Tuesday's news: "Little Boom Boom" vs. the Habs?

by Dirk Hoag on Jul 13, 2010 9:52 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News Comment 11 comments

It may be mid-July, but the esteemed society of Nashville Predators bloggers is busy providing fans with fresh content on just about every aspect of the team.

Follow after the jump for a look at two of the Preds' young defensemen, youth hockey camps getting underway here in Middle Tennessee, and the possibility that Blake Geoffrion might suit up for the Predators when they play in Montreal this fall...

Predators News

The View from 111: A Different Perspective on the Prospects
Mark points out that Nashville's real hockey future hits the ice this week.

Geoffrion Hopes to Trace Family Roots in NHL - Fox Sports Tennessee
Blake Geoffrion's a long shot to earn an NHL job out of training camp, but his family can't help but anticipate Nashville's road game at Montreal on November 18, when he could play under the retired jerseys of his auspicious ancestors.

Before the Devils Know You’re A Pred: A Look At The Dearly Departed From 2009/2010 | The Hockey Writers
Jas bids adieu to a few of the Preds who have moved on in their hockey lives.

2010 Skate of the Union: For Nashville, Size Does Matter | The Hockey Writers
Jas also provides her take on last week's SotU, and all the festivities surrounding it.

Predators Developmental Camp was eye-opening experience for Charles-Olivier Roussel - Nashville Predators Examiner
Don't forget about this guy, who is every bit as good of a prospect as the other blueliners Nashville has drafted in recent years.

Tuesday AJenda " Pull My (Fang)Finger
AJ considers the prospects for Kevin Klein this season (check out his spiffy new layout, too).

S’More(s) Thoughts on Preds Prospect Camp " Pull My (Fang)Finger
AJ also provides a scouting report from last weekend's action during Development Camp.

Preds On The Glass: POTG Radio with Ryan Porth and Pred Prospects and Tuesday Tidbits
Buddy's back in business after three weeks off, and has plenty of interviews to share.

Send Ryan Ellis to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
Ads play-by-play man Aaron Sims walks through the rules that keep a player like Ryan Ellis from playing at the AHL level next season. It works for the NHL, and for junior hockey, but is it really in the player's best interest?

Around the NHL

Central: Blackhawks will have tough time retaining top spot - CBSSports.com
Wes Goldstein surveys the Central and sees Chicago (not so much) and Detroit coming back to the pack.

Chicago Blackhawks match Niklas Hjalmarsson offer sheet, so now what? - ESPN
Pierre LeBrun writes that while the Blackhawks held on to their young defenseman, they've just created another salary cap headache elsewhere.

Players to Watch Part One- Jakub Voracek - The Cannon
Is "Jake" due for a breakout season in Columbus?

Seguin & Forwards Wow At B’s Rookie Camp | Hockey Independent
Bruins fans admire their shiny new #2 overall draft pick.

Waiting on Kovalchuk: Why Steve Yzerman should trade for Simon Gagne - Raw Charge
Would Gagne add some zip to the Lightning attack?

How McDonagh May Spell the End of Wade Redden - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers could really stand to rid themselves of Redden's burdensome contract, but that won't be easy.

Beyond ca$inos, betting on the next Islander free agent - Lighthouse Hockey
And the Islanders? They need to break out the checkbook just to make the salary floor.

WANG, MANGANO ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT Hempstead plan rips up the Lighthouse Project · islanderspointblank.com
Islanders owner Charles Wang has tried to get his "Lighthouse Project" rolling for several years now, but local officials appear to have no appetite for his plan, basically cutting the proposed development in half arbitrarily. How much longer will Wang put up with these delays before looking to relocate his team?

Joe Namath Rams John Unitas Chargers Bobby Orr Blackhawks | All Things Avs
Adrian Dater struggles with an addiction to odd sports jerseys.

Gary Bettman makes $7.2 million more than you think he should - Puck Daddy
He may not be popular among many fans, but the NHL Commissioner certainly appears to have the backing of the owners, considering how his salary keeps rising.

Kovalchuk, Kings taking smart approach to NHL marriage - The Globe and Mail
Eric Duhatschek casts the Kings-Kovalchuk talks as a prenuptial negotiation. So who's going to wear white at the contract signing?

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Comments

sigh

I know he’s a big deal for you guys, but it would’ve been sweet if the Habs had drafted Blake. I know a lot of Habs fans that curse our 2006 draft because the most obvious picks (best player from the Q, a 4th generation Hab) were way better ones than the guys we ended up with.

That would be pretty sweet if he played in his debut there, even though it would be a guaranteed loss night for the Habs as a result. Stupid karma.

It is truly amazing that Ryan Ellis is likely to be playing junior hockey next year and likely be at the world juniors again. I think the instances are so exceptional that there is no reason to worry too much about a restrictive rule, but it is bizarre when you do have teenage NCAA and European players in the AHL ahead of major junior guys. Playing in the AHL at 19 sure worked well for Ryan Kesler, for example.

Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.

For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.

by Bruce Peter on Jul 13, 2010 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

I think the benefits (marketing or otherwise) of having Geoffrion in Nashville are greater than him being a Canadien. How often will a good player from Nashville be available to play for you? Yeah, pretty much never.

As for Ellis, its really a shame. He has absolutely nothing to prove in the OHL and will end up thoroughly dominating opposition again.

On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.

by Chris Burton on Jul 13, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

We have Blake's nickname.

Bam Bam Geoffrion.

(Courtesy of a couple of guys at Sunday’s camp)

If I hit a hole-in-one on this grand slam the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.

by jasonkylebates on Jul 13, 2010 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

sigh

I should have figured the CBSSports article wouldn’t be fair. But the whole thing was about relocation, though they admit nobody else is even speaking of it, and “lack of talent”.

by flyalder on Jul 13, 2010 12:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think you misread the article

It wasn’t about relocation. They said that no one is talking about relocation this offseason, which is a good thing. They also said that we keep just enough talent to remain competitive not that we had a lack of talent. I thought this article was fair, although I disagree with his assessment that the Preds are trending sideways. I wrote to him and told him that not having Arnott and Hamhuis on the team is addition by subtraction. Add that to Poile’s great acquisitions of Lombardi and Kostitsyn and I expect the Preds to challenge for the division crown next season.

by Predaceous on Jul 13, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not a recipe for big success, but survival is success for this franchise.

this to me meant that the writer thinks the preds are only trying to keep themselves in nashville and cant do any better than that.

by flyalder on Jul 13, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s par for the course with these guys, think that we’re just “struggling” to keep the team here. We know that’s not the case anymore, we can focus on other things…

Speaking of which, first-round exits aside; this is a perennial playoff team. I’m sure the players, owners and coaches are proud and frustrated like we are about that. But look who they have faced the last two times: the eventual Cup champions. Now, the division has evened out, with Columbus being a big unknown. Blackhawks have lost some key players, but still have their core. St. Louis traded a good goalie…for a good goalie? Detroit, getting older but guys like Datysuk still carry that team. Nashville, well we stand ready with a impressive number of prospects chomping at the bit and we have dumped most dead weight and brought in two fast, exciting players that can both score. Our team now has the best chance now to take the division and play a team in the first round that won’t be as tough, break the first-round exit stigma, and use that as a launching pad deep into the playoffs!

Will everyone work out as DP, BT, and we hope? Probably not, but we have enough depth where injury, or a couple busts will not stop the Smashville Express this year!

by DonBorvio on Jul 13, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Geoffrion

Wait until you see this kid on the ice. We had just a glimpse of him at the development camp and what we saw was very, very encouraging. He’s not ready for the NHL but he won’t have to spend a lot of time in Milwaukee. He just may be the Real Deal. All the prattle about his lineage or marketing potential will become a secondary discussion, believe me.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jul 13, 2010 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

Just how much time does he need?

What would you say he lacks? Strength? I mean, he scored a couple goals in the AHL playoffs just jumping in there. How many have done that? I’m just wondering what you’d have him work one in the couple months or whatever time frame you have in your mind before he plays here….?

by DonBorvio on Jul 13, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

First call-up

Let the log jam of forwards sort itself out in Nashville, let Blake settle into the rhythm of the professional game in Milwaukee, then see how he responds to the bright lights.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jul 13, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

The 1 Millionth winner!!!

So the question is, after reading plenty of comments on the ‘Around the League’ articles, does the first person with the name Hawkfan1000000 get a prize?

NHL 10 for XBox 360 is like paying $60 for bipolar disorder...
Go Predators!!!

by Poiju on Jul 13, 2010 9:14 PM EDT reply actions