Tuesday's notes: Whither Ekholm?

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 4, 2011 7:41 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 01: Mattias Ekholm #42 of the Nashville Predators takes a shot on goalie Brian Boucher #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bridgestone Arena on October 1, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

As the Nashville Predators hit the practice ice at Centennial again (today at 10:30), there are still a few lingering issues before we hear about the Opening Night roster. Will Kyle Wilson clear waivers? Will Mattias Ekholm stick with the big club, accept an assignment to Milwaukee, or head back to Sweden? How many healthy bodies will the Preds carry early on?

We'll keep an eye on those story lines in the hours ahead, but for now, dig into your morning hockey notes...

Nashville Predators News

Pred White and Blue: Get to Know Other Teams in the Division
I do enjoy a good dump on Columbus. Like the old directions from Ann Arbor said, "south 'til you smell it, east 'til you step in it".

Hockey Night in Nashville: The road to Nashville goes through.....Madison?
It must be the cheese & brats, right?

Smashville 24/7: Smith enjoys big sports weekend
Brewers, Packers, and Badgers? Pfft. Let Leggy talk about Tigers, Lions, and Wolverines!

Lessons in house-hunting and hockey - Predators Insider
Jonathon Blum goes house-hunting. Come on, Blummer, check out Nolensville! Now that you're blogging, you have to come to the tiny town that boasts three Preds blogs, soon to be four. On a per capita basis, Nolensville, Tennessee might be the hockey blogging capital of the world.

Nashville Predators' Mike Fisher to miss opener - The Tennessean
Yup, as unbelievable as it sounded weeks ago, Matthew Lombardi will play in the season opener, while Mike Fisher will not.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Moneypuck Again : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com
This guy sure takes a long to say "bah, humbug".

Moneyball, and hockey’s new underdogs - Backhand Shelf
Cam Charron kicks off his contributions at Backhand Shelf, setting expectations for statistical analysis a little more successfully than Mr. Benjamin.

Fantasy Top Ten - Under The Radar Breakout Picks - Fantasy Hockey Scouts
The Preds land two selections here...

Fantasy Hockey: Preseason scoring leaders tease NHL domination - Puck Daddy
Craig Smith as a late-round pick with keeper potential? I'm down with that.

The Eager Freshmem: Not So-Obvious Calder Candidates Part 3

A Nashville Predators makes this list, but not the one you think.

Dissecting a Washington Capitals Practice Plan - Backhand Shelf

Get your BONZ Flow working or else you'll be hopeless at the Tom Watt 41. Trust me, read the article.

Gudbranson to make NHL regular season debut Saturday - Litter Box Cats
Panthers fans will be excited to see their 2010 1st-round pick hit the ice.

Hockey is in Manitoba's blood - The Globe and Mail
Well, no wonder there are so many Manitoba connections with the Preds...

Harvard wonk choreographs Flames’ ‘quantum shift’ - The Globe and Mail
An interesting profile of a new addition to Calgary's front office.

Igloo Dreams: Igloo Dreams Six Year Blog Anniversary
Congratulations to this Pittsburgh Penguins blog, which outlasted the Igloo itself.

Bauer Vapor X:60 hockey sticks just marked down over 15% | Hockey Gear HQ
Surely as part of the ramp-up to the release of Bauer's new Vapor APX, one online retailer has slashed prices on the X:60 by as much as $40 per stick...

Wait... the Shanahammer shows mercy, too? This is particularly impressive, because usually, when the NHL decides not to act on a particular incident, they just don't say anything about it.

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Comments

Note that for the non-suspension he wore a tie.

What’s that about? (Respect the Yzerman?)

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 4, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Actually, it’s rather menacing, rather like some episode of Twilight Zone, or like some creepy bureau in one of Phillip Dick’s stories. He should be in black and white. I HAVE SPOKEN!!! sheesh

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

by amyinsparta on Oct 4, 2011 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

ekholm

i will guess sweden. with cube at least skating with the team, i figure he’ll be sent down. with josi and ellis already with the ads, he will decide to go to sweden. 100% guess.

by predwheels on Oct 4, 2011 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

Unless they are able to persuade him to go to the AHL and get some time in with Ellis and Josi

by IG-PRED8 on Oct 4, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope he decides to stay. He is impressive, just doesn’t quite look ready. I don’t think that he will get ready in Sweden either.

Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson

by Josiah2729 on Oct 4, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

According to Trotz, the SEL is a better league than the AHL

Logic would then tell me he would improve more in Sweden.

by jbranny on Oct 4, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Not at what the team needs from him, which is to get used to North American rinks and style of play.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 4, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Ding. CAustin with the right answer again.

Staying in North American also makes him available to the NHL as our primary defensive call-up.

by Marcus Newman on Oct 4, 2011 3:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

And as possible trade bait! ;)

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

by Grizzledbear on Oct 4, 2011 6:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

With the way the injury bug hits us sometimes he might as well stay over here. He will be back up in no time!

by ablairnash on Oct 4, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

cool to see some props for Anders...

but he ain’t gonna win no Calder.

by Broadwaybully on Oct 4, 2011 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

Rinne, who has quickly emerged as an elite NHL goaltender

What does quickly mean, anymore?

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

by cisar on Oct 4, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

Quickly means they weren’t paying attention.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 4, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Rinne started by playing for the ECHL team the Nashville Predators then he quickly made a name for himself by becoming an elite goaltender for the NHL’s Nashville…..ummmm…….errrrrr……wait, let’s do a retake on that in 3, 2, 1 .. Rinne has become an elite……

by ablairnash on Oct 4, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Harvard wonk

Thanks for that link to the Flames-John Weisbrod story. Knew this guy pretty well when he was in Orlando, and Pete Horachek knows him very well. Firmly believe he’s a future GM, and love that he carries Thoreau around with him. He used to bring it to games. Great guy and wish him the very best. Calgary’s time is coming. Rebuilding but making the right moves.

by el pucko on Oct 4, 2011 12:27 PM EDT reply actions