fans.
Mel Tillis - "Good Woman Blues"
It probably wouldn't be a good idea to use this clip for fashion inspiration but that ain't exactly the point now is it?
Nashville Predators Fan Appreciation Night (4/3/2008)
For anyone who missed it in person, the crowd gave the team an incredible standing ovation during a TV timeout during the last Predators home game. The Preds went on to beat the Blues and clinch a playoff berth.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Preds vs. Wings 2007/2008 at a Glance
The Predators open the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs with a Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. The Predators went 3-3-2 against the Red Wings during the regular season.
Here's a quick look back at the regular season series between the Preds and Wings.
Game-by-Game Results
Nov. 7 at Detroit: Red Wings 3, Predators 2 (SO)
Osgood vs. Mason (Datsyuk SO winner)
A valiant third-period comeback by the Nashville Predators earned the squad a valuable point in the standings Wednesday night, though they fell to Detroit in a shootout, 3-2, at Joe Louis Arena. The Preds battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation getting goals from Ryan Suter and J.P. Dumont in addition to a heroic 43-save performance by goaltender Chris Mason.
Nov. 22 at Sommet Center: Predators 3, Red Wings 2
Mason vs. Hasek (Bonk GWG)
A Radek Bonk power play goal at 2:22 of the third, and solid penalty killing all night lifted the Nashville Predators to a clutch, 3-2 win over the rival Detroit Red Wings in front of 14,346 at the Sommet Center on Thanksgiving night. The Predators end a stretch of eight consecutive contests against Central Division opponents with a robust 5-1-2 record, and they are now 7-1-2 in the month of November.
Dec. 10 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 2, Predators 1
Osgood vs. Ellis (Filppula GWG)
Two early goals, one coming via a penalty shot, was the difference as the Nashville Predators outplayed the Detroit Red Wings in the final 40 minutes of regulation, but fell short by a 2-1 margin on Monday night at the Sommet Center. It was the first time in three games this season that the Predators had not earned a point against the top team in the National Hockey League.
Feb. 12 at Sommet Center: Predators 4, Red Wings 2
Mason vs. Osgood/Howard (Dumont GWG)
The Predators scored on three of their first four shots to grab a 3-0 lead 8:49 into the game and then cruised to a 4-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at the Sommet Center. Chris Mason was stellar in net, stopping 40 shots and limited the league's second-highest scoring team to just two power-play goals.
Mar. 9 at Detroit: Red Wings 4, Predators 3
Hasek vs. Mason (Franzen GWG)
The Predators and Red Wings combined to score seven times, none five-on-five, in a special teams slug-fest as Detroit held off Nashville's furious three-goal third period come back attempt for a 4-3 win at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday afternoon. Detroit scored a five-on-three power-play goal, two five-on-four power-play goals, and a four-on-four even strength goal, while Nashville countered with two five-on-four power-play goals and a six-on-five extra-attacker score with the goalie pulled.
Mar. 15 at Detroit: Predators 3, Red Wings 1
Ellis vs. Osgood (Peverley GWG)
Dan Ellis backstopped a huge defensive performance with 34 saves as the Predators limited the Red Wings high powered offense to one goal in Nashville's 3-1 win at Detroit on Saturday afternoon. The Predators got balanced offensive contributions with seven different players each recording a point.
Mar. 20 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 6, Predators 3
Ellis/Mason vs. Hasek (Franzen GWG)
Alexander Radulov scored a pair of goals, including a rally-starting tally 2:17 into the third period, but Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:45 mark of the third period and Dominik Hasek made several key saves down the stretch as the Red Wings held off the Predators 6-3 in an intense, physical game at Sommet Center on Thursday night.
Mar. 30 at Detroit: Red Wings 1, Predators 0 (OT)
Hasek vs. Ellis (Franzen OT goal)
Dan Ellis made 35 saves as the Predators earned a key point despite suffering a 1-0 overtime loss at Detroit on Sunday afternoon. Ellis posted a shutout streak of 233:39, not only a team record, but also the longest streak in the NHL this season.
Goals by Period
Special Teams:
Nashville - Power-Play: 4-45 (8.9%) Penalty Kill: 43-53 (81.1%)
Detroit - Power-Play: 10-53 (18.9%) Penalty Kill: 41-45 (91.1%)
Individual Leaders:
Nashville
Martin Erat 8 gp, 4g-4a (8 pts), +4
Alexander Radulov 8 gp, 4g-3a (7 pts), +2
J.P. Dumont 8 gp, 2g-5a (7 pts), +1
Jason Arnott 8 gp, 1g-5a (6 pts), +5
Chris Mason 5 gp, 2-2-2, 2.80 GAA, .924 SV%
Dan Ellis 4 gp, 1-1-1, 1.75 GAA, .950 SV%
Detroit
Johan Franzen 8 gp, 6g-2a (8 pts), -1
Pavel Datsyuk 8 gp, 3g-3a (6 pts), E
Jiri Hudler 8 gp, 2g-4a (6 pts), -1
Henrik Zetterberg 8 gp, 1g-4a (5 pts), -5
Dominik Hasek 4 gp, 3-1-0, 2.23 GAA, .913 SV%
Chris Osgood 4 gp, 2-2-0, 2.49 GAA, .912 SV%
From NashvillePredators.com
Here's a quick look back at the regular season series between the Preds and Wings.
Game-by-Game Results
Nov. 7 at Detroit: Red Wings 3, Predators 2 (SO)
Osgood vs. Mason (Datsyuk SO winner)
A valiant third-period comeback by the Nashville Predators earned the squad a valuable point in the standings Wednesday night, though they fell to Detroit in a shootout, 3-2, at Joe Louis Arena. The Preds battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation getting goals from Ryan Suter and J.P. Dumont in addition to a heroic 43-save performance by goaltender Chris Mason.
Nov. 22 at Sommet Center: Predators 3, Red Wings 2
Mason vs. Hasek (Bonk GWG)
A Radek Bonk power play goal at 2:22 of the third, and solid penalty killing all night lifted the Nashville Predators to a clutch, 3-2 win over the rival Detroit Red Wings in front of 14,346 at the Sommet Center on Thanksgiving night. The Predators end a stretch of eight consecutive contests against Central Division opponents with a robust 5-1-2 record, and they are now 7-1-2 in the month of November.
Dec. 10 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 2, Predators 1
Osgood vs. Ellis (Filppula GWG)
Two early goals, one coming via a penalty shot, was the difference as the Nashville Predators outplayed the Detroit Red Wings in the final 40 minutes of regulation, but fell short by a 2-1 margin on Monday night at the Sommet Center. It was the first time in three games this season that the Predators had not earned a point against the top team in the National Hockey League.
Feb. 12 at Sommet Center: Predators 4, Red Wings 2
Mason vs. Osgood/Howard (Dumont GWG)
The Predators scored on three of their first four shots to grab a 3-0 lead 8:49 into the game and then cruised to a 4-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at the Sommet Center. Chris Mason was stellar in net, stopping 40 shots and limited the league's second-highest scoring team to just two power-play goals.
Mar. 9 at Detroit: Red Wings 4, Predators 3
Hasek vs. Mason (Franzen GWG)
The Predators and Red Wings combined to score seven times, none five-on-five, in a special teams slug-fest as Detroit held off Nashville's furious three-goal third period come back attempt for a 4-3 win at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday afternoon. Detroit scored a five-on-three power-play goal, two five-on-four power-play goals, and a four-on-four even strength goal, while Nashville countered with two five-on-four power-play goals and a six-on-five extra-attacker score with the goalie pulled.
Mar. 15 at Detroit: Predators 3, Red Wings 1
Ellis vs. Osgood (Peverley GWG)
Dan Ellis backstopped a huge defensive performance with 34 saves as the Predators limited the Red Wings high powered offense to one goal in Nashville's 3-1 win at Detroit on Saturday afternoon. The Predators got balanced offensive contributions with seven different players each recording a point.
Mar. 20 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 6, Predators 3
Ellis/Mason vs. Hasek (Franzen GWG)
Alexander Radulov scored a pair of goals, including a rally-starting tally 2:17 into the third period, but Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:45 mark of the third period and Dominik Hasek made several key saves down the stretch as the Red Wings held off the Predators 6-3 in an intense, physical game at Sommet Center on Thursday night.
Mar. 30 at Detroit: Red Wings 1, Predators 0 (OT)
Hasek vs. Ellis (Franzen OT goal)
Dan Ellis made 35 saves as the Predators earned a key point despite suffering a 1-0 overtime loss at Detroit on Sunday afternoon. Ellis posted a shutout streak of 233:39, not only a team record, but also the longest streak in the NHL this season.
Goals by Period
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | Total |
| Predators | 6 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
| Red Wings | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
Special Teams:
Nashville - Power-Play: 4-45 (8.9%) Penalty Kill: 43-53 (81.1%)
Detroit - Power-Play: 10-53 (18.9%) Penalty Kill: 41-45 (91.1%)
Individual Leaders:
Nashville
Martin Erat 8 gp, 4g-4a (8 pts), +4
Alexander Radulov 8 gp, 4g-3a (7 pts), +2
J.P. Dumont 8 gp, 2g-5a (7 pts), +1
Jason Arnott 8 gp, 1g-5a (6 pts), +5
Chris Mason 5 gp, 2-2-2, 2.80 GAA, .924 SV%
Dan Ellis 4 gp, 1-1-1, 1.75 GAA, .950 SV%
Detroit
Johan Franzen 8 gp, 6g-2a (8 pts), -1
Pavel Datsyuk 8 gp, 3g-3a (6 pts), E
Jiri Hudler 8 gp, 2g-4a (6 pts), -1
Henrik Zetterberg 8 gp, 1g-4a (5 pts), -5
Dominik Hasek 4 gp, 3-1-0, 2.23 GAA, .913 SV%
Chris Osgood 4 gp, 2-2-0, 2.49 GAA, .912 SV%
From NashvillePredators.com
Friday, April 4, 2008
St. Louis Blues @ Nashville Predators (4/3/08)
The Predators couldn't have given their fans a better finish as they win their last regular season home game by knocking off the Blues and locking in a spot in the playoffs.
Predators Edge Blues, Clinch Playoff Spot in West
Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - J.P. Dumont finished with a goal and an assist, as the Nashville Predators edged the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, and later clinched a spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
Greg de Vries and Jerred Smithson each tallied, while Jan Hlavac added three assists for Nashville, which sits in the eighth spot in the West with 91 points. The Predators also moved within a point of Calgary for seventh, as the Flames lost to Minnesota on Thursday.
Both Nashville and Calgary clinched spots after Vancouver lost to Edmonton on Thursday night, and stayed at 88 points with one game to play. The Predators finish their season at Chicago on Friday, while the Flames are at Vancouver Saturday to conclude their campaign.
Dan Ellis stopped 27-of-29 shots in the win.
Jay McClement and David Backes scored the goals for St. Louis, which has dropped three in a row and six of seven. Hannu Toivonen stopped 27 shots in the loss.
The Blues took a one-goal lead with a pair of scores in the second period, but Nashville responded with two goals of its own.
The first came with 2:14 remaining in the middle frame, after Hlavac centered a pass from the left circle. Dumont was skating through the slot, and one- timed the puck past Toivonen to knot the game, 2-2.
De Vries netted the go-ahead score at the 4:01 mark of the third period. While in the high slot, he blasted the puck into the net by the left post. Ellis made seven saves in the period to seal the win, the Predators' second in a row, and fifth out of six.
Nashville opened the scoring with a short-handed goal. A Blues turnover led to a Predators 2-on-1 rush. Hlavac's initial shot was saved by Toivonen, but Smithson tapped the puck out of mid-air and into an open net.
The goal was reviewed, as Smithson's stick appeared to be above the crossbar when hitting the puck, but the score, which came at the 12:00 mark of the first period, was upheld.
St. Louis evened the game on a McClement slap shot at the 6:27 mark of the second, and took the 2-1 lead after Backes netted his 12th goal of the year.
On a Blues rush, Andy McDonald centered a pass for Backes, who had beat his man to the puck and redirected it past Ellis.
Game Notes
Each team was 0-for-2 on the power play...This was the second game of a home-and-home, which the Predators swept. Nashville has won five in a row against St. Louis, and won the season series, 5-2-1...The Blues finish their season with a home-and-home with Columbus.
From The Sports Network
Greg de Vries and Jerred Smithson each tallied, while Jan Hlavac added three assists for Nashville, which sits in the eighth spot in the West with 91 points. The Predators also moved within a point of Calgary for seventh, as the Flames lost to Minnesota on Thursday.
Both Nashville and Calgary clinched spots after Vancouver lost to Edmonton on Thursday night, and stayed at 88 points with one game to play. The Predators finish their season at Chicago on Friday, while the Flames are at Vancouver Saturday to conclude their campaign.
Dan Ellis stopped 27-of-29 shots in the win.
Jay McClement and David Backes scored the goals for St. Louis, which has dropped three in a row and six of seven. Hannu Toivonen stopped 27 shots in the loss.
The Blues took a one-goal lead with a pair of scores in the second period, but Nashville responded with two goals of its own.
The first came with 2:14 remaining in the middle frame, after Hlavac centered a pass from the left circle. Dumont was skating through the slot, and one- timed the puck past Toivonen to knot the game, 2-2.
De Vries netted the go-ahead score at the 4:01 mark of the third period. While in the high slot, he blasted the puck into the net by the left post. Ellis made seven saves in the period to seal the win, the Predators' second in a row, and fifth out of six.
Nashville opened the scoring with a short-handed goal. A Blues turnover led to a Predators 2-on-1 rush. Hlavac's initial shot was saved by Toivonen, but Smithson tapped the puck out of mid-air and into an open net.
The goal was reviewed, as Smithson's stick appeared to be above the crossbar when hitting the puck, but the score, which came at the 12:00 mark of the first period, was upheld.
St. Louis evened the game on a McClement slap shot at the 6:27 mark of the second, and took the 2-1 lead after Backes netted his 12th goal of the year.
On a Blues rush, Andy McDonald centered a pass for Backes, who had beat his man to the puck and redirected it past Ellis.
Game Notes
Each team was 0-for-2 on the power play...This was the second game of a home-and-home, which the Predators swept. Nashville has won five in a row against St. Louis, and won the season series, 5-2-1...The Blues finish their season with a home-and-home with Columbus.
From The Sports Network
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Music City Miracle Worker
The NHL doesn't hand out an award for executive of the year. The logic of that is something akin to handing out 30 games to Chris Simon for stomping on the leg of an opposing player and eight to Chris Pronger for his "foot drop" in similar fashion. It simply doesn't make sense.
So to borrow a line from Dickie Dunn of Slap Shot fame, we'll try our best to "capture the spirit of the thing" and award the non-award to Nashville Predators general manager David Poile.
What, you thought it should go to Ottawa's Bryan Murray?
That's the beauty of an 82-game season.
When it started, Murray, who took over for the fired John Muckler, saw "his" team get off to one of the greatest starts in NHL history. The Senators won 15 of their first 17 games and were on pace to challenge the best won-lost ratio in NHL history.
As I type this, the Sens are on the cusp of perhaps not making the playoffs, a collapse so spectacular that it rivals the fall of team owner Eugene Melnyk, who in the eyes of the Securities and Exchange Commission and assorted other regulatory groups must give explanations with regard to charges of stock fraud in his Biovail Corp. despite the fact that he has already paid some $10 million U.S. to settle those charges.
Contrast that with Poile's Nashville Predators, a team that started the season 2-6 in large part because ownership induced an offseason fire sale that saw No. 1 goalie Tomas Vokoun, All-Star forwards Paul Kariya and Peter Forsberg, All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen, and-well-regarded forward Scott Hartnell auctioned off or allowed to walk out the door because of budget issues. Complicating that, the Preds then suffered the loss of star forward Steve Sullivan and up-and coming defenseman Shea Weber to long-term injuries.
Oh, and did we mention that all this came about because there was an attempt by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to buy the team and move it to Canada? It was a move that brought forth a Save the Predators campaign and one of the shakiest of rescue bids all time all while current owner Craig Leipold was slashing the budget, then selling the team and, eventually, buying the Minnesota Wild.
Not exactly conducive to team building, especially when new ownership didn't take control until near the start of the season and still hasn't finished off its financing in regards to an arena lease. But take another look at this supposed "failed franchise" and you see a team that has never stopped competing.
With a lineup of holdovers and newcomers and a pair of goalies no one outside of Nashville ever even heard of let alone regarded, Poile has cobbled together a team that just might slip into the eighth and final playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The feeling grew to a near certainty after Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win at St. Louis in a game the Blues led 3-0 after the opening period of play.
A good team doesn't come back to win a game like that and then squander its remaining chances, especially when the two remaining games on its schedule are a home rematch with the Blues and a season-ender with the gallant but still lowly Chicago Blackhawks.
Any GM who can guide a team to a playoff spot under dire circumstances isn't just good at his job, he is exceptional. Now, I'll give a nod to George McPhee of Washington in this regard, given that he made solid acquisitions at the trade deadline to put an already up-and-coming team into position to at least contend for a playoff spot in the East. But McPhee and his in-season replacement coach Bruce Boudreau didn't have near the on- and off-ice problems that Poile and his head coach, Barry Trotz, did.
"Nobody gets a free pass," Poile told reporters this week. "But as a team, with everything that happened -- from the sale of the team to losing top players to injuries and inconsistencies -- I think it has been a very good year to this point.''
That comes about in large part because Poile filled the holes on his roster with lesser-paid players who were willing to work hard. It also happened because Poile and Trotz and the rest of the coaching staff pushed their guys to play beyond what was expected and perhaps even beyond what the players expected of themselves.
It hasn't gone as smoothly as, say, the year-to-year efforts of the Detroit Red Wings, but it has gone well. Goalie Chris Mason played well at times, but when he stumbled, the little known Dan Ellis stepped up and won 22 games. To date, Ellis has the league's best save percentage (.924). When he seemed to stumble in the face of the pressure, Mason came back in and made some season-saving contributions.
Pick-up players who were thought to be on the downside of their careers --veteran forward Martin Gelinas and veteran defenseman Greg de Vries, to name just two -- made significant contributions as did veteran journeyman Radek Bonk. None were a full-scale replacement for Kariya or Forsberg, but they supported holdovers like Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont while helping to carry the emerging kids like Weber, Alexander Radulov, Scott Nichol, Jordin Tootoo and Vern Fiddler, all of whom had career seasons.
Poile's team earned 110 points last season and then he saw it ripped apart by changes entirely outside his control. He didn't whine, didn't quit. He simply went out and rebuilt on the fly, producing a team that isn't quite as good, but in its own way has accomplished every bit as much -- maybe even more than the one that preceded it.
When you compare the current Preds to, say, the Buffalo Sabres who won the Presidents' Trophy last season and are likely to miss the playoffs this time around solely on self-inflicted wounds from management, or the sputtering Senators (last season's Eastern Conference champions), or other so-called good teams who didn't have near the problems but are likely to end with less success, the difference is Poile, Trotz. and the way they do their business.
Hands down the best management team in the game this season.
From SI.com
So to borrow a line from Dickie Dunn of Slap Shot fame, we'll try our best to "capture the spirit of the thing" and award the non-award to Nashville Predators general manager David Poile.
What, you thought it should go to Ottawa's Bryan Murray?
That's the beauty of an 82-game season.
When it started, Murray, who took over for the fired John Muckler, saw "his" team get off to one of the greatest starts in NHL history. The Senators won 15 of their first 17 games and were on pace to challenge the best won-lost ratio in NHL history.
As I type this, the Sens are on the cusp of perhaps not making the playoffs, a collapse so spectacular that it rivals the fall of team owner Eugene Melnyk, who in the eyes of the Securities and Exchange Commission and assorted other regulatory groups must give explanations with regard to charges of stock fraud in his Biovail Corp. despite the fact that he has already paid some $10 million U.S. to settle those charges.
Contrast that with Poile's Nashville Predators, a team that started the season 2-6 in large part because ownership induced an offseason fire sale that saw No. 1 goalie Tomas Vokoun, All-Star forwards Paul Kariya and Peter Forsberg, All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen, and-well-regarded forward Scott Hartnell auctioned off or allowed to walk out the door because of budget issues. Complicating that, the Preds then suffered the loss of star forward Steve Sullivan and up-and coming defenseman Shea Weber to long-term injuries.
Oh, and did we mention that all this came about because there was an attempt by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to buy the team and move it to Canada? It was a move that brought forth a Save the Predators campaign and one of the shakiest of rescue bids all time all while current owner Craig Leipold was slashing the budget, then selling the team and, eventually, buying the Minnesota Wild.
Not exactly conducive to team building, especially when new ownership didn't take control until near the start of the season and still hasn't finished off its financing in regards to an arena lease. But take another look at this supposed "failed franchise" and you see a team that has never stopped competing.
With a lineup of holdovers and newcomers and a pair of goalies no one outside of Nashville ever even heard of let alone regarded, Poile has cobbled together a team that just might slip into the eighth and final playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The feeling grew to a near certainty after Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win at St. Louis in a game the Blues led 3-0 after the opening period of play.
A good team doesn't come back to win a game like that and then squander its remaining chances, especially when the two remaining games on its schedule are a home rematch with the Blues and a season-ender with the gallant but still lowly Chicago Blackhawks.
Any GM who can guide a team to a playoff spot under dire circumstances isn't just good at his job, he is exceptional. Now, I'll give a nod to George McPhee of Washington in this regard, given that he made solid acquisitions at the trade deadline to put an already up-and-coming team into position to at least contend for a playoff spot in the East. But McPhee and his in-season replacement coach Bruce Boudreau didn't have near the on- and off-ice problems that Poile and his head coach, Barry Trotz, did.
"Nobody gets a free pass," Poile told reporters this week. "But as a team, with everything that happened -- from the sale of the team to losing top players to injuries and inconsistencies -- I think it has been a very good year to this point.''
That comes about in large part because Poile filled the holes on his roster with lesser-paid players who were willing to work hard. It also happened because Poile and Trotz and the rest of the coaching staff pushed their guys to play beyond what was expected and perhaps even beyond what the players expected of themselves.
It hasn't gone as smoothly as, say, the year-to-year efforts of the Detroit Red Wings, but it has gone well. Goalie Chris Mason played well at times, but when he stumbled, the little known Dan Ellis stepped up and won 22 games. To date, Ellis has the league's best save percentage (.924). When he seemed to stumble in the face of the pressure, Mason came back in and made some season-saving contributions.
Pick-up players who were thought to be on the downside of their careers --veteran forward Martin Gelinas and veteran defenseman Greg de Vries, to name just two -- made significant contributions as did veteran journeyman Radek Bonk. None were a full-scale replacement for Kariya or Forsberg, but they supported holdovers like Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont while helping to carry the emerging kids like Weber, Alexander Radulov, Scott Nichol, Jordin Tootoo and Vern Fiddler, all of whom had career seasons.
Poile's team earned 110 points last season and then he saw it ripped apart by changes entirely outside his control. He didn't whine, didn't quit. He simply went out and rebuilt on the fly, producing a team that isn't quite as good, but in its own way has accomplished every bit as much -- maybe even more than the one that preceded it.
When you compare the current Preds to, say, the Buffalo Sabres who won the Presidents' Trophy last season and are likely to miss the playoffs this time around solely on self-inflicted wounds from management, or the sputtering Senators (last season's Eastern Conference champions), or other so-called good teams who didn't have near the problems but are likely to end with less success, the difference is Poile, Trotz. and the way they do their business.
Hands down the best management team in the game this season.
From SI.com