Tampa Bay to buy out LW Vinny Prospal; should the Predators pursue him?

by Dirk Hoag on Jul 28, 2009 11:21 AM EDT

Word comes today from the Tampa Tribune that Vaclav ("Vinny") Prospal,a 34-year-old forward with 12 years of NHL experience, is getting bought out of his contract by the Lightning. He had just completed the first season of a four-year deal worth $14 million.

Vaclav Prospal

#20 / Left Wing / Tampa Bay Lightning

Height: 6-2

Weight: 198

Born: Feb 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Vaclav Prospal	82	19	26	45	-20	52	7	0	2	1	194	9.8

It's quite likely that in another NHL position, Prospal will take a sizeable cut from his $3.5 million salary (especially since he'll receive 2/3rds of his outstanding contract from Tampa Bay in the buyout).

So what do you think, Preds fans? In the 2007-8 season, Prospal set a career-high of 33 goals scored, and he has scored 10 power play goals twice in the last four years. Might he make a useful and affordable option to bolster the Nashville attack?

Poll

Should the Nashville Predators pursue Vinny Prospal as a 2nd-line winger?

Yes

121 votes

No

23 votes

144 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think it would be an awesome pickup for the Preds. He is a good playmaking winger. Anyway, he will definitely add some scoring touch as well as some playmaking ability. Since we are going almost all youth movement, he would also add some a nice veteran touch to the locker room. I think Prospal would definitely help our young squad out. So, I say yes, make an offer to Prospal and see where it goes.

by Milly79 on Jul 28, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

What about Jan Hlavac too? He really did well two years ago when he was in Nashville and then went to Europe last year and was near a point a game in the SEL.

I just don’t see many more moves before camp opens and the Preds get a look at everyone then.

by Preds On The Glass on Jul 28, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

Prospal is a big step up from Hlavac. That said, I really wished the Preds had kept him from going over to Sweden. A hypothesis that I want to test out at some point is whether keeping too many kids early in the season was the reason for the lousy start defensively, and thus why the team didn’t make the playoffs.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Jul 28, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions