Monday's news: Dissecting the Nashville Predators' rough start

When your team starts off the season with a 3-6-1 record that includes being shut out three times, the criticism will come from all corners, and that makes up a fair portion of our news and notes this morning.

It's not all bad news, however; we've also got an insightful interview with Barry Trotz conducted by a Milwaukee Admirals blog, and a very complimentary analysis of Nashville's prospects from Hockey's Future. All this and more after the jump...

Predators News

See Puck City: Blackhawks Put The Stranglehold On Our Only Offense: Our Defense
An argument is put forth for dismissing Barry Trotz as head coach, but to be honest, I think it fits better with the Minnesota front office, which is trying to implement a new system with the same tired cast of characters.

Short Shifts Exclusive - Barry Trotz - Admirals Short Shifts
Our comrades down on the farm conduct a great interview with the Preds head coach during an Admirals game in Rockford. Interestingly, it sounds like the "Mike Santorelli on the wing" experiment has been deemed a failure.

Youth movement needs a leader... | Section 303
Codey vents his frustrations with the Preds, which come down to a lack of leadership.

Here's how I see things in Nashville... | Section 303
Codey's better half brings her two cents to the table on what ails the Preds right now, including pointed criticism for a number of parties.

After ten games - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond runs down a number of comparisons between the first ten games this season, and last, just in case you weren't depressed enough already.

The View from 111: A Simple Game
How do the Preds reverse their recent poor play? Mark has some simple answers...

Hockey's Future Organizational Rankings, Fall 2009 1-10 - Hockey's Future
You want something positive, Predators fans? Take a look at where one of the prominent sites that tracks NHL prospects ranks the Nashville organization in terms of talent in the developmental pipeline.

Around the NHL

I’m Not Saying, I’m Just Saying… | Jerseys and Hockey Love
The good times, they are a-rollin' in Denver.

A Measure in time - The Globe and Mail
Eric Duhatschek discusses the best way to get a handle on how a coach values his players. Check out, for example, the even-strength ice time for Nashville's last game, and you'll see that what is assumed to be the "top line" isn't really all that.

Yzerman's latest scouting trip lands in Philadelphia - NHL.com
As he evaluates prospects for Team Canada's Winter Olympic team, GM Steve Yzerman talks up the value of experience; will that work against Shea Weber's chances to make the team?

The Myers Debate | Hockey Independent
Buffalo is one of several teams which might keep a player in the NHL rather than return him to junior hockey; in this case it's the 6'8" defenseman Tyler Myers, who has been extremely impressive so far.

SPORT EXPRESS - ZAHOVIC: YOU’D BETTER PLAY HOCKEY
Another gripe about sports in non-traditional markets; this time from a soccer player complaining about low attendance for a Manchester United match in Moscow. His response? "Russia is not a football country... You would better play ice hockey! You can do it well."

"Bin" Sinnin' some more: A progress report on the Hurricanes' penalty problem - Canes Country
Digging inside Carolina's penalty tendencies... interesting stuff here.

Gospel of Hockey: The Effect of Back to Back Games II
An analysis on the impact of playing on back-to-back nights; this comes as bad news for Devils and Blackhawks fans this season.

What We Learned: Grading the weekend's dirtiest hits - Puck Daddy
A solid recap of lots of recent nasty spills, including Mike Richards' hit on David Booth, and Tuomo Ruutu's boarding of Darcy Tucker.

Scuderi's Hit on Chimera - Battle of California
The hits just keep on coming early in this NHL season; this time it's L.A. King Rob Scuderi with a dangerously low hip-check on Columbus Blue Jacket Jason Chimera: