Nashville Predators sign goalie Mark Dekanich to one-year contract

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 9, 2010 4:43 PM EDT

In what will further round out a pretty solid competition for the backup job behind Pekka Rinne during training camp, the Nashville Predators have signed Mark Dekanich (who was a restricted free agent) to a one-year, two-way contract.

Since Dekanich is not yet eligible for waivers, he could easily be sent back to Milwaukee if the Preds didn't think he was ready for the NHL stage, but the progression of 2008 1st-round draft Chet Pickard likely has him pegged for the #1 job with the Admirals. With Anders Lindback coming over from Sweden and free agents like Jose Theodore and Antti Niemi still seeking NHL jobs, the race for the #2 position in Nashville is still very much up for grabs.

Today's signing has me thinking that internal competition is the more likely course for filling that job than bringing in an outsider like Niemi or Theodore, however. If David Poile were going to sign an outsider, then there would be no need (or room) for Dekanich within the organization. Now, they could conceivably have either Dekanich or Lindback as the NHL backup, one of them in Milwaukee splitting time with Pickard, and Jeremy Smith needing room for development as well. ~~Atte Engren perhaps getting his North American feet wet with Cincinnati in the ECHL~~.

Follow after the jump for the team's press release...

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed restricted free-agent goaltender Mark Dekanich to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 at the National Hockey League level and $75,000 at the American Hockey League level.

Dekanich, 24 (5/10/86), has spent both of his professional seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), ranking fifth among AHL netminders in goals-against average (2.33), tied for fifth in shutouts (4) and tied for eighth in wins (27) during the 2009-10 campaign, his first as a starter. As a rookie in 2008-09, the North Vancouver, B.C., native ranked second in the American League in goals-against average (2.09) and fifth in save percentage (.923), allowing two goals or fewer in 24 of his 30 games played in 2008-09.

The 6-3, 190-pound Dekanich spent four seasons at Colgate University from 2004-08, finishing his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in games played (118), saves (3,071), save percentage (.923) and shutouts (11). He was Nashville's third choice, 146th overall (fifth round), in the 2006 Entry Draft.

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Engren

It’s already been announced that Engren is heading back to the FNL for another season due to the lack of spaces available in North America.

Jeremy Smith is the one that really needs to find a spot. I think he’s earned the right to progress from a starting role in the ECHL where he paired with Robert Mayer (Montreal) last season to guide the Cyclones to the Kelly Cup Championship.

IMO, the best solution with the goalies currently in the organization would leave Dex out of the equation, but see Lindback backing up Rinne this season with Pickard starting in Milwaukee and having Smith backing up Pickard. I think Dex is a great guy and one that could blossom later in his career much in the fashion that Chris Mason did here, but I’m not sure that with the talented depth we have coming through the pipeline already…that he’s necessarily going to get that chance here.

Bringing in a veteran FA like Theodore would likely automatically mean the end for Dekanich and Smith in the system IMO…

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thanks for the clarification on Engren, I'll correct above

That’s why I see this as a sign that leans away from bringing in a free agent. Maybe they trade him out of town during training camp depending on how the battles work out, but if they were planning on acquiring a vet, there’s just no reason to work further with Dex.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 9, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

In a discussion I was having last week on Twitter with Jim Diamond (@diamondhockey) from the Nashville Examiner, we discussed the situation in great depth and ultimately agree that Poile is really favoring Lindback for the backup job with Pickard starting in Milwaukee and with the understanding that the following year they flip with Pickard getting NHL experience behind Rinne and Lindback getting a full season of starts in Milwaukee.

At that point it’s going to likely be incumbent upon Poile to make a decision on the depth at the position and also how it is setting him up in terms of the urgency to re-sign Pekka the following year. If we have two budding star goalies and Pekka is struggling…then the depth puts him into a position to make a trade and open up the spot. If no one is ready to supplant Pekka by then, then Poile will have to adjust the budget around and begin discussions to extend Rinne.

It’s a difficult position to be in right now and will rear it’s ugly head again, but having all this depth and competition for roster spots in the end is a blessing in disguise.

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I think these days you pretty much have to have a shorter-term view with goaltending as opposed to skaters. I’d sign Shea Weber to a 10-year deal in a heartbeat, but not a goalie.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 9, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

That’s what I was trying to say in the end there…too many options to count, so Poile isn’t going to sign anyone long-term right now.

Weber I’d definitely love to see locked up in a Duncan Keith-like deal something around training camp and allow that to set the parameters for an extension for Suter too. If we get those two locked up and are solid in net…I think we have the makings of a great team for not just this season, but for several years to come as well…

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Good insight as per usual, Seth. I have to think that this situation will end up with Lindback in Nashville on October 9. I think he’s the most talented of all the options, and has been seeing the toughest competition over in the SEL. If Mitch Korn can even remotely fix his high glove side, then I think we’ll be good to go.

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

by Chris Burton on Aug 9, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Do stats count for anything?

I know nothing about Dekanich’s physical abilities and I’ve never even seen him play, but if statistics are anything to go by then he deserves a long look.

by Lil cutie on Aug 9, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Stats can lie...

Not to discount anything Dekanich has accomplished, but the main reason he is not locked into the No. 2 position already is due to his play last season.

Entering the year, Dex was scheduled to play the season as the starter in Milwaukee before moving into position to backup Rinne this year. Instead, when given the starting role, he struggled mightily with consistency and was in fact at one point sent to Cincinnati (ECHL) for a weekend to regain his confidence where he went 2-0-0 and won player of the week honors.

While his overall numbers look good, it doesn’t tell the whole story and certainly doesn’t indicate why he isn’t a lock for this spot yet. If he does indeed make it to training camp (which at this point I believe will happen), he’ll definitely be given a long look for that No. 2 spot, but…due to his waiver exemption, he also isn’t a lock for the spot either…

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

At this point, backup work in Milwaukee may be most appropriate for Dex. Perhaps the Preds would be better off by finding Smith a place where he can get a lot of work, rather than back up Chet.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 9, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

With that in mind, then, the scenario would look like this:

Lindback to Nashville, Pickard starts in Milwaukee with Dekanich behind him, and Smith starts in Cincy.

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

by Chris Burton on Aug 9, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Smith

In talking with Smith during Prospect Camp, one of the members of the media said innocently, “Good luck this season in Cincinnati” to Smith after getting a question asked. Smith sorta scowled and said, “I really hope I’m not there…” to the reporter.

He has proven himself at that level. He needs higher quality competition to continue his development and he knows it…

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

edit

Should be “after getting a question answered”…

SBNation really needs an edit feature in their comments!

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

that was debated quite a bit, and there’s a lot of concern that it’s best to leave comments without an edit button, for the sake of maintaining the history of a conversation.

I don’t have a strong feeling one way or the other (I’m the king of following up with corrections), but just wanted to let you know it’s been considered.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 9, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Yeah, I figured it’s been discussed. I’m all for it, but understand the logic behind the decision not to have an edit feature. At HF it was recently decided that posters were not allowed to delete their posts due to too many posters starting threads and then deleting them and all the responses when they didn’t like the way the thread was going. Generally, in these instances the threads were reinstated by the moderators, but it just made for more work.

Posters still have an edit feature and theoretically could go back and edit their post down to virtually nothing, but the minimum character limit prevents them from deleting the whole thing and doesn’t allow them to affect other people’s responses (where generally the OP will have been quoted at least once).

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by Seth Lake on Aug 10, 2010 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions

fair enough

But if not Cincy, where? I assume Pickard and Dex will be in MIL.

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

by Chris Burton on Aug 9, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

No idea...

I think ultimately it’ll be a rotation of him and someone else rotating between starting in Cincinnati and backing up in Milwaukee…

Still, no room for Dex if Lindback gets the spot behind Peks.

Peks and Dex that would be an awesome name for a reality show! ;-)

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by Seth Lake on Aug 9, 2010 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course stats aren’t everything, but surely they count for quite a bit. And I understood that after his stint in Cincinnati, Dekanich played very well in the Milwaukee starting role. I think it’s unfair if he’s being discounted purely based on how he began last season…after all, even Rinne had a bad start to last year.

by Lil cutie on Aug 9, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Dex for back-up

I agree with Lil Cutie, Dex deserves anothe rlong look at training camp. I believe this signing will give him the confidence to play his tail off and after watching him last year at training camp, he has the skill to be a decent backup goaltender. I hope his camp goes well this year and he earns the back-up spot, although I did attend the development camp a month ago and Lindback looked o.k. Lindback is gigantic and could be a Scandinavian clone of Peks with his height and ability to come out of net and close off angles while having the dexterity to scramble back and cover the net if he lets up a rebound.
Just my $.02, but Dekanich at times in training camp last year looked as good as Ellis and Rinne. I don’t trust the consistency of Pickard or Smith yet, and Engren, although a nice guy, seemed to be a half second behind the puck all development camp.

Out of all the FA goalies, which one would make the best fit for the Preds if none of our prospects pan out coming out of training camp?

by HardCorePredFan316 on Aug 9, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Engren struggled this year

During last summer’s development camp while everyone was raving about the newly drafted Chet Pickard, I thought that Atte Engren was far and away the best goalie at camp until the final day when he pulled his groin during the morning off-ice session and still went out and performed. Engren followed up a great camp by leading his team to the Finnish Elite League title last season, but this summer was inexplicably the worst tender in camp…

It totally boggled my mind and I’m hoping it’s just an aberration that will see him return to North America next summer ready to compete for a spot in the organization. Technically, Engren is a solid goalie with a quick glove hand that loves to challenge the shooter and moves around the crease quickly and efficiently. I really have no idea what was bothering him this year…

That being said, I think Dekanich will definitely get a long look at camp. IMO, he is the new Chris Mason in that he’s taken a long-time getting here and has suffered some setbacks along the way, but he is a quality individual that is very proud and constantly working to improve his game. More of a late bloomer you could say, Dex could potentially be the best candidate this season to backup Pekka with Pickard starting in Milwaukee and Lindback and Smith rotating between Milwaukee and Cincinnati backing up and starting.

I think that’s ultimately the plan the Predators have, but it’s incumbent upon Dex to come into camp and make sure he takes advantage of this opportunity and doesn’t let anyone surpass him on the depth chart. Rinne will likely play 65-70 games this season, so realistically you’re looking at his backup getting ~20 appearances over the course of the season…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Aug 10, 2010 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

One of the things to remember also is that the Preds love to stress the importance of character, and in particular they talk about the way players respond to setbacks.

So the important thing with Dekanich isn’t necessarily the setbacks he’s had, but rather how he has responded to them. For example, consider the oft-cited demotion to the ECHL for a couple games. Some guys could have let that rattle them, but he went down there and dominated.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 10, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeremy Smith Lovefest

What’s up with the Jeremy Smith lovefest? I don’t get it. Smith has never had a season below 2.5 GAA at any level. Dex has been below the 2.5 mark every season since his freshman year at Colgate. I really don’t see how Smith gets all the love for a guy who’s numbers are much worse against worse competition. Dex spent two games against the same weak competition in the ECHL and only gave up one goal (and one shutout). Enough with the smith lovefest already! please!

by jjcarlso on Aug 10, 2010 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

Dekanich

I’ve seen Mark play…alot. For whatever reason, he was sub par the first half of the season or so last year, and was absolutely brutal in the shootout all year long. For him to only get a one year deal signals to me that he’ll be a stop gap while Pickard, Lindback, and Smith progress. It’s also possible that one of those goalies may possibly get loaned out to another AHL team to get time against better competition.

by BrianAdsFan on Aug 10, 2010 11:40 AM EDT reply actions