Nashville Predators place Niclas Bergfors on waivers
by Dirk Hoag on Nov 22, 2011 12:51 PM EST
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As part of their daily updates, TSN reports that the Nashville Predators have put winger Niclas Bergfors on waivers. His lone goal for the Preds came in a game at Calgary, when a shot by Jack Hillen deflected off his upper body and into the net.
Nicknamed "J.P. Svatos" here because of his offensive talents combined with an inability to crack the Preds' lineup on a regular basis, Bergfors might well be a candidate to get claimed by another team. His status as a former 1st-round draft pick (23rd overall by New Jersey in 2005) and mere $575,000 contract could prove irresistible to a desperate GM. He could prove to be an affordable gamble, for example, on a team looking to jump-start their attack such as the Islanders or Ducks.
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Seriously?
They couldn’t package this guy up and make a trade? Good grief!
League minimum player with a one-year contract.
No one’s trading for that when they can snag him off waivers.
What about the GM who’s afraid someone else is thinking that?
You talk to other GMs, when one sounds interested, call another and say he probably doesn’t get through waivers and you know that.
Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999 and Matt Calvert since May 2010
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor
by Geoff Detweiler on Nov 22, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
This.
From a complete outsider’s opinion, I would think there would be some GM in the league who would give up some assets – even relatively minor assets – to get Bergfors on their roster. And if that threat exists then GMs hoping for him to fall to them through waivers would up their bids. It all seems a bit odd.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Nov 23, 2011 7:31 AM EST up reply actions
why are both of you assuming that Poile didn’t make any phone calls at all?
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
Not assuming that at all.
I would think there would be some GM in the league who would give up some assets – even relatively minor assets – to get Bergfors on their roster……It all seems a bit odd.
That’s basically what I think. I’m surprised that Bergfors’ value has dipped so much amongst the GMs of the league.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Nov 24, 2011 5:52 AM EST up reply actions
6-3-2 (4-2-2 without him). Averaged one SOG per game, and contrary to the idiom, he scored a goal on a shot he did not take.
Taking him on was a low risk chance that ultimately didn’t work out for the team. Good luck wherever you end up, NB.
Averaging a SOG a game is pretty impressive when you play about 0 minutes per.
by Sam Page on Nov 22, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
But don’t you remember, he was dubbed the next SK74 but many here. Funny how you don’t catch lightning in a bottle but once (if you’re lucky). :)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 22, 2011 7:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
But don’t you remember, he was dubbed the next SK74 but many here.
Heck, even Poile played that card on several occasions.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to helping you save on hockey equipment, accessories, and NHL apparel.
Yes…..yes he did. Thus my ire towards him over this.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 24, 2011 2:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I want to know what he did to piss Trotz off? I don’t think he ever got a fair shake for some quality ice time. 4th line duties in his games here. Trotz prefers to play Geoffrion and McGratton over him?? I just don’t get it.
grumpy insurance adjuster. hockey connoisseur. t-shirt addict. nerd.
It’s obvious the preds want mcgratten in the lineup to clean out the trash. They were both gonna receive the same minutes (not many) so why keep him around.
And the choice between home grown talent and Bergfors? He loses.
My hockey team is better than your hockey team
by Predator Don on Nov 22, 2011 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
No big deal
Hopefully he clears waivers and we keep him. But if not, oh well.
The bee hive is already buzzing without him.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Nov 22, 2011 2:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
BEWARE
this is the exact type guy that could go elsewhere and do well. by well i mean play regularly score 10 goals and have 25 points. hope he doesnt put a hattie on us.
I'm no hockey coach
but is seems like he was getting beat along the boards and frequently out of position. Maybe not a good fit for our system.
You could tell this from pre game?
My hockey team is better than your hockey team
by Predator Don on Nov 22, 2011 6:17 PM EST up reply actions
????? move
and i bet he gets claimed by the Bruins and fits on a line the other guy that wouldnt backcheck…..
no love loss really, but i did hope he would be a decent fit for our 2nd line. he needs an offensive role to be effective and those roles have to be earned in Trotz’ doghouse….
Curious Wild fan here...
Any particular reason why Bergfors was waived? His production in full seasons doesn’t seem that bad considering that he was marooned on a bad Atlanta and Florida team. Are there problems with his work ethic, or is he bad in the locker room, or was this just Trotz burying the guy?
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Dunno. He just didn’t fit or couldn’t convince the coaches that he did. He struggled defensively so he didn’t get much ice time, and he didn’t set the world on fire when he did get ice time. Plus Trotz liked someone else (Brian McGrattan) better.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
Allow me to point out what everyone else is avoiding here.......
That of course being the big build up from Poile this summer on what a great pickup Berfors was and the adulation from the usual suspects here on just how great a signing it was. The truth is, it was a CYA signing by DP, either because he mis-read the UFA market and got left out in the cold after all the good UFA’s got taken in the first two days (very possible), or because he really never had an intention of making a serious splash in the first place (also a possibility).
Regardless of the reason, Bergfors was a marginal pickup who should have sold to the public as such, not as some legit top 6 forward. It was easy to predict that this day was coming for Bergfors in a Preds jersey.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 22, 2011 7:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Honestly, GB, it’s water under the bridge. Who really cares how Poile tried to market the guy? No player signed to a league-minimum two way contract ought to be guaranteed a roster spot, no matter what potential the general manager sees in them.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
I realize that Bolts fans have more dire things to worry about these days, but what your GM says should matter. :p
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 22, 2011 11:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Look, you……..Oh hell. My poor Bolts sucked something awful last night.
And I personally give Poile a pass for trying to sell excitement about his team, since that’s part of his job. It’s also part of his job to try to get a good player for a great price. If Trotz didn’t see eye to eye with him, it doesn’t mean Poile’s a liar. If the gamble doesn’t pay off, it doesn’t mean Poile’s blind. It means it didn’t work out. If Poile had signed this guy for a lot of money and then waived him, it’d be indicative of a problem. This? This is just life in the NHL.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
GMDP sold us a bill of goods. That’s the long and short of it. If GMDP has to use a meh signing like that to sell the team, then something is very wrong here.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 23, 2011 6:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Everyone should care.
Just like you should care if your car salesman is trying to sell you a lemon. Bergfors is a lemon 3 times over now (aren’t there laws against that?!). ;)
But the good news is that, with NB gone, we’ll now be 30th in cap hit! (Bang the pans, light the fireworks!). :D
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 22, 2011 11:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
from the bottom to the top!
If the Preds are really serious about spending next eyear, maybe this season is just about setting up a good narrative for the papers.
You’re really reaching here, Sam. :D
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 22, 2011 11:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not a lemon, GB. A low risk signing that didn’t pay off. We’re not talking about cars here, where guarantees make sense because they’re mechanical. We’re talking about human performance. You can’t put a player in the shop to get his carburetor fixed.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
Cars, humans……all the same. :p
What’s at issue is whether this player had a carburator in the first place and whether the salesman tried to convince us that he did. I think you see where I’m going with this. :)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 23, 2011 6:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I still think you’re overreacting, but it’s almost Thanksgiving and I’m not gonna fight with you. Happy Turkey Day!
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
Just truthin’, that’s what we bears do. :)
And a happy T-day to you too!
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Nov 24, 2011 1:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
INTERESTING.
Wish we could get something of higher quality from him instead of him just going to waivers, though. But who knows. Maybe he’ll do… well?… better?… ok?…. in Milwaukee?
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Could it be more cap space availability....
for an upcoming deal Poile might be working on? Bergs wasn’t fitting in, and that gives us that much more room. Remember, Poile is trying to convince Webs and Ryan to sign with the team. Bergs wasn’t going to be much of a factor there…. And maybe if he clears, the Ads might use him.
Bergfors’s cap hit is for this year. Any deal with Weber and/or Suter affect next year’s cap. Plus, $500K isn’t a huge cap hit.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein
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