Sunday's notes: Training Camp hits the ice, Fantasy Hockey drafts underway
by Dirk Hoag on Sep 18, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
in Nashville Predators News
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PrintWhile the Nashville Predators hit the ice this morning for their second set of open practices (schedule here, team rosters here), those of us Fantasy Hockey mavens are in the thick of conducting league drafts. Yesterday, for example, I had two on my plate - the James Mirtle Blogger Invitational, and the NHL South, which features a host of bloggers and Preds fans around Nashville.
The NHL South draft was a blast, thanks to Codey (from Section 303) and his wife Brooke for hosting us; we had the vast majority of the league all in the room together drafting, which makes it so much more entertaining. You had Amanda DiPaolo from Inside Smashville pulling jerseys out of her bag for some of the guys she drafted (Shea Weber, David Legwand, Sean Avery, etc.), Patten Fuqua of Puckscene.com asking the sardonic question "do playoffs count?" before hitting the button to draft Joe Thornton, etc.
If you're interested in joining an On The Forecheck Fantasy Hockey league, make sure to check out the details here, then follow on for this morning's hockey notes!
Forechecker's Fantasy Hockey System ebook now available! | Hockey Gear HQ
Just in time for all of you eager Fantasy Hockey managers, I’ve compiled a free ebook to share my experience from years of playing fantasy sports, and the system I’ve developed over time that helps me draft a competitive team that is specifically tailored to the scoring categories used in that particular league. It's also where you'll find my offensive projections for the Nashville Predators prior to Opening Night.
Nashville Predators News
Smashville 24/7: Training Camp quotes and notes
The first day of camp, and Coach isn't happy. Might as well hit the ground running!
Inside Smashville " Training camp storylines: David Legwand turns attention to upcoming season
Leggy's eyes are on the ultimate prize.
Bits and Pieces From Day 1 of Predators Training Camp | The Predatorial
A smattering of quotes from some of the participants.
Built for Speed: The Predators First Day of Training Camp | The Predatorial
Check out how the guys did in timed skating drills.
Preds pay tribute to Wade Belak on their helmets… | Section 303
Jeremy got a close-up shot of the sticker that will memorialize Wade Belak this season.
Kostitsyn’s loss - Predators Insider
Sergei Kostitsyn was close to Ruslan Salei, who perished in the plane crash earlier this month.
Nashville Predators' Ryan Suter avoids talk of free agency - The Tennessean
Ryan Suter says all the right things - "The business side will work itself out. I want to be here in Nashville... I love it here. I’m not worried about it." But, well, we heard the same out of Shea Weber for a year, too, and he couldn't even agree with the team on a one-year deal. Talk is cheap.
Nashville Predators' Shea Weber doesn't dwell on arbitration - The Tennessean
At least he can put his contract situation on the back burner until January, and focus solely on hockey.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
No contact, but Crosby able to skate at top speed Saturday - NHL.com
Very good news for Penguins fans, as Sidney Crosby put in a full-length, high-intensity workout yesterday.
It's Evgeni Malkin's Turn to Lead - PensBurgh
With Sidney Crosby's timetable still unclear, however, the onus is on Geno to power the Pens early on.
Avalanche winger Peter Mueller practices Saturday | All Things Avalanche
Peter Mueller, too, is returning from a concussion and appears to be rounding into shape.
Tom Poti fails medical exam, is placed on long-term injury - Capitals Insider
Not unexpected, but still disappointing news in Washington, as Tom Poti struggles with a nagging injury that has kept him out since January.
Camp Tour: Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith refreshed and recharged for 2011-12 - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
The 2010 Norris Trophy winner is ready to make another run.
Will Kings fans forgive Drew Doughty for holding out? - Puck Daddy
If they can get a long-term deal done, I'm sure it'll be forgotten within days.
Claude Noel Doesn't Plan on Having "Traditional" 3rd Line - Arctic Ice Hockey
Looooove this notion, and wish the Preds could do such a thing. If you're going to have something like a Spaling-Smithson-Tootoo line, you don't need another "energy" line. This team will be desperate for goals already.
Iginla injured in Flames’ first skate - The Globe and Mail
Back spasms? That isn't good...
Teppo Numminen Hired As Sabres Assistant Coach - Die By The Blade
I always liked this guy, a steady hand on the blueline who can now work his way into the coaching profession.
Hockey fever comes early in Winnipeg - The Globe and Mail
Fans are excited for the opening of training camps all over the NHL, but in Winnipeg, there's obviously something a little extra going on.
The Triple Threat: Not-So-Obvious Calder Candidates (Part 2) | The Hockey Writers
Could John Blum have an outside shot at the Calder this season? It's difficult (but not unheard of) for a defenseman to win that award.
Maple Leafs Bottom 6-Pack: Revisited | The Hockey Writers
A healthy Matthew Lombardi could really bolster Toronto's depth up front, turning what had been an area of weakness into a strength.
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So glad we could help Shea cross something off his bucket list
I guess now I can say that’s another thing I can check off in the list of things I’ve done."
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
But when you’re home with all the people you love and who love you, it’s easy to get away.
There’s the quote to highlight from this article. He’s, of course, talking about BC. Maybe Weber doesn’t feel right in Nashville. You can’t force someone to love a place. Radulov felt the same way.
Hockey Fights Cancer and so do I
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Hmmmm….
I think that’s reading a bit into that quote. It seems more like he was upset about the process than the place. But, who knows. If that is the case, then, oh well, sucks to be Shea right now. For $7.5M, he can cowboy up and deal with it.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
I don't feel sorry for Shea at all....
And the Preds front office should think about doing some PR regarding the Shea situation….as it stands right now, I have retired my “weber” jersey until futher notice. I’m sure some of you feel different…but that’s how I feel. I can’t root for a guy who I can’t help but feel is not all in for this team.
by turd-ferguson on Sep 18, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Still love Shea Weber and I still wear my #6 proudly!
You should get a #6 jersey with “Shea-Rod” on it.
Hockey Fights Cancer and so do I
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Not to be contentious:
But, why “shea-rod”—because of A-rod, et. al., I’m guessing?
And, would you still wear your Weber jersey if you were to find out that he didn’t want to play in Nashville? And if every move he was making was to position himself to leave this town? Would you then? Becuase, based on all I’ve seen, along with my gut feeling, that’s how I feel. I know our opinions may differ, but that’s how I feel.
And I was the BIGGEST Shea Weber supporter before this summer.
by turd-ferguson on Sep 18, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think a lot of people feel he’s doing exactly what A-Rod did to Seattle.
You know I would still wear my Weber jersey if Shea left Nashville. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but I’m a hockey fan first. I hope Weber plays great hockey no matter where he is. Also, I can only imagine that his dream (since childhood) was probably to win a cup with a Canadian team (I’m thinking Vancouver, but I don’t know the guy). After all, that’s his home.
I can understand why people are p1ssed at him, though.
Hockey Fights Cancer and so do I
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This brings up the main reason why losing not only Weber, but Suter as well, is a real possibility. What, besides the money, is the biggest dream a player has since they first started playing the sport? Winning the Stanley Cup, of course. Both Weber and Suter have seen four seasons pass by and the fifth close to starting without Poile making even one significant addition to the lineup from outside the organization (keep in mind that Fisher replaced Lombardi who replaced Arnott). Does anyone really think that’s the recipe to keeping your star players in town? Of course it isn’t.
So, we can hate on someone like Weber for being greedy and all the rest of it, but IMHO, that rage would be better spent on the front office for not giving those UFA’s a compelling reason to stay here in the first place.
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 19, 2011 12:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You're right:
I can be mad. And I HAVE been mad at Poile this offseason. He has really screwed this offseason up for no good reason. That still doesn’t escape the fact that: 1) players were let go and bought out to clear space for Shea, 2) Shea said all the right things, and 3) He still DID NOT sign before arbitration. Does anyone here in his right mind not think that Poile offered something reasonable and Shea turned it down? Weren’t they on the same page before Shea got a new agent? Is THIS Poile’s fault? Really?
by turd-ferguson on Sep 19, 2011 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
What is reasonable is in the eye of the participants involved. Weber clearly doesn’t want to commit long term to the team, where as Poile wanted a longer term deal. That, more than the money involved, is the point of contention between the two sides from my reading of the situation.
Sure, Poile may well have offered something in the 7M per season range on a long term contract, but Weber will get that money from anyone once he becomes a UFA. It’s his ability to win Stanley Cups that will ultimately decide who he eventually signs long term with. Has anything Poile has done in the past few years given any reason for a player like Weber to be convinced that this organization is committed to winning a Stanley Cup? I’d put my money on no being the answer to that question.
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 19, 2011 1:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Okay, good, I'll go with your assumption....
Then, No….I don’t want to root for a player like that. That is Which is Weber being concerned about Weber’s goals, not the Team’s goals. That’s okay with me if that is his goal. As a FSTH, I do not want to root for players…I do not want to root for me…I want to root for the team. If he can get the same money from this team as he can from others, then he needs to be invested personally in the team—which he is not under your assumption—for me to root for him.
That is why I don’t like the NFL and NBA as much as I used to. The NFL NBA used to be team sports. I have no desire to root for an individual’s goals.
by turd-ferguson on Sep 19, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, yeah,
And his goals are not the fault on the way Poile runs this team. I am not a Poile lover, but he’s using his model to build a team. If that doesn’t mesh with Weber’s “goals”, then he should be open and move on. And Poile should get off his own ass and trade him.
What I’m sick of is the bad PR they are trying to feed me as good PR.
by turd-ferguson on Sep 19, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
To each his own, as they say.
For myself, I want guys who’s goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I can’t find fault with anyone who comes to the decision that his odds are better elsewhere to do that than they are where he currently is. Poile’s model is to have a competitive team…..that’s a far cry from being a Cup contender.
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 19, 2011 5:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not mad at the man for wanting his money, or for wanting to win a Stanley Cup. I don’t actually really think he’s lying when he says he loves Nashville. (I think he’s prioritizing, not lying. I think his ideal is to win a Cup here, but he’s not very sure he can get that.) I’m mad at him and Poile and the agent and whoever else was involved for not even being able to get a one-year deal done and going into that room.
He has the right to get the best deal he can and to make his choice about where he wants to play. Poile has the right to negotiate a good deal for the team. But when you can’t even get a one-year deal done that will preserve the relationship and provide a basis on which to have future negotiations….that’s just stubbornness on everyone’s part.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
Agreed.
And if there were such a thing as a David Poile/Paul Fenton or dumba$$ agent t-shirt I would be not wearing those in protest either.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
But I already made a few “Poile is a dumba$$” tshirts……….guess you won’t be buying one now. :D
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 18, 2011 7:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’ll still take one! Do you have any that address his fake-@ss hair color?
Hockey Fights Cancer and so do I
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It was tough finding a silk screen that matched his fake hair color, but I think we pulled it off. :D
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 19, 2011 12:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Doubt the Caps are upset with putting Poti on LTIR
I think they were counting on that so they could get under the Cap ceiling (everyone can put away their hopes of the Caps needing to make a move to get under the Cap now).
And that really worked out well for both the Leafs and Preds in the Lombardi deal. Why, the Leafs look to have strengthened their forward lines and we did the same by taking that Lombardi money and using it on a top 6 forward of our own………..oh, wait, we left out that part of the story!
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 18, 2011 12:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Right on both. Caps were expecting this. Never really considered them a trade partner. Hope Poti plays again, but its not looking good right now. … on the second thing, that’s what’s frustrating. Its like he has to show movement on the big three before he gets to that part. But maybe if he does that part first, he gets movement on the big three. Who knows. We’ll see how the kids do. Will be younger and faster, that’s for sure.
by el pucko on Sep 18, 2011 12:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Younger and faster, but with less muscle.
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 18, 2011 1:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Younger and faster, but with less muscle....
and less height…and less scoring….and less experience….and less…well, you get the picture.
by turd-ferguson on Sep 18, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
When did we pick up Shane Doan?
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 18, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions
I dunno, do tell!
Belarussians play better as a family.......get AK46!
by Grizzledbear on Sep 18, 2011 3:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That’s Tyler Sloan, big (6’4" 214 lbs) blueliner from Calgary the Preds signed as a free agent in July.
by Hockey Hillbilly on Sep 18, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, my bad.
:)
The truth is always the right answer....
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 19, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Any word on whether there'll be any kind of coverage of tomorrow's games?
I know not radio or TV, but maybe tweeting or streaming or live chat or something?
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
George Richards has been great this past week
He ran chats for the rookie games (except the TB-NSH game) and was great. I just checked his blog and he has announced live chats for both games tomorrow (2pm and 6:30 pm)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/
Also tweeting last week were @rinkside, @hfialkov, and @goldieonice. All were great and very responsive to the fans. I haven’t seen any verification that they’ll be doing Monday’s games.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
At least we get a bit of media love on October 1st, in Winnipeg
NHL network,,,,,,,,,,,,4 AM, Eastern !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EARLY, on that Saturday morning…….mumble, mumble, mumble…..
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