Sunday's Notes: David Poile assesses the Preds' season so far
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 15, 2012 9:57 AM EST
in Nashville Predators News
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PrintWhile reading this morning's hockey notes, listen in as Nashville Predators general manager David Poile joined Willy Daunic on last night's pre-game radio show to talk about the season so far, and how things are setting up for the second half:
David Poile on 1025 The Game 20120114 (mp3)
And now, on to all the hockey news that's fit for pixels...
Nashville Predators News
Post-game audio from last night is available from Barry Trotz, Ryan Ellis, Ryan Suter, and Nick Spaling (click each name for the mp3). As always, surf through the blog roll on the left-hand sidebar of the main page here for recaps from around the Preds blogosphere.
Hartnell’s and Timonen’s advice for Suter and Weber - Predators Insider
Scott Hartnell doesn't mince words. "Sometimes they say the grass is greener on the other side when you try and go and try to make a buck or two. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. But on the other hand, there’s a lot of teams out there that spend right to the cap that have great teams every year, like the Flyers. We’re right up at the top of the conference every year. We want to make runs every year and win the Stanley Cup."
Batman, Superman and Wolverine Walk Into A Bar... | The Hockey Writers
Jas looks forward to the All-Star Game as a chance for hockey fans around the NHL to watch Weber & Suter work their magic.
Ads Snap Skid With 2-1 Win Over Texas | Admirals Roundtable
It sounds like Blake Geoffrion took a hard hit last night, we'll have to see if he misses any time because of it.
Postgame ponderings - Predators Insider
Plenty of positive ponderings this morning.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Time to Walk the Talk - Blackhawk Up - A Chicago Blackhawks Blog
Does it make sense to overpay now and get the guy you really want on the trade market, to give him more time to gel with your team?
Blowhard Don Cherry Weighs in on Timeout Gate, Calls Capuano "The Islander Guy" | islanderspointblank.com
Will the hockey gods be angry with Islanders coach Jack Capuano?
Larry Brooks: The Montreal Canadiens are a mess - NYPOST.com
Kirk Muller sure came out of train wreck OK, didn't he?
Teemu, Why I am a Ducks Fan and the Hall of Fame - Anaheim Calling
Is Teemu Selanne a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee? Maybe not, when you look at how that class might stack up (and remember, only 4 players get in each year).
NBC Sports Network: Errors Or Lofty Wishes? - Puck Drunk Love
J.P. catches NBC Sports with a graphical gaffe.
N.H.L.'s Best at the Season's Halfway Mark - NYTimes.com
Jeff & Stu hand out their mid-season honors.
The Edmonton Oilers and the never-ending rebuild - Backhand Shelf
Discontent is rising in Edmonton as the Oilers tumble down through the standings. Can't they surround that young talent with enough experienced help to compete?
It's not time to make a goalie deal | TBO.com
Should Steve Yzerman swing a trade for goaltending help, or be patient and hit the free agent market this summer? (via Kukla's Korner)
Mailbag: We're Wrong, The Rebuild Doesn't Go Deep Enough - The Copper & Blue
Funny stuff here - how come I never get email like this?
Panthers Top Trio Struggling, Ice Time Limited v Pens on Friday | On Frozen Pond
Trouble in Sunrise? The Panthers' top line saw their ice time slashed in the 3rd period last night after giving up an easy goal.
Daniel Alfredsson vs. Dion Phaneuf, NHL All-Star captains? Nicklas Lidstrom wants to see it | Puck Daddy
Not a bad idea here, injecting a little "Battle of Ontario" into the All-Star Game.
Sean Couturier is still awesome, but Preds hold off Flyers, 4-2 - Broad Street Hockey
You can't argue with that headline.
Blues take gimmick point against Wild, move to 1st in Central - St. Louis Game Time
The Blues look like they could hang in there with the Blackhawks and Red Wings the rest of the way.
Sharks edge Jackets on late goal by Marleau - Fear The Fin
The Blue Jackets gave San Jose a tough fight, but the Sharks skated off with a 2-1 win.
Avalanche at Stars Recap: Avs play full 60, beat Stars 2-1 - Mile High Hockey
Colorado fans were glad to see that win over Dallas after the Avs dropped both games against Nashville last week.
Rangers Vs. Leafs: Rangers Dominate In 3-0 Win Over Maple Leafs - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers spoiled Hockey Night In Canada for Maple Leafs fans.
Islanders 4 (EN), Sabres 2: Grabner, Tavares flatley shine - Lighthouse Hockey
Watch the highlights here, for a penalty shot awarded to Buffalo under some pretty unusual circumstances.
Anderson steals two points as Sens top Habs in shootout, 3-2 - Silver Seven
Craig Anderson used to do this quite a bit when he was in Florida - bail out a team which had been thoroughly outplayed otherwise.
Harrison and Faulk Come Through: Hurricanes 4, Bruins 2 - Canes Country
Carolina knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champs on home ice.
New Jersey Devils Comeback to End Road Trip with 2-1 Win Over Winnipeg Jets - In Lou We Trust
Patrik Elais scored the game-winner for the Devils.
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Poile Interview
Encouraging to hear that DP more or less considers July 1st as Suter’s deadline not the end of February. Unless he’s made up his mind and he’s 100% gone at some point, Ryan Suter owes the fans of the team an answer. 14 sellouts, 20 of 24 home games over 16k plus in the building. Tax free state and a team with some key young guys to get over the hump the next two to three years. C’mon Suter take the money and play with Weber as you guys march on to your hall of fame career here!
I’ve always thought that Poile was thinking more of “next year” than this year. But I think he’s getting some pleasant surprises THIS year. Which may cause hit to go look for a little more offense.
As for Suter.. They signed Pekka and gave him his big contract on his birthday.
Suter’s birthday is next Saturday when we play Chicago.
LET’S DO THIS !!
Hartnell
I am typically not much of a conspiracy theorist, but it is hard not to believe that it was pre-planned for Hartnell to say that comment about spending to the cap/winning directed towards Suter, so that Suter knows that they have what he is looking for when his contact ends.
Flyers were in that thing they call the Stanley Cup finals 2 years ago, were they not?
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 1:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, they were in the finals and they should have won, but didn’t. They traded a bunch for this season, but they have no more points than we do. So where is the greatness, Hartnell?
It’s all perception and if Suter and Weber perceive the ice being smoother somewhere else, all the money we throw at them won’t make them stay. But hopefully, they like the Preds enough that they will stay and just maybe we will have the honor of whupping Hartnell’s butt in the finals some year soon!
"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles
by amyinsparta on Jan 15, 2012 2:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
amen!
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 15, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
It should be pointed out that what the Flyers did had the future in mind as much as it did the present, so that “greatness” you speak of is rooted in young guys like Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as well as the vets the Flyers have. Add the big money the Flyers can and will pay for a Suter or Weber and you could see why that would be a tempting destination for either of them.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 2:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
They have 2 more points than we do in fewer games
and pretty clearly better present talent and offensive prospects. I wouldn’t fault Suter for wanting to leave the Preds for a team like Philadelphia.
In a league where the standings and games are always tight, even if spending to the cap gets you only a slight increase in the opportunity to compete for the cup, it’s something a player of Suter’s level must consider.
by bandman on Jan 15, 2012 3:20 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Something else to consider is that the perception of some that we’re better offensively from last season really isn’t the case when you look at the numbers. Thru the first half of last season (41GP) we had 101 goals scored as compared to 108 this season. A slight uptick, but not much of one. (It’s 119 GS this season thru 44 GP vs. 110 last season). Considering that we were without what was to be our top center for almost all of that time last season (Lombardi), there really has been no improvement in that catagory.
Yes, the GA is up a bit from last season, but that was a given when we lost O’Brien, Ward and Goc, all good defensive players.
So the point is, despite our playing well of late, we’re at best right where we were last season. Suter knows that. Weber knows that. Their agents know that. If the idea is to make this the place where those two can win a Cup at, when do we plan to implement that idea?
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 4:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Our goals per game are up 10% from last year and that’s with a significantly younger and less experienced team. That’s a pretty basic indication of at least a slightly higher talent level offensively this year, if anything.
by Marcus Newman on Jan 15, 2012 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
10%?
More like 7% at the halfway mark, or better put, basically 1 goal per 6 GP thru the 1st half of the season. That’s okay, but nothing to sell to a prime UFA to get them to stick around.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 5:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hartnell
I am now of the opinion that if Suter has to go. Hartnell should be at least one of our targets. I think true power forward, one who can wear down the opposition D over the course of a game would be a huge boost to our ability to sustain pressure.
why would you trade Suter
for a player who is
A) older?
B) a UFA after next season?
C) only good on a line with Claude Giroux and Jaromir Jagr?
He’s more pest than power forward.
Not only that, but unless the Flyers can get Suter’s name on the dotted line after they trade for him, I doubt they move Hartnell anyway.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 5:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I would only trade Suter if it’s clear we can’t keep him and I think there is a good possibility the Flyers would go for it. …and Harts is a top 10 power forward in my mind, regardless of whether it’s, Jagr, Carcillo, or Craig Smith. Who do you think we should go after if Suter Doesn’t want to be here? There are others for sure but I’ll take an extra year and some proven size up front over an empty bag…
by Marcus Newman on Jan 15, 2012 5:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Speaking for myself, I’d prefer a JVR (the non-concussed version) over Hartnell just due to the ability to have him for a much longer period of time.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 6:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’d take that but I just don’t think JVR adds as much 1 for 1 as Harts. This concussion seems to be the “multiple headshot” variety and that gives me pause on JVR that I didn’t have a few days ago.
by Marcus Newman on Jan 15, 2012 7:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
In the short term JVR doesn’t=Hartnell, but in two years from now he’ll be here, Hartnell probably won’t. Gotta try and get short term and long term help back if you trade a guy like Suter.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 15, 2012 7:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The list of guys I'd take 1 for 1 over Hartnell is pretty long
Couterier being one. He’s 18, we’d control him for many years, and is scoring at a higher rate than Hartnell, despite being on the fourth line.
Just can’t see the Flyers moving him. That kid is a 40 goal scorer in the waiting.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 16, 2012 3:16 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
They may not, but Suter would draw a lot of offers as trade bait and he’s arguably worth more than a potential 40 goal scorer to a Cup contender.
by Marcus Newman on Jan 16, 2012 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
If we were only talking about one year, then it might make sense for the Flyers to do that. But if Suter wants to play in Philly after this season, the Flyers can have both him and Couturier for the long haul. That’s why they won’t move a kid like that.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 16, 2012 11:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I wouldn’t be opposed to that because if it comes down to it there will be a lot of options on the table and a guy like Couter. I would take Lucic over Hartnell for example but I don’t think the B’s would go for it. Couterier wouldn’t be a bad pickup but I personally think we are all set on youth in our lineup for now. Hartnell’s age, experience, playing style and consistency are things we need to make a run, IMO.
by Marcus Newman on Jan 16, 2012 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
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