Tuesday's news: Fresh-faced coaches to debut in Columbus and Tampa

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 8, 2010 10:23 AM EDT

After Columbus offered their head coaching job to Guy Boucher and were turned down, reports indicate that Scott Arniel will be named to the Blue Jackets job later today.

With an extra day off before Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL's coaching carousel has taken center stage today. New coaches are expected to be named soon in Columbus and Tampa, while Atlanta and New Jersey continue their searches. We also have a projection as to what the Predators might do at the NHL Entry Draft, a review of the goaltending depth chart within the Nashville organization, and a video report from a charity softball game last night featuring Wade Belak and J.P. Dumont.

Before you get reading, have you filed your daily vote for the Toast of Music City? I'd appreciate your support for Best Blog in Nashville...

As part of the leadup to Father's Day, here's another suggestion for the dad in your life. Let him fly his hockey freak flag high...

Predators News

Preds On The Glass: POTG Radio Podcast from the Tweet-Up for Flood Relief and Tuesday Tidbits
Buddy has the recap from last night's wonderful NHL Tweetup at the Tin Roof, along with his podcast, conducted during the event. Remember, the online auction is still ongoing, so check out the items and make a bid!

Coming Down the Pipe!: 18th - Nashville Predators Draft Preview
Dean Millard and Guy Flaming take a look at what Nashville might do on Draft Day.

Red Light District: Predators Goaltending Outlook
With Pekka Rinne locked in as the #1 starter and Dan Ellis heading to free agency, Ryan Porth looks at the rest of the Predators' goaltending options.

Nashville Predators prospect Ryan Ellis hopes to make NHL quickly - The Tennessean
Can Ryan Ellis earn an NHL roster spot this fall? If not, it's back to junior hockey, where I doubt he has much to learn any more. Unfortunately, Milwaukee is not an option this year.

Thanks to a pointer from SLakePreds on Twitter, we also have word that Milwaukee Admirals defenseman Robert Dietrich has signed a new contract to return home and play in Germany this fall.

Around the NHL

Hockey player’s dire battle against leukemia inspires thousands - Puck Daddy
This story goes way beyond the game - a player on Yale's women's team is battling acute myeloid leukemia, and needs a donor desperately. The hockey community is rallying to her cause, spreading awareness of a relatively easy form of donation - blood from the umbilical cord of newborn babies.

'Hawks hoping for some Bowman magic - Toronto Sun
Joel Quenneville's savviest move in this series? Asking Scotty Bowman for input on line combinations...

Blackhawks Ruminations: Six Questions Headed Into Game Six | The Hockey Writers
Jim Neveau does a good job of breaking down the major issues for Chicago as they try to win the Stanley Cup in Philadelphia tomorrow.

Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Ville Leino Nears Ciccarelli's Record
The former Red Wing is tearing it up for Philadelphia during this playoff run, and has a shot at the rookie playoff scoring record.

Amazing tales of the Philadelphia fan with the impaled Indian head - Puck Daddy
Further details behind one of the more disturbing images I've ever seen at a sporting event...

Arniel Hired (Puck-Rakers Blog)
After Guy Boucher was offered the Columbus coaching job, he turned it down. Congratulations go out to Scott Arniel, who comes in 2nd in this beauty contest, and wins a spot behind the Blue Jackets bench as a reward.

REPORT: Guy Boucher to Tampa Bay? - Raw Charge
Instead of taking the Columbus job, it sounds like Guy Boucher will be Steve Yzerman's choice to coach the Lightning. Will a rookie GM and rookie head coach turn things around in Tampa?

Summarizing the Michel Therrien to New Jersey Devils Rumors & Media Responses - In Lou We Trust
Will Michel Therrien reign over the Devils? John Fischer reviews the media reports and rebuttals.

Thrashers Coaching Search Nearing Conclusion? - Bird Watchers Anonymous
Cross Scott Arniel off the list of Thrashers candidates....

NHL Players More Reluctant To Use Twitter, Facebook - Hockey or Die
Scott Lewis points to a video from Bloomberg about the lack of NHL player presence in social media, as compared to the NFL and NBA. Unfortunately, the report focuses mostly on the Blackhawks and Flyers. Did they miss Jordin Tootoo getting dinner ready in Rankin Inlet the other day?

Kovalchuk's Krazy KHL Offer - Puck Worlds
Is a mega-contract waiting in the wings for Ilya Kovalchuk? What does it mean for both the NHL and KHL if he accepts, or rejects, that offer?

Coyotes Ownership Madness Roundup: City of Glendale Council Meeting Edition - Five For Howling
Has Jerry Reinsdorf pulled back his bid (again) for the Coyotes?

mc79hockey.com - Fortune favours the bold
Tyler asks why the Oilers turn their focus towards building through free agency, or through draft & development. Why can't they leverage both approaches well?

Cashing In On Dual Offer Sheets - The Copper & Blue
An interesting strategy is offered for GM's to pursue restricted free agents and put the squeeze on teams with cap or budget issues. Might someone take a run at both Patric Hornqvist and Denis Grebeshkov via offer sheets? I doubt it, as NHL GM's only rarely go after RFA's.

Why MLS on Versus is good for the NHL - From The Rink
I have a hard time believing that American soccer can do much for the NHL, but Mike Chen makes a case for it.

Lastly, check out WKRN's report on last night's City of Hope charity softball game. Wade Belak and J.P. Dumont represented the Predators well:

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Comments

Ellis

Why is Milwaukee not an option for Ellis?

by BradHerman on Jun 8, 2010 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

There’s a rule that says basically if you’re still junior hockey-eligible, you can’t play in the AHL. You can have a brief tryout with an NHL team (up to 9 games, I believe) after which you have to either stay in the NHL or go back to your junior team.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 8, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

The nine games is separate from NHL-CHL agreement

The NHL-CHL agreement stipulates that unless a player is 20 years old or has at least four seasons of major junior hockey under their belt by the start of the season that they must be returned to their junior team prior to being assigned elsewhere.

The 9 games is actually in reference to the NHL-NHLPA CBA whereby if a player plays 10 games in any season on their entry-level contract, the contract is no longer eligible to “slide” for that season. In effect, if Ellis were to play 10 games next season with the Preds, it would count as his first season of his three year deal and also count towards his eligibility for free agency. The Blues did this with Erik Johnson a couple years ago and burned a year of his contract making him a restricted free agent this summer…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Jun 8, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the clarification

So theoretically you could keep a guy like Ellis in Nashville for 20 or 30 games then send him back to junior, at the cost of that counting as Year One of his NHL career.

It’s definitely going to be an interesting situation to watch. I worry about Ellis stagnating at the junior hockey level – what does he have left to prove there?

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 8, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, in the situation with Johnson the Blues kept him up with the big club until the WJC’s in December before loaning him to Team Canada for the tournament and then deciding to send him back to juniors for the remainder of the season.

So…out of Johnson’s 3 year ELC the Blues got less than half a season in his rookie year, an entire missed season due to injury, and an excellent true “rookie” campaign last year…but now have to pay him again…

I just can’t see the Predators wasting an asset like that unless they’re ready to keep him up and playing for a full season. Personally, I think the NHL-CHL agreement needs some adjustment in this area…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Jun 8, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Dietrich

whats the word on him? was he going to be nhl ready anytime soon?

by flyalder on Jun 8, 2010 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

It looks more like a numbers situation on the depth chart than anything else. Besides, he’s from Germany, so there’s certainly an attraction to going home.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jun 8, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

by flyalder on Jun 8, 2010 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Dietrich made a wise career move and cashed in on a great performance in the WC’s last month in his homeland. Right now he has “star” status and will be paid as one in the DEL. In North America he was probably at best 8th or 9th on the depth chart at the end of last season and will already be surpassed by several other players this season with a year of development under their belts and with Josi coming across the pond.

It was a smart decision on Dietrich’s part that you simply cannot blame him for…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Jun 8, 2010 6:41 PM EDT reply actions