Who is your Nashville Predators MVP?
by Dirk Hoag on Apr 4, 2010 8:57 AM EDT
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PrintWith their date for the playoffs happily assured, let's turn our thoughts to the season as a whole, and how things have worked out for the Nashville Predators. On Friday, we opened the question of which rookie has impressed the most, and now it's time to name a team MVP.
Follow after the jump for a breakdown of the candidates; debate in the comments, and vote in the poll below!
He leads the Predators in goals, total points, Plus/Minus, and snappy t-shirts. Hornqvist's emergence as an NHL scoring threat has been a pleasant surprise after spending most of last season in Milwaukee. Who says the Preds can't develop young offensive talent?
For a while, we wondered where the amazing rookie from last season went, as he struggled with inconsistency and couldn't lock down the #1 job. Two weeks off to watch the Winter Olympics and a fresh two-year contract have inspired him, however, and Peks has been the best goalie in the league since then. Can he carry this momentum into the playoffs?
So much for all the "injury-riddled Sully" talk that many national commentators used to write the Preds' off as a playoff contender this season. The Timmins Tornado is one of only 3 Predators to play every game, and his combination of veteran savvy along with "the guts of a burglar"*** make him a threat that draws the attention of opposing defenses with every rush. This season, Sully has used that to his advantage in setting up his teammates, and he leads Nashville with 34 assists.
He simply does it all on the blueline, starting with solid, disciplined defense (he's cut his penalty minutes in half from last season). That low PIM total doesn't mean he's not an intimidating presence, however, as he remains one of the strongest physical defenders in the league, playing heavy minutes against top opponents. His slap shot is legendary, putting him 2nd among NHL defensemen in goals scored, and oh yeah, he's got a pretty snazzy t-shirt, too.
So who gets your vote as the MVP of the 2009-10 Nashville Predators???
***An old expression that Hubie Brown used to use to describe Isiah Thomas back in the 80's, when he'd slash between defenders and drive straight to the hoop. I love that phrase.
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Can we put...
…Coach Trotz on the list? Somehow he has mastered hockey math to allow the Predators to equal far more than their individual parts.
Otherwise, I’m inclined to choose Rinne, only because with our glut of one goal games, it ends up coming down to goaltending.
nope...
We’re keeping this to the players only. The SB Nation hockey sites are all submitting their team candidates for various categories, and this will determine our collective vote for the MVP of the Preds.
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On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.
well
FWIW, I’d vote for Trotzy too. Incredibly, its been the best job of his career.
That said, I went with Hornqvist after I saw him singlehandedly pick up the team against STL on THU.
Though some days its Weber, some days Peks, and after yesterday, you wonder if its actually Ryan Suter. Thats TEAM hockey, and we do it better than most.
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You said it
That’s what I love about this team. IT’S A TEAM!
Sometimes I feel like the MSM overlooks the importance of playing well together although it seems like the Preds and Trotz are finally getting their due in that department.
This was a tough one because I feel both Patric and Peks have carried the team at different parts of the season. I went with Hammy because he’s been the most consistent in his effort and undoubtedly an inspiration to his entire team.
That is hard. I chose Hornqvist cause he had contributed soooooo much, but Rinne is my second choice. He did more than his fair share in a few of our wins.
This is a hard choice, because this team relies on one individual less than just about any team I can ever recall.
More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.
Just a note
…about the St. Louis game. Horndog set up all three goals, alright, but Wilson and Boyd scored two gritty goals, Sully’s GWG was a masterpiece, and Pekka’s long left leg saved everything. The teamwork won it and the Seventh Man had a hand in it, too.
by Hockey Hillbilly on Apr 4, 2010 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
Wow...
How many teams not named Phoenix have the same great problem as the Preds? A different guy shows up every night to be the hero more often than not. Ask this question every game, and you come up with a different answer. Not relying on one guy or one line makes Nashville a nightmare match-up for anyone in the 1st round.
But if you put a gun to my head I have to say Hammy is the MVP. Consistent Go-Go-Go!!! effort all year and anyone that braves a Shea Weber point blank slap-shot 10 times a night deserves a medal (or a padded cell LOL). Peks has really come on as of late, but Hornqvist has been the man all season.
by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 4, 2010 11:20 AM EDT reply actions
It's too hard to decide between Horndog and Rinne
So I voted for both with 2 computers
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by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 4, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions
No contest
Rinne has had a fantastic month to end the season but before that he was very inconsistent. He lost the starting job to Ellis several times and his inability to play like a #1 forced Trotz to platoon the two for a while. Hell, he was even outplayed by Dekanich in training camp. Rinne had a pretty mediocre year up until the San Jose 8 goal debacle took Ellis out of the running.
Hornqvist has delivered all year long. In a year where we saw Sullivan, Arnott and Dumont’s numbers all drop, without Hornqvist’s output making up for their bad seasons, we don’t make the playoffs.
While, Hornqvist has been an fantastic addition to the team, I think Rinne is the clear-cut MVP of the Preds. He’s stepped up as the #1 goaltender and kept the team in just about every game this year, especially during late 2009.
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Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.
by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 4, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
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