Wednesday's notes: Come on, Thursday!

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 12, 2011 7:43 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News

For Nashville Predators fans amped up after back-to-back road wins to open the season, this is looking like the longest week ever, waiting for the home opener tomorrow night. To keep your hockey mind occupied until then, we've got the usual treasure trove of NHL news for you, including some pictures from last night's Meet The Team party, more divisional re-alignment talk, and speculation that Jim Balsillie's pursuit of an NHL team may have played a role in the troubles his Research In Motion is going through right now...

Nashville Predators News

Paul McCann - UAH - What's The Holdup?
Paul updates us on the campaign to save hockey at Alabama-Huntsville.

The View from 111: Meet the Predators 2011
Mark shares some pictures from last night's Meet the Team event.

Hockey Night in Nashville: Which major American professional sport has the most parity?
Is there an appreciable difference in parity between the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB?

Smashville 24/7: Bergfors hopes to get in lineup soon
If he doesn't get in there soon, I propose a new nickname for him: J.P. Svatos.

Previewing Opening Weekend in Smashville " Music City Mindset
Ryan lines up several Coyotes and Devils blogs for you to review before the Thursday & Saturday games.

The C And The A’s | Admirals Roundtable
Meet your new Milwaukee Admirals leadership...

Martin Erat may miss home opener - The Tennessean
Lots of juicy nuggets here, including Barry Trotz's appraisal of Brian McGrattan.

In an NHL pool? Grab Craig Smith! - The Globe and Mail
You know a guy coming out of college hockey playing in Nashville has to be doing well to draw attention up in Canada!

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Red Wings in Southeast? Jets in Central? NHL wimps out? - Puck Daddy
I'll believe it when I see it... but you know this stuff will launch a thousand "how I'd realign the NHL posts".

Sens Finally Complete a Third Period Comeback, Win 4-3 in Shootout - Silver Seven
Ottawa tops Minnesota by pulling one out in front of the home crowd.

Matt Cooke for Rocket Richard? Pens win 4-2 - PensBurgh
Pittsburgh took their home opener over Florida.

Red Light " Posts Will the Blues finally fulfill their promise?
A deep dive into the St. Louis model, and whether it will return them to the playoffs.

The Five for Howling Roundtable - Previewing the Season - Five For Howling
With the Coyotes coming up on the schedule, this makes for timely reading.

Blues claim Taylor Chorney off waivers from Oilers - The Globe and Mail
After a spill into the boards on an icing touch-up, Carlo Coaiacovo went on injured reserve for St. Louis, so they've picked up this blueliner from Edmonton.

Top 10: NHL Backup Goaltenders - The Hockey Writers
Anders, #1? Really? That's a bit premature...

Growing pains with Shanahan, plus 30 Thoughts - CBC Sports
Elliotte Friedman touches all the bases here, including Poile & The Big 3.

The NHL's Most Interesting Name: 1960s Part I - Arctic Ice Hockey
Guaranteed chuckles to be found here.

Canucks controversy coming? - The Globe and Mail
We're only days into the season, and already they're talking about a goalie controversy in Vancouver?

Have the Caps Found Their Shutdown Five? - Japers' Rink
It sounds like Joel Ward may be fitting in already with Washington.

Fear the Fin Debates: How should we feel about Dany Heatley? - Fear The Fin
This is a question which consumes fans in Ottawa, too.

An agent finally fires back at Brendan Shanahan - View From My Seats
You knew that sooner or later someone would start howling over the Shanabans.

The New York Islanders Fading 1st Round Pick Josh Bailey - The Hockey Writers
When you're a team that constantly drafts high in the 1st round like the Islanders, well, they're not all going to work out.

Having A Conservative Medical Staff Is Crucial To Team Health | Backhand Shelf
The pressure to get a player back on the ice is enormous, and comes from many different angles.

Jim Balsillie’s critics using NHL ownership chase to slam him - Puck Daddy
Did Balsillie's hockey ownership adventures divert his attention from Research In Motion, leading in part to its recent troubles?

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Comments

Bergfors

Good to hear he might finally get his chance. I want to see what he can do, especially if Erat is still out.

by kypredsfan on Oct 12, 2011 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

Check out Lindy rocking the plaid in those pics Mark posted. lmao!!

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 12, 2011 8:56 AM EDT reply actions

Haha, straight out of the late 90’s. Also, interesting that Trotz thinks that McGrattan has found his game ala Tootoo. If so he may have a lot more upside and my “True Grind” line of now McGrattan-Smithson-Tootoo could be a big PITA to deal with if needed.

by DonBorvio on Oct 12, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

If the guy can actually play and will actually play, then McGrattan makes at least as much sense as Stortini. But all I have to go on is his record, including the fact that his playing time has decreased over the years until he was in the AHL all of 2010-11. I’m still scratching my head. Those quotes sure sounded like both DP and Trotz want a fighter on the roster.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 12, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Read Trotz’ appraisal of Svatos when we picked him up last season, “just the type of player we need”. How’d that work out? :D

Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!

by Grizzledbear on Oct 12, 2011 6:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

1 goal, 2 assists in 9 games.

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Oct 12, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, plaid shirts, especially flannel, are the hot item for fall this year! Where have you guys been? Get down to your local Walmart/Kmart and stock up! But his hair style, on the other hand……. lol

"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles

by amyinsparta on Oct 12, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

remember he just came up from a shower, hopefully, after practice.

by predwheels on Oct 12, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s just so cute. Like a little puppy, lol.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 12, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, and his personality makes you want to defend him, no matter what plaid he wears.

by LuvthePreds on Oct 12, 2011 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Meet the Team Stick Tap

to some folks who weren’t sitting at tables but were happy to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and chat as long as fans asked—including Coach Trotz, President Tom Cigarran and Fan Favorite Brent Peterson.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Oct 12, 2011 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

Smitty, Wilson, Suter, Boullion, SK, and Weber were all really awesome and friendly. …not too say the rest weren’t but those guys just really made the effort to connect with people. I’ll admit I was a little suprised at how approachable SK was!

by Marcus Newman on Oct 12, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I started trying to think whether there’s someone else you could possibly have meant by SK… : )

by LuvthePreds on Oct 12, 2011 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

So Wisconsin and Michigan are doing awesome in sports...

and Minnesota has um…yeah, last place Twins, last place Vikings, worst 1A team ever Gophers….OH, I know the WNBA Champion Lynx! :/

by DonBorvio on Oct 12, 2011 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting take on realignment.

I do not claim this as my own idea, as it was found in the comments of an on-line article. That said, however, I think I really, really like what this fan proposed.

No conferences. 5 Divisions of 6.

Six games (3 home/3 road) against division opponents. (30)
Home and home against remaining 24 teams (48)
That’s a 78 game season.
If 82 is a must four randomly scheduled games out of division (2 home, 2 road) to hit the magic number.

Somewhat balanced, I suppose.

Proposed divisions
Northeast – Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto.
Atlantic – Columbus, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey Devils.
Southeast – Carolina, Dallas, Florida, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Washington.
Central – Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Minnesota, St. Louis, Winnipeg.
Pacific – Anaheim, Colorado, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver.

Division Champions seeded 1-5, remaining playoff teams seeded 6-16. High Seed plays low seed every round. No arbitrary ‘east/west’ divide means playoff travel could be ridiculous. However it makes the NHL and NBC’s fantasy of a Penguins/Capitals final a possibility.

I figure a ‘Stanley Cup Finalist’ banner can be hung up in the arena of the runner up in lieu of a ‘Conference Champions’ banner.

"Our strength is our numbers. We're like a pack of wolves. We're going to come after you." - Barry Trotz

by rusherman on Oct 12, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

a possible phoenix move may keep things on hold.

by predwheels on Oct 12, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I can’t imagine teams would want to hang a runner up banner in their arena.

by thewildfop on Oct 12, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

They already do. what do you think “Conference Champions” means?

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 12, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s a difference, very slight, but a difference. Plus Rusherman proposed no conferences so instead of having a banner saying you were the champion of something it’s just a banner reminding everyone you lost in the finals.

by thewildfop on Oct 12, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, “Champions” sounds better than “Finalist,” but there’s a reason that virtually no one buys “Conference Champions” T-shirts. No one is fooled.

In any case it’s a moot point because the league isn’t going to do anything radical with realignment. Whatever they do will be a) the least disruptive thing they can think of, and b) some sort of compromise that will satisfy no one. I suspect a Central team to the Southeast and Winnepeg to Central and no other changes. If NBC has anything to say about it, Detroit will stay in the West so that the obligatory 13 Western conference games they are forced to televise can feature the only market they think will draw viewers.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 13, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Heard that Detroit may move to the Southeast, gonna have to rename that division. It’s silly enough with Washington in it.

by thewildfop on Oct 13, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I suppose they could just stick with divisional banners. Definitely something that would have to be addressed. But, overall, I like the breakdown.

And @predwheels: Yeah…that’s an issue. But hell, Dallas and Columbus are looking sort of rough these days too. Granted, Dallas has the Rangers and Cowboys going on, but their announced attendance was 6,306 on 10/10. Laughably, this article reports the attendance was 6,305 spectators and one Cuba Gooding, Jr.

"Our strength is our numbers. We're like a pack of wolves. We're going to come after you." - Barry Trotz

by rusherman on Oct 12, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

blech

I hate the odd number of division setup.

Either stick with 4 or 6 divisions.

My plan? 2 conferences of 15 teams each.

4 division setup based on geography.

6 division setup semi-based on geography within a conference… leaning toward a setup like MLB/NFL (i.e. AL East, West, Central, NL East, West, Central

by djzielin on Oct 12, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Dreading/Anticipating Thursday

While I am bouncing up and down waiting for the home opener, I’m also dreading what the staff has in mind for a Belak/Skrastiņš tribute. There won’t be a dry eye in the place, unless you’re made of stone.

by WINB on Oct 12, 2011 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

was it the columbus or st louis game where they added in the preds players to their tribute. true class!

by predwheels on Oct 12, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

St. Louis For Sure

But Columbus may have done it as well.

by WINB on Oct 12, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

JP Svatos

Classic! I told him last night he’s this year’s Kostitsyn and acted like he had no idea what that even meant :D

by Brenthrax on Oct 12, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

I felt so bad for Bergfors at the Meet the Team event. He was next to Craig Smith & Shea Weber. People were falling all over themselves for Smith & Weber and then they’d be like “hey, dude I never heard of; yeah, I guess I want your autograph too.”

by Melissa Vanderpool Wallace on Oct 12, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions