On the Forecheck: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: SB Nation MMA Rankings for August 2010

Are the Nashville Predators taking a big risk with just a 20-man roster?

Eric at Admirals Short Shifts raises an interesting question that has indeed been largely overlooked in Nashville Predators coverage this week - should the front office come under fire for taking a lineup of only 18 skaters into Anaheim tonight? If a player fell ill or got injured in the morning skate, Nashville would be left short-staffed. Eric writes,

Freak accidents happen. I believe it is irresponsible of David Poile to allow the Predators to walk into the Honda Center with only 18 skaters. The Predators finished ONE WIN behind Columbus last season - and missed the playoffs. Wouldn't it be a shame to basically give up the chance at a win by only skating 17 players against Anaheim? Especially given the fact that it is completely unneccessary?

The Milwaukee Admirals exist to provide the Predators with players. Why not use them when needed? Tell Peter Olvecky to get on a plane. "Sorry, buddy - you're not gonna play...but we need you here just in case."

What does this decision (or lack of one) tell us about the state of the organization right now? Let's consider that question after the jump...

Star-divide

An extremely short bench for tonight

What adds to the danger of the present situation is that we have two players just now returning to the lineup tonight in Jason Arnott and Jordin Tootoo, so you always have concern that they might not be 100% up to speed. In fact, Barry Trotz already admitted as such regarding Tootoo, who has yet to play in the regular season. So really, they've got 17.5 players.

Add to that the fact that Wade Belak averages just 4:24 per game of ice time, and it's looking like we'll see three forward lines pretty much all night, and just hope one of the defenseman doesn't get hurt. Trust me, I know they've talked up Belak as an emergency option there, but you don't want him on the ice defending against the likes of Corey Perry or Teemu Selanne.

Can the Predators compete with a short bench like this? Maybe under normal circumstances, but with three key forwards and their top defenseman out, it'll be tough.This is what they're running with up front:

Sullivan - Arnott - Hornqvist
Scatchard - Santorelli - Thuresson
Smithson- Legwand - Ward
Tootoo - Goc - Belak

After that top line, the rest of the forwards have combined for 5 goals this season, and three of those come from Jerred Smithson. It's too bad, because Anaheim is a very beatable team right now; you'd think the Preds would give themselves the best chance at victory here.

The numbers aren't the problem

NHL teams can carry an active roster of 23 players, which would normally include 21 skaters, enough for 3 to be scratched each night. Nashville is not alone in carrying less than the 23-man limit; many do it to manage their salary cap situation, others because that extra marginal player is probably better off playing regularly in the minors than watching from the press box.

It's not as if Nashville is up against the roster limit due to injury, either. While J.P. Dumont and Colin Wilson are expected to return to action soon, certainly Shea Weber could be put on Injured Reserve (which would require him to miss tonight and Saturday's games) if they needed to make room. They could have done so with Martin Erat as well, and backdated his IR statust to last Thursday just prior to the home game against Chicago.

So the team has the roster spot available to call someone up - why haven't they?

The obvious call-up candidate, denied

To me, what this situation really shows is the profound disappointment that surrounds Ryan Jones. Awarded a new two-year, one-way contract over the summer, Jones has failed to make an impact so far this season and is toiling away in Milwaukee (with 0 points in 4 games) making nearly $1 million. The Preds could have called him up without costing themselves an extra dime of salary, and he's not eligible yet for waivers, so there's no risk of losing him. Despite glaring holes on the wing, the Predators have instead chosen to keep him in the AHL.

If I were part of the Nashville ownership group, I'd certainly expect a good, thorough answer as to why Jones is still in the organization at all, if he can't help out in a situation like this.


Ryan Jones

#28 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

6-1

206

Jun 14, 1984

GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2009 - Ryan Jones 8 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0 7 0.0

0 recs  |  Comment 7 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Even if all of the forwards can go, those bottom three lines are weak.

by Lil cutie on Nov 5, 2009 5:22 PM EST reply actions  

ARE YOU SERIOUS
@predsradio Erat is still a question mark for tonight, but we’ll see. Lines are going to be all over the place tonight, Hamhuis will pair w Suter on D

"As strong as a team as we are on paper, you have to go out and prove it. We have yet to prove that we're the team we think we are,'' Keith Bulluck
"This is the only building in the NHL that the fans get up and cheer for no apparent reason just to support us." - Dan Ellis

Official Graphic Designer/Researcher/Grammar Police of MCM.
Official Graphic Goon of OTF.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Nov 5, 2009 6:35 PM EST reply actions  

Glennon’s afternoon update made it sound more like Erat’s expected back Tuesday…

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Nov 5, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Breaking News:

Dan Ellis will step in on the 4th line tonight.

I kid. But seriously, WTF?

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Nov 5, 2009 7:19 PM EST reply actions  

If this pays off...

…then great, but I fear that there is a long term price to short-changing the players. I hope we win, but I’d rather lose and keep the healthy folks healthy. I worry that we’re flirting with danger (unnecessarily).

by rusherman on Nov 5, 2009 7:59 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Nashville Predators.
Start posting about the Predators »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Bradtoylaser_small
NHL 11 Team Play (PS3)
Small
Realignment...Gone Mental!
Reggiemiller_small
Do Predators fans have realistic hopes that the team can compete for the Stanley Cup?
Predators_licenseplate_small
The Biggest Battle to Keep An Eye on at Training Camp
Picture-7100_small
The Road Less Traveled, or Highway to the Comfort Zone?
Small
A Guide to Predators Ticket Sales
Small
Room For Improvement
74395_small
The Chairman of the Predators ....
Hockey_puck_small
Fifty years of hockey in Nashville?  Really?
Small
Cheap shot by Puck daddy

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

On the Forecheck's online store

About Me

Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats & analysis, and managing editor of On the Forecheck.

Get OTF on your Kindle!

Me_medium_medium

Got a question or a suggestion? Feel free to email the.forechecker@gmail.com.

Follow Forechecker on Twitter

Named by Sports Media Challenge as a Top 10 NHL Blog

SBNation.com Recent Stories

PHILADELPHIA - MAY 16:  A fan of the Philadelphia Flyers holds up a sign reading "Next Goalie" behind goalie Carey Price #32 of the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wachovia Center on May 16, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Habs Finally Lock Up Carey Price, Sign Goalie To Two-Year Deal

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman answers questions during a pre-game media availability before the Pittsburgh Penguins season opener against the New York Rangers in a NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) +25 updates

Ultimatum? NHL Reportedly Threatens To Toss Out Kovalchuk, Luongo Deals Without NHLPA Concessions

Photo +1 updates

Report: Donald Fehr Hands NHLPA List Of Conditions On Becoming Union Leader

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Forechecker_35_small Dirk Hoag

Muckers

Predsalternate_small Chris Burton

Grinders

Smashville2_small Aditya T (smashville)

Predators_licenseplate_small SLake

Adslogo_small AdmiralsShortShifts

Picture-7100_small Anthony Neal