Nashville Predators 2010-11 Season Preview: Wade Belak

by Chris Burton on Aug 20, 2010 11:39 AM EDT in Nashville Predators Player Profiles

In the weeks leading up to the upcoming season, we'll preview the Nashville Predators on a player-by-player basis, examining their role on the squad and expectations relative to capabilities. So come along for the ride as we look ahead to 2010-11, from Andersson to Wilson. Next up: Wade Belak.

A popular figure off the ice but not much of a contributor on it, the Predators' enforcer saw his playing time gradually decrease and eventually disappear altogether last year as the intensity of the games increased down the stretch. It was with much surprise, then, that we found out that Wade Belak would join the team for another season.

Wade Belak

#3 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 222

Born: Jul 03, 1976

After the jump we evaluate what, if anything, Belak could contribute to the Nashville Predators in 2010-11.

Role

Belak will be called upon to play on the 4th line very rarely, against more rough-and-tumble teams like St. Louis with Cam Janssen. A more important role, perhaps, will be to mentor younger players such as Nick Spaling and Cal O'Reilly. There's no doubt that Wade is one of the better 'glue guys' on the team, but do the Preds even need an enforcer with players like Shea Weber and Jordin Tootoo, who are way more than capable of handling their own business?

Contract

One year, $575,000. You'd think that would make him the lowest paid player on the team, but that dubious honor actually falls to Sergei Kostitsyn. Belak is entering his 14th NHL season, and 3rd with Nashville.

Expectations

Honestly, not much - which is fine. Belak, when in the lineup, needs to play good defense and be willing to stick up for the skill players on the team. If he gets into a fight, I'd prefer he win it. Like this:

Previously...

Belak participated in ten fights last year, and didn't fare that well, if you believe the hockeyfights.com voters. He had two assists and 58 penalty minutes in 39 games played.

Prediction

With so many roster spots filled, its hard to see how Wade fits in anywhere. That said, there still appears to be a place for his type of player in the NHL. I'd guess he gets in 15 games, 5 fights, and registers no points.

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Poll

How many games will Wade Belak dress for in 2010-11?

0-10

67 votes

11-20

71 votes

21-30

45 votes

31 or more

17 votes

200 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

To be honest...

I don’t care if he doesn’t dress out for even one…I’m just glad he’s around. With alot of new young faces in the locker room, this guy is needed (for at least this year) for what he gives the team off the ice…leadership, cohesiveness, chemistry and attitude. Might be hard to justify a spot next season with so much young talent chomping at the bit, but for this year Belak is a good thing.

by TitanPredBearFan on Aug 20, 2010 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

I miss the Darcy Show!

by preds4ever on Aug 20, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

If all they need is a "glue guy",

I would have signed for $525,000.

by Lil cutie on Aug 20, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

Unless they mean “glue guy” as in “headed for the glue factory”, of course!

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 20, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet

Whatever his deficiencies as a player—and they appear to be many—Wade Belak gave us a great moment when his hard left hand dropped Donald Brashear. One minute Brashear was all hulking Joe Frazier, the next he was crumpled on the ice. Earlier Brashear also took a heavy hit from Jordin Tootoo, who later punched out Matt Bradley. The Preds held a class in old school hockey that night in March 2009.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Aug 20, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

That was an amazing night for fighting, I agree. Tootoo completely demolished Bradley, and it some ways it was more impressive than Belak’s KO because of Toots’ ability to switch hands on Bradley and punch equally well.

by Chris Burton on Aug 20, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Add a smart bit of hockey savvy on Toots’ part: he carefully removed tape from his hands as he squared off with Bradley. Thus he avoided a major penalty.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Aug 20, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice enough guy....

But… do we really have to waste even the $575,000 on a guy who really doesn’t contribute outside of the locker room? Sen Crispy down there to mentor the young guys, hell, replace Horachek with Crispy for the Power Play woes. Don’t get me wrong, I love Belak, he’s funny as hell, and once upon a time, could fight pretty damn good, all I’m saying is that’s one more spot on our roster that could go to O’Reilly or Spaling who could actually produce points for us. It’s taking away a roster spot for our AHL players to battle for.

Just my $.02

by HardCorePredFan316 on Aug 20, 2010 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

We need him

The other team is a lot more bold when Belak isn’t in there…especially early in the season when the games are “easy come easy go.” When he’s in there, nobody takes liberties against our guys. Tootoo is a middleweight and he cannot take on guys like Perros and McGratton and Boogard. And Weber needs to be on the ice, not the box. Only a guy like Belak can take them on…and its not a crime to lose to those guys either cause every single guy on our team would get the ice mopped up with them if they fought another pugilist of that caliber.

We’ll see what people have to say when he’s cut, and then some clown like Burrows or Clutterbuck start taking runs at our guys. It’d be nice to have a 20 goal goon, but they’re just not around. Our games are generally peaceful cause of Belak’s presence.

And he’s a good glue-guy to boot!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Aug 20, 2010 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

We’ll see what people have to say when he’s cut, and then some clown like Burrows or Clutterbuck start taking runs at our guys.

A certain Inuit would like a word.

by Chris Burton on Aug 20, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

CB

Yeah, I was at that game, and Burrows had to pay for the hit on JP. That video never gets old. Since he’s not a heavyweight, we put Tootoo on him, which is fine. BUT, what if Belak’s not in the lineup? Do you think Hordichuk would’ve let Toots get him? I don’t think so. Hordichuk would’ve pounded Tootoo to a pulp.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Aug 20, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, yes, and yes, respectively.

Tooter can’t do all the fighting, and Weber is not paid to fight, but to rip nets (and keep pucks out of our net).

Even if one were to ignore chemistry, mentoring, and the like (which would be unwise), Belak is a symbol that says to other teams that the Predators Mean Business. To an extent, it’s not so much what he does, but what he doesn’t allow the other team to do.

It’s possible that on some nights, other teams look at Nashville’s roster, see Belak, and plan a strategy and/or lineup that doesn’t involve dirty shenanigans. Yes, Cote, Grimson, Tootoo, and the like have bashed more skulls, but the best enforcing job is when no one even tries anything. Maybe, just maybe, after Belak’s work against Boogie and Brashear, he caused a certain intimidation factor, and without even doing much of anything from then on, freed up the rest of the team to play their game.

by Smashvillain on Aug 20, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

20-30 games October-January, for 500k

Worth it.
Good locker room guy, league wide respect as a heavy, the odd highlight on hockeyfights.
Don’t play him during the stretch. He’s fine with that.
Speaking of hockeyfights: he may have lost the Mcgrattan and Boogaard tilts, but Koci? who was voting, Koci’s parents?

by DontfeedtheBelak on Aug 20, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

wade's world

If he can produce about 5 episodes of it then his contract is money well spent.

"It's gonna be fun on the bun."

by flyalder on Aug 20, 2010 4:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

+100!!

by TitanPredBearFan on Aug 21, 2010 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Needed more then ever

Why everyone forgets Columbus is in this division is beyond me when it comes to physical play. St. Louis as always, and I believe Chicago will play tougher for two reasons. The skill set isn’t there as it was last year due to cap mismanagement as well as signing John Scott via FA. Along with the Preds forays into the East where everyone is carrying a heavyweight besides Buffalo and the West where the games are always physical, Wade will be needed more than ever. I love Toots, but he would be in way over his head (literally and figuratively) if he goes against a team’s heavyweight. Shea can definately handle himself, but being the captain this year, teams will certainly be goading him into dropping the gloves and will be looking to get our captain off the ice for 5 or more at a crack.

by BrianAdsFan on Aug 23, 2010 11:08 AM EDT reply actions