Friday's news: Preds return to home, sweet home

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 10, 2010 10:17 AM EST in Nashville Predators News

The Nashville Predators have played the fewest games on home ice (11) of any team in the NHL this season, tied with the Islanders and Lightning. Over the next several days, however, they have the opportunity to take advantage of some home cooking, and keep pace in what is an insanely tight bunch of Western Conference teams.

Western Conference Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Detroit	26	17	6	3	37
Dallas	27	16	9	2	34
Vancouver	26	15	8	3	33
Chicago	30	16	12	2	34
Los Angeles	26	16	10	0	32
Phoenix	27	13	8	6	32
St. Louis	27	14	9	4	32
Nashville	27	13	8	6	32
San Jose	28	14	10	4	32
Anaheim	31	14	13	4	32
Columbus	27	15	11	1	31
Colorado	27	13	10	4	30
Minnesota	27	12	11	4	28
Calgary	29	12	15	2	26
Edmonton	27	10	12	5	25

(updated 12.10.2010 at 8:47 AM CST)

Follow after the jump as one hockey blog offers up useful advice for Jeff Fisher of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, another looks ahead to the possibility of Shea Weber leaving Nashville via free agency, and just when you think you've seen them all, video of a wonderfully creative goal being scored.

The Preds have a 3-game homestand coming up (Saturday vs. Florida, Monday vs. the New York Islanders, and Wednesday vs. San Jose), so make sure to use our coupon code for Nashville Predators tickets. Remember, hockey tickets can make a great holiday gift, so you can also look through the schedule, and get seats for any other home game!

Nashville Predators News

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Thursday's 3 stars: Backup Peters steps up for Majors - Buzzing The Net
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The Hockey News - Prospect Watch: Austin Watson
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Hockey Night in Nashville: A Child's Heart
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Remember to check out the OTF Facebook Contest! Enter by Monday night for a chance to win a fleece hoodie from Easton Hockey...

Around the NHL

Down Goes Brown: Signs your players have quit on you
I know this is a hockey blog, but perhaps Jeff Fisher could use one or two of these: "The chants for you to be fired are getting louder and louder, which seems like a bad sign since you're sitting on the team bus on the way to the game."

Phoenix trip emotional for DaCosta - StarTribune.com
Earlier this year, the Phoenix Coyotes massage therapist passed away suddenly at the age of 40, and a jersey auction has been organized to benefit his children.

Crosby's surge reminiscent of Gretzky, Lemieux - Washington Post
It's truly remarkable how much Sidney Crosby is pulling away from the scoring pack already this season, with a 10-point lead over 2nd place Steven Stamkos.

Bourne Blog: Islanders' Blake Comeau on battling through misery - Puck Daddy
The New York Islanders come to town on Monday, and Justin Bourne chats with one of their players about the long grind of a hopeless NHL season.

Burning Question: Should Rene Bourque Be Suspended For Spearing Drew Doughty? | The Hockey Writers
As if things weren't going bad enough for Calgary already...

The Dark Blue Jacket: Who stays? Who Goes? Part II: The Filatov Conundrum
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Andy looks around at some of the older franchises of the NHL and says, "screw 'em!"

Quebec Fans Take Quest for N.H.L. Team to Long Island - NYTimes.com
Oh boy, this could get ugly.

Video: Blood-flicking gesture by Carkner a unique instance for NHL - Puck Daddy
What the heck was Ottawa's Matt Carkner thinking?

Ottawa Senators: To shake up or blow up? - Silver Seven
Has the window closed for this group of Senators? And if they do decide to blow up & rebuild, are there any scraps that the Preds can pick up?

Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Hillbilly Jim Meets Bob Probert
Umm... wow.

Where to buy hockey helmets online | Hockey Gear HQ
Do you need a new hockey helmet, and aren't sure if Santa's going to deliver for you? Take a look here for a primer on where to shop..

Lastly, we have a new eye-poppingly unique goal for you, found over at Houses of the Hockey:

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Santorelli’s goal last night? I just don’t understand why we got rid of him. He is up to 8 goals and looking better and better each week. What’s Poile’s plan for offense in the future? Sully and Dumont are going to be gone soon and some could argue they already are. We have little to no offensive talent in the AHL. There may be some guys in the juniors and college, but when can we realistically expect them to be in Nashville? Plus, the juniors and college game does not always translate to the NHL and AHL.

Does Poile plan on spending some money? By spending money I don’t mean for a guy like Lombardi whose highest goal output is 19 goals in a season. Sorry, but that’s not going to cut it for a team as goal starved as us.

I know we allegedly have these great defensive prospects, but where’s the offense going to come from?

Also, for a team that has done almost nothing but draft defenseman in the 1st round for the better part of a decade, why do we not have a full D core of homegrown guys? It seems like every year you see Poile scramble at the last minute and sign guys like Bouillon, O’brien, Devries before the season starts. Why not give Blum a chance instead of signing O’brien? Once Blum got some experience, I am sure he would be just as good if not better than O’brien. Plus, Blum could be getting actual NHL experience. On top of all of this Klein is one of the 4 homegrown guys playing. Seriously, Klein? We have this “incredible” farm system of D men and Klein is one of them. Doesn’t make me feel that good knowing that we produced Klein out of our system.

by 29thWard on Dec 10, 2010 10:44 AM EST reply actions

As far as Santorelli goes, he became waiver eligible so the Preds couldn’t send him to Milwaukee without exposing him to waivers. At least now they’ll get a mid-round pick for their trouble, as they basically had to choose between him and O’Reilly (and that seems to be working out OK).

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 Dec 10, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

Definitely agree

O’reilly > Santorelli

by dnorm4 on Dec 10, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Alright, you missed the point. Regardless of how we lost the likes of Santorelli or Peverley, I think it is safe to say that both situations were mismanaged. I am getting sick of grooming NHL forwards for years only to lose them to other teams. We spent years on both of those guys and O’reilly molding them into Predators style forwards. We gave them the skill set and now other teams are getting to see that skill come to fruition. Of course I want O’reilly over Santorelli, but I want Santorelli too. It is frustrating that we are losing these guys we saw potential in and who have skill to other teams. Especially considering how little depth we have at the forward position in our system.

Come on, Danial Norman!

by 29thWard on Dec 10, 2010 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t say the Santorelli situation was mismanaged at all. He got several opportunities to play with quality linemates, and failed to make an impact here. Heading into the season, a center depth chart of Lombardi-Legwand-O’Reilly-Goc had no room for Santo, period.

With Peverley perhaps you can make more of a case that he didn’t get a chance to work with offensively-oriented linemates.

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 10, 2010 7:45 PM EST up reply actions

So, you are saying Santorelli’s 32 games spread out over two seasons, where in 16 of those games he didn’t even play 10 minutes, was enough to gauge his talent? You may be a tougher coach than Trotz.

Well, by that logic O’reilly could easily be gone too. He had done little to nothing with the opportunities afforded to him til this season.

I’m not trying to argue, I just get frustrated when I watch NHL on the fly and every night it seems another ex Pred forward scores a goal. I wouldn’t care if goals were coming easier for us I suppose.

by 29thWard on Dec 10, 2010 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

I understand where you’re coming from, but would ask what else the team could have done with Santorelli. I really don’t see how they could have justified keeping him given the depth chart I noted above. They tried him on the wing, but he was a complete non-presence there.

Marginal guys like that move every summer in the NHL, and sometimes they prosper in new surroundings. You can bet a lot of Sharks fans are voicing your same frustrations while they see what Marcel Goc is doing for the Preds.

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 10, 2010 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

I think Logan Couture is making the Goc situation better for Sharks fans. That kid is sick. I wish we could land one of those in the draft. He stands at 14 goals and 7 assists and he is only 21.

by 29thWard on Dec 10, 2010 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

Good Lord people...

it’s spilled milk!
Santo, Jones and Peverly are GONE. Get over it. For whatever reason they were not working here. They had their chances and they didn’t perform to expectations. Can’t do anything about it now.
BTW, Klein 7, 21 minutes ave. TOI, plays in ALL situations

by pete schweddy on Dec 10, 2010 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

And the Titans shouldn’t have drafted Vince Young or Pac Man Jones and could have used those 1st round picks in a better way. The point is that it is our job to hold these owners, coaches and GM’s accountable. Without the fans, they wouldn’t have jobs in professional sports otherwise. We are the biggest shareholders of all.

I was really just posing the question of what are we going to do about offense in the future? Radulov isn’t coming back(We won’t talk about if Poile mismanaged that ordeal). Sully’s in his last season with us. Dumont’s last year is next year. We have Klasen. Geoffrion appears to be struggling with the pro game, though it is early.. Austin Watson appears to be struggling. Budish keeps tearing his acl’s.

I am just worried about the future of a team that doesn’t really go after guys on the free agent market and how we plan to score goals.

by 29thWard on Dec 10, 2010 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

I hear ya...

I do, and I understand where you’re coming from. I just get tired of hearing “Oh my! look how Ryan Pevorelli is doing in Florilantaton. Why didn’t we keep him?” It doesn’t matter anymore they are gone! They didn’t work here! All three are either on teams with less talent than this team has(making them look better than they are IMO) or are playing a completely different style than they were asked to play, and couldn’t handle, here.
And yeah, future offensive talent??? I agree, “we” don’t seem to draft O talent very well
and it is troubleing…but my point is there’s no use lamenting " the one that got away" because those ones weren’t working out here.

by pete schweddy on Dec 10, 2010 10:40 PM EST up reply actions

weber

the weber/suter dynamic should get really interesting. we can’t afford to tie 11 million (or more) up in two top defensemen, our market and budget just won’t allow for it long term. especially not when we’ve already got erat and legwand sucking down 9 million for quite awhile. unless you can move one of those (and both have NMC), poile has kind of handcuffed himself here.

buddy suggesting something happen at the deadline is laughable, weber won’t be moved. it makes more sense to hold him and play hardball with his RFA status. if someone offer sheets him 6.5+, you let him go. the 4 first rounders is worth it to keep from losing suter (who won’t command as much $). all even, suter’s UFA status makes losing him without compensation a much bigger deal.

by myopinionstinks on Dec 10, 2010 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Without doubt

that 17-year-old got the goal of the year.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Dec 10, 2010 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Linus Klasen...

did that a couple times back home, I don’t know why it’s not tried in the NHL more often.

by DonBorvio on Dec 10, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Let’s bring him up and let him give it a whirl.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Dec 10, 2010 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Klasen actually...

Does “The Michigan” move from behind the net, made popular when Mike Legg did it while playing for the Wolverines in college.

“The Michigan” also involves picking up the puck on the blade of your stick, but then the player swings the puck around from the side of the net and “throws” it into the net.

In this case, the player picked up the puck, then feathered it over the net and off the goalies back in oreder to score.

The key in both moves is making sure you don’t touch the puck over the height of the crossbar.

As for why it’s not done more in North America, I’d have to believe that it has to do with the smaller area behind the net and the popsenity of teams to chase guys out from back there…

I’ve seen it done a bunch of times in practice and sticktimes, but only twice in a game. The first time the two teams were tied late and this guy pulled the Michigan, scored a beautiful goal, and everyone cheered. A couple months later I was standing outside our locker room watching the game prior to ours and it was a blowout and to add injury to insult a kid pulled it off and celebrated wildly with his teammates. I lost a lot of respect for that program that day.

As with everything, there is a time and a place…

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by Seth Lake on Dec 10, 2010 6:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, I’d like to see it used (or at least attempted) as a down-by-one, five-minutes-to-go type of thing. Running up the score on trick shots is just terrible sportsmanship.

by DonBorvio on Dec 10, 2010 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

Listening to Home Ice on XM they were talking about the probability of the salary cap going up to $62 mil next season. Obviously this would also mean the cap floor would go up (they hypothesized to 46 mil). I say all that to say the Preds would be forced to spend more money to stay close to the median like they have the last couple of years, which would allow for 11 million to be tied up in Batman and Robin.

Still want Goc and O’Reilly signed asap too.

by wrandsw on Dec 10, 2010 1:14 PM EST reply actions