Wednesday's news: The Geoffrion boost

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 16, 2010 9:52 AM EDT

Predators fans are still buzzing over yesterday's Blake Geoffrion signing, and with good reason - it's a landmark moment for the Nashville hockey community. You can bet that youth players throughout Middle Tennessee are going to skate a little faster and work a little harder, hoping to follow in Blake's footsteps.

Hey, if a kid with world-class bloodlines, tireless dedication, and consummate skill can make it from the youth leagues of Nashville to the NHL, then there's even hope for this overweight, 40-year-old beer leaguer, right?

A guy's got to dream!

Anyways, hop in after the jump for your morning news...

Predators News

Preds On The Glass: Blake Geoffrion Officially Signs with the Predators and Wednesday Wrap-Up
Buddy's morning notes include word that Las Vegas is still on the hunt for an NHL team.

Blake Geoffrion signs with the Nashville Predators - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond's post about yesterday's event includes a slideshow of photos that captured the scene.

Predators 2010 draft preview - Hockey's Future
Connor Jennings reviews the organizational depth of the Preds before making his projection for their pick at #18.

Stating our case for the Adams winner - NHL.com
Three NHL.com writers make an argument for each of the Coach of the Year candidates to win, including Barry Trotz.

Around the NHL

NHL attendance dips by 2.5 per cent - The Globe and Mail
As a counter to all those NHL press releases about their boffo TV ratings, it looks like total attendance at regular season games went down this season, led of course by Phoenix due to the situation there last summer.

Meddling Orr Playing Favourites With Hall - Hockey or Die
Is Bobby Orr messing with the selection process for Taylor Hall at the top of the NHL Draft?

On the Cap : CanucksCorner.com
Tom Benjamin responds to the call from Larry Brooks for the NHLPA to enact the 5% salary cap inflator, pointing out that for the majority of players, it will cost them money to do so.

More Assistants Needed (Puck-Rakers Blog)
New Columbus head coach Scott Arniel will bring in a fresh set of assistants.

Tomas Vokoun: Panthers GM isn't shopping me - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Well, it looks like the new GM in Florida does have a clue...

These NHL GMs may heat up summer months - Elliotte Friedman
Elliote's 30 thoughts this week include which GM's will have a large impact on the free agent market this summer.

Todd Bertuzzi-Marc Crawford Suit Gets New Life - The Grinder
This a story that the NHL wishes would just go away. Bertuzzi claims that Marc Crawford should pay any damages awarded to Steve Moore for the incident where Bertuzzi broke Moore's neck and ended his career, because the coach supposedly encouraged the attack.

Selke Trophy: 2010 Year End Awards – Blogger Style
The blogosphere chimes in on the question of best defensive forward...

Should the Thrashers Buy Out Todd White? - Bird Watchers Anonymous
Is it time to cut bait on the aging forward in Atlanta, in order to open up a roster spot for a younger player?

All Habs: Canadiens to Buy Out Laraque's Contract
The buyout period runs from June 15-30, but Montreal made it known back in January that they'd buy out Big Georges when they sent him home from the team.

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Geoffrion

Blake Geoffrion’s signing ceremony left two distinct impressions:

1) This guy is the genuine article. He was self-confident without bravado, generously acknowledging his youthful teachers and friends at Granberry School but completely ignoring any possible references to the drawbacks of learning the game within the limited facilities and ice time available to him in Brentwood, TN. He went out of his way to thank his teammates at Wisconsin, leaving it to his father Danny to point out that Blake not only fulfilled his four-year scholarship commitment to UW but also completed work for his bachelor’s degree within that time frame—something too few undergraduates, and even fewer “student-athletes,” accomplish. Blake even extolled the benefits of viewing the Predators from the distant 300 sections!

2) Paul Fenton knows what he is doing in evaluating talent, particularly when it comes to identifying players who may fit the Predators model. He freely acknowledged his initial reluctance to draft Geoffrion, citing his skating skills in particular, but said he withheld judgment until he saw steady improvement in Geoffrion’s game. Geoffrion’s subsequent college career and Hobey Baker Award clearly confirmed his judgment.

In short, Blake Geoffrion shows every indication he could become more than an image for marketing the Predators. He could become a bona fide NHL player and reflect well the way the Predators have chosen to build their team.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jun 16, 2010 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

so good

to hear about Blake!, looks like a truly classy guy, cannot wait to see him play. i was wondering how did he end up coming from Brentwood? i know i read where his family came from Canada, and his father and grandfather both played in the NHL, but was not sure how he ended up in Nashville.

by bluegrassbaby on Jun 16, 2010 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

don’t forget his great-grandfather. His great-grandfather, Howie Morenz, and his grandfather, Bernie “Boom-Boom” Geoffrion are both in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A Nation of Masochists
1967 - Owning the drought since 2010

by furcifer on Jun 19, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions