What are you thankful for in the world of hockey?

by Chris Burton on Nov 25, 2010 10:01 AM EST in Discussions

Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a time, among other things, to eat a good meal, spend time with family, and watch some (usually terrible) football. More than that, though, its a time to give thanks, and we here at On the Forecheck thought that there was no better time to ask you, the reader, what you were thankful for in the world of hockey. I'll list a few things of my own, but let this just be a starting point for you. Three quick thoughts:

Local ownership. I'm thankful that Predators fans no longer have to worry about losing their team, and that we have a group of owners who actually like hockey. It may seem like a small thing, but the more, well, invested an ownership group is, the more success a team will have.
Professionalism. This ties into the first, but in contrast to the Tennessee Titans across the Cumberland River, the Nashville Predators do sports the right way. Outside of mercurial Russians, there are no locker room problems, no off-ice head cases - the team is built first and foremost upon character, and the front office has been a shining example of how to run a professional hockey team.
Defensemen. We like to grumble and groan about not having a star forward, but the Preds have (and have had) an embarrassment of riches on the blueline. On their day, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter form the most effective defense pairing in the league, and the number 1 prospect system in the NHL is comprised of elite defensive prospects like Ryan Ellis, Jonathan Blum, Roman Josi, Charles Olivier-Roussel, and formerly Cody Franson. You can bet that 29 other teams would love to have this "problem".

So there's a few things I'm particularly thankful for today regarding hockey; now what about you?

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

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I’m infinitely thankful to the blogosphere, I’ve met so many cool people and great friends, also I’m thankful AO looked slightly more interested last night!

I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.

by Ovechwin on Nov 25, 2010 10:09 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Thankful for you people, the best fanbase I’ve ever been a part of. You make following this team fun, funny, and better than it should be. You’re educated, wise, and know how to have a good time. We have bloggers that outperform the newspapers. We have the best crowd of fans at the arena.

Happy Thanksgiving.

by ExcellenceThroughGuesswork on Nov 25, 2010 10:10 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Amen, bro. That’s a rec’n.

by Chris Burton on Nov 25, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

Everything

Everything on your list, Chris!

Also, Just having hockey around. Knowing how much this undertaking a labor of love for everyone involved. Knowing, some of it straight from the sources, that everyone who is here wants to be here.

by jasfaulkner on Nov 25, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

I’m thankful for the vibrant community of hockey fans here in Nashville. When I moved here in 2005 I didn’t know diddly about this town, but I was happy to have NHL hockey again after living in Indiana for 8 years. What I’ve found over the last few years between this site, the rest of the Preds hockey blogs, and the @Predfans Twitter group has been simply amazing.

Thanks to all of you, and of course the Predators organization, which is remarkably open and accessible, and a group that you can’t help but pull for.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Preds (be sure to check out my discount offer on Nashville Predators tickets). Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker, or join our legions on Facebook at Facebook.com/OnTheForecheck.

by Dirk Hoag on Nov 25, 2010 11:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I'm thankfu

by XVIII on Nov 25, 2010 11:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm thankful

For this blog, for the fanbase that the Preds have,
And that we are not the Islanders.

by XVIII on Nov 25, 2010 11:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I’m thankful that OTF publishes good content so frequently, giving me some more fodder for procrastination.

My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and the Caps' goaltending until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.

by red army line on Nov 25, 2010 1:10 PM EST reply actions

I'm Thankful

for all of the above!. love this site, all those who post, and those who write for it. also that we have a Great Team to pull for!. even though we don’t always win and sometimes i complain. i still Love being a Preds fan. also thankful for the entire sport of hockey. it has given myself and my family alot of wonderful memories.

GO PREDS…….

by bluegrassbaby on Nov 25, 2010 9:39 PM EST reply actions

I am thankful

to find a good blog with vital infomation on the small market team I began to follow several years ago. Im also very thankful that even though I thougt my favorite player ( Steve Sullivan) career was over, glad I was dead wrong and hes been solid since his return. Know if he can just clear that breakaway hurdle. Im thankffi; coach Trotz has been able to turn Toots into a productive player, although sometimes miscast on his lines. I amalso very thankful David Poile has stayed around to construct our team, we all know that he woul be a hot commodity almost anywhere in the NHL. And lastly I am thankful to be above .500 with all the injuries and the most road games in the NHL.

by hitmaneraser21 on Nov 26, 2010 1:38 AM EST reply actions