As we prepare to flip the calendar over to the longest (and least newsworthy) month of hockey's off-season, we do have a few notes of interest for Nashville Predators fans. Two prospects down on the farm are being recognized for their leadership ability, and a contract might be near for Ryan Jones. All this and more after the jump...

Predator draftees are leaders with their college teams - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond notes that two Preds prospects, Blake Geoffrion and Ryan Thang, have been named captain of their respective college teams. That speaks to the emphasis that Nashville puts on the character of the guys they select.

Free-agent updates on Jason Williams, Ryan Jones - Tennessean.com
John Glennon notes that Ryan Jones' agent is optimistic that a deal will be worked out soon.

Statistical Analysis in Hockey Trails Other Sports, but Progress Is Being Made - NHL FanHouse
Adam Gretz interviews Gabriel Desjardins (of Behind the Net fame) about his work with hockey statistics. It's a good primer on what his site has to offer, and touches on some of the recent work done by Vic Ferrari regarding faceoff location, and which players are getting more offensive vs. defensive assignments.

Sergei Zubov to Russai? - Dallas Morning News
Mike Heika reports that defenseman Sergei Zubov is close to signing a contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

Nashville loses ESPN radio affiliate for third top 40 station - The Tennessean
106.7 "The Fan" turned over from an ESPN Radio feed to Top 40 music. Well, that frees up one preset on my radio dial...

It’s not collusion - mc79hockey.com
Tyler takes another look at the buyer's market going on right now, and presents another, macro-level argument as to why so many decent players remain unsigned. It will be interesting to see if market forces end up driving an effective player's price down to the point where David Poile can fit him into the Preds' budget.