Friday's notes: Do the Preds have another monster draft class in the making?
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 9, 2011 10:31 AM EST
in Nashville Predators News
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Setting aside the wacky ending to last night's game for a moment, our hockey notes this morning start off with an analysis which suggests the Nashville Predators might have another stellar draft class in the making. Follow on after the jump to find out which one...
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Nashville Predators News
2009 Draft - Forwards and NHL Equivalencies - The Copper & Blue
The Preds' 2009 Draft is starting to come up roses - Craig Smith has obviously taken a huge step forward, but Zach Budish is also producing well after losing last year to his second serious knee injury, and Michael Latta has impressed. Taylor Beck, however, has fallen off the pace for now. Of course, this analysis only looks at the forwards. There is also Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm on the blueline, too.
The Hippodrome: 9 December 2011 | Pith in the Wind
J.R. takes us on a whirlwind tour of the week in sports around Nashville, including the troubling lack of home-field advantage for both the Preds & Titans.
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I doubt the league will do anything about this hit, but it was vicious, and came well after the play.
Inside Smashville " Bouillon provides spark for Predators with first fight since sustaining concussion
I remember a similar narrative after a home game against New Jersey earlier this season. Cam Janssen took a beating from Brian McGrattan, but since the Devils won the game, that was looked at as a turning point.
Pekka Rinne finally breaks slump - The Tennessean
My fantasy hockey team is doing much better, thanks.
Tough year for Dekanich - Predators Insider
This was the year that Mark Dekanich was primed to play in the NHL right from the start, but injuries have gotten in the way.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
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Well, look who's atop the NHL goal-scoring race right now... none other than Ottawa's Milan Michalek.
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Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes.
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Brendan Shanahan is keeping the video crew busy with all these rulings.
Porter gets four-game suspension, Malone called up - All Things Avalanche
Kevin Porter gets a 4-game suspension for the knee shot that put Vancouver's David Booth on the shelf for weeks.
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One of the first initiatives launched the new owner in Dallas is to reduce ticket prices and fill the building.
Kirk Muller echoes Badger Bob - The Globe and Mail
It's all about the carrot, ahead of the stick. BTW, it's great to see Eric Duhatschek, one of the very finest hockey writers in all the land, back at the keyboard.
Penguins Ready to Take Fans ‘In the Room’ With New Reality Series - The Hockey Writers
This sounds much like Oil Change, the series which takes Edmonton Oilers fans behind the scenes. Just remember, however, that these are team-produced shows, so it's not exactly an independent production.
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Is it possible for parents to overreact to monsters like Graham James and become too protective of their kids?
B’s handled Tyler Seguin situation right way - BostonHerald.com
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Siegel: The evolution of Dion Phaneuf - TSN
Is Dion Phaneuf finally rounding into the elite-level defenseman that everyone expected a few years ago? It sounds like he's become more disciplined about going for big hits.
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Mike Emrick is set to become the first broadcaster inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame next week.
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Here's the view from Columbus on last night's game. As you can imagine, it isn't pretty.
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The major incident here was a taunting display by the Rangers' Artem Anisimov that set off a ruckus.
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Canucks At Canadiens Recap ; Not Dead Yet (4-3s/oW) - Nucks Misconduct
Vancouver has won eight out of their last nine, and are in the passing lane right now.
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2009 Draft
Coming into Rookie Camp and Training Camp this summer it looked like Beck (based on the fact that he supposedly almost made the team out of training camp last year) and Bourque (based on his solid year in Milwaukee last year) might see some time with the Preds this year. Anyone have any insights as to why these guys are performing below (my) expectations in Milwaukee this year?
Imagine if these 2 guys step up their development. Then we’d have to say this is our best draft class since 2003. Smith, Ellis, Beck, Latta, Bourque, Ekholm, Budish.
Not sure about Bourque because he looked pretty good in camp but to me Beck looked a little lazy and was a very weak skater compared to everyone else on your list.
Latta is going to be a crowd-pleaser. Hard-nosed. He reminds me of a Scott Walker type player.
by Marcus Newman on Dec 9, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Out of the top 3 picks we had in that Draft, Latta was the one I thought had a more NHL type of game than Beck or Ellis had. Looks like that may well be the case. Seems to be a versatile type of player. Walker is a good comparison.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 5:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Considering that only one of these draft picks has played in the NHL so far, I’d wait a little bit before calling this a great draft for us. As we’ve seen more times then we need to have, putting up numbers at the Junior/College/AHL level does not mean it will translate over to the NHL level. With as many picks as we had in that draft, we better have found a few who can play at the NHL level.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 11:24 AM EST via mobile reply actions
At least we don’t have to worry about the KGB coming for the badger in the middle of the night. :)
by Marcus Newman on Dec 9, 2011 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Lighten up
You are starting to remind me of this guy.
LOL
Da Vinci Code? Contra code? up, down, up, down, select
by bvkv09 on Dec 9, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That you feel compelled to follow my every post with a photo of some sort must mean that I’m hitting the mark………or that you have an abundance of unused visuals that need to be moved out of your hard drive! :D
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 5:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
A little of both. I am getting worried that I am agreeing with you more and more. Not sure if it is stress from work, or if you are making more sense. I am going to chalk it up to work for now, but who knows. Stranger things have happened.
Da Vinci Code? Contra code? up, down, up, down, select
It’s like that brand of (fill in your beverage of choice) that at first tasted strange but you can’t do without now. Gbear breaks from the conventional wisdom of the day. :)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 6:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Bourque started the season extremely slowly. He only recently scored his first goal of the season. Mueller and Thang have carried that number 1 line for awhile now. He has started producing though so hopefully he’ll keep it up and we can just chalk it up to a slow start. Sometimes that happens. I have no idea what Beck’s problem is but he hasn’t been strong. And I will even throw Ellis into this too…he’s had some truly terrible games with one giveaway after the next. A lot of people say he’s the next call-up but I think he’s got a ways to go until he’s ready. Nashville has enough young defensemen right now.
Latta, on the other hand, has been dynamite. Been our best forward after Mueller.
Phaneuf is crushing people for sure
Nashville got a steal with Budish in the 2nd round
Had he not injured his knee his senior year of high school, Budish would have been, in my view, the top Minnesotan drafted that year, easily in the 1st round. The guy is the complete power forward teams look for in the NHL. He has the size to win battles in corners and in front of the net, he has great hands, he knows how to finish, and he still has the vision to make players around him better. Playing with Kyle Rau and Nick Bjugstad doesn’t hurt him either, as he has two skilled players to develop along side him.
Budish does take some unnecessary and undisciplined penalties from time to time, but he doesn’t parade to the penalty box. I’m sure Barry Trotz (when will he win a Jack Adams) will get Budish to settle down once he gets to the next level. He’ll be the perfect wing with Craig Smith.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
See this is yet another reason why I can not wait for Middle Tennessee to get that minor league team in Lebanon. It will be nice to see some of young talent coming up through the ranks and watch them grow.
When Trotz will win it? I think he should have won it at least once by now if not twice but he keeps finishing second and so my friends have renamed it the “Trotz finishes Second award”
Unfortunately, if it’s a CHL team in Lebanon (as was proposed), you’re not going to see any of those guys make the NHL. I like the idea of growing the footprint of hockey in the area, but just don’t look for it to be a developmental platform for the Preds.
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.
I was doing some digging into the league and realized that we would likely NEVER see any guys get called up from it. Now it does sound like a majority of the teams have moved from the league up into either the ECHL or something of the like, which could give us a chance but either way having another team in the area will be nice. MORE HOCKEY for a “non hockey market”
Yeah, getting a ECHL team would be much, much better. The CHL is kind of a joke. Might as well showcase Dirk’s beer league (no offense, Dirk).
And speaking of Bjugstad.......
I sure wish we would have taken him over Watson in the 2010 Draft. My yelling “take Bjugstad” at the TV apparently wasn’t heard out in California where the Draft was held. :(
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 5:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Will just have to show up in person next time with the megaphone in hand. :D
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 8:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
A little off topic
But Bjugstad makes a young, talented Florida team even more talented. He and Dadonov could potentially be a dynamic pairing together with the Panthers.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
the hornquist hit
that was vicious and right in front of the ref with no call. and people wonder why we say the preds get no respect.
SO dangerous. I can't believe they didn't call a penalty on that play.
I will be disgusted if/when that hit doesn’t, at the VERY least, get looked at. He could have broken his neck.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Speaking of suspensions.......
Predictably, Ovechkin got nothing for spearing Neal in the gut. Whether Neil embellshed the spear or even if it wasn’t that hard of a spear, that kind of stick work needs to be dealt with seriously. Shanny has been to inconsistant so far in his new role.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 8:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree that stick penalties should be enforced, but that was a pretty clear dive by Neil. I know that when I take a shot to the man basket, I’m not looking around. I’m hitting the fetal position right away. Neil was looking around for a ref and crying for a call. I’m sorry, but that’s not the first instinct I have.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Seemed to me that Ovechkin definately made deliberate contact to Neil’s gut with the blade of his stick. While the contact probably wasn’t that forceful, he still gave him the stick jab.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 9, 2011 11:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hmm, well I haven’t seen the hit, but regardless of whether he dove, or almost lost a small friend that night, I feel like that kind of action should be discouraged, hands down. Spearing is one of those penalties that is crazy dangerous and can really seriously injure someone.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
But really, how is that any more dangerous than when defensman give opposing forwards a good love tap on the back of the legs, or a cross-check to a player who’s too close to your goalie?
I agree Ovie gave Neil the stick jab, but Neil was trying to sell, and I wasn’t in the mood to buy. Neil didn’t miss a shift, and like I said, he was literally looking for the nearest ref to plead his case.
I’m not a fan who likes overreaction calls/suspensions. Brodziak went shoulder to shoulder with Kopitar on Thursday’s game, but was tossed for a boarding call. It was an overreaction, especially considering that Kopitar sat down on the bench and then came right back out to play on the PP.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
If you’ve ever been speared, you’ll know that it hurts a whole lot more than being tapped on the leg or even given a modest cross-check. Just the attempt to spear someone should be at least a one game suspension, IMO.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 10, 2011 12:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well, I have been speared, but taking a modest cross-check to the lower back/spinal area doesn’t feel good at all, and that’s totally legal in front of the net.
Plus, how do you monitor the line of a spear? What about a hook to the mid-section? Isn’t that a lower grade of spearing? Isn’t slashing just an extension of spearing? What about checks where the stick-butt comes up in the hand?
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
What Ovie did was very deliberate looking. That’s why it should have been suspension worthy.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Dec 11, 2011 1:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
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Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats & analysis, and managing editor of On the Forecheck.
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