Thursday notes: Let's party like it's 1979

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 31, 2009 8:47 AM EST

In case you're wondering why I haven't done a "best Preds of the decade" post, it's because over the summer, since Nashville had just completed 10 seasons of NHL hockey, the readers here at OtF voted on an All-Time Nashville Predators Team. I recommend you check it out in case you missed it a few months ago.

After the jump, we've got news of a Preds prospect lighting up the World Junior tournament, a look at where the team stands as they approach the halfway point of the season, and a feature on a historic game from December 31, 1979...

Predators News

WJHC Three Stars: Olympic effort keeps Swiss hopes alive - Puck Daddy
Check out the #1 star from yesterday's action at the World Juniors, it's none other than Preds 2008 2nd-round draft pick Roman Josi, who has assumed the captaincy of Switzerland's team.

A Season on the Brink: Predators at the Halfway Point (Part I of II) "
AJ wonders if Tuesday's victory in St. Louis has righted the Preds' ship.

Trotz on Klein, Erat, Jackman - Inside Predators
We might hear this morning as to whether any action will be taken by the NHL over the cheap shots dished out by the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Around the NHL

The Toughest Division In Hockey - Hockey Or Die!
I'll give you a hint, it ain't the Central, as many supposed prior to the season.

SB Nation On The Ice At Fenway Park - SB Nation
How cool is this? Travis from Broad Street Hockey got to participate in a "media skate" at Fenway Park in the leadup to tomorrow's Winter Classic.

Guide To Watching the Winter Classic | Hockey From the Cheap Seats
Matt's got everything you need to know before settling in for taking a break from college football tomorrow.

Thrashers' uncertain future may contribute to Kovalchuk's exit | Jeff Schultz
Jeff at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution paints a grim picture for the Thrashers re-signing Ilya Kovalchuk: "I now believe the chances of a deal are just this side of dead".

History Repeats Itself, Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils Shutout Pittsburgh Penguins 2-0 - In Lou We Trust
An interesting storyline is developing in the Eastern Conference, where the Devils have dominated the defending Stanley Cup champs so far this season.

Canadiens - Red Army, December 31st 1979: the New Year's Eve rematch that closed a great decade - Habs Eyes On The Prize
A way-cool retrospective about this historic game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Soviet Union's Central Red Army team.

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Comments

A word on the Kovalchuk situation

Being from Atlanta, I used to read Schultz and the other writers from the AJC pretty often, and they left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Schultz is regarded as an eternal pessimist and like The Tennessean, almost no one at that paper cares for hockey.

So, I’d take what you find there with a bit of salt. While the Kovalchuk situation may be dire, I don’t think its dead, and I really don’t think the Thrashers are in danger of relocation.

Follow me at twitter.com/predatweeter

by Chris Burton on Dec 31, 2009 9:50 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think the Thrashers are going to relocate either; it could be a PR front by Kovy, however, giving him an “out” if he doesn’t get a max-dollar contract. That’s a mighty high-stakes game of poker being played over there, and I’m sure we don’t know 5% of what’s really going on.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 31, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions