Revisiting those pre-season predictions for the Nashville Predators

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 16, 2012 9:30 AM EST in Fantasy Hockey

The NHL regular season is a long 82-game grind, and it's easy to see the latest day-to-day results as being indicative of a player's total contribution. Right now, the team is riding Sergei Kostitsyn's hot goal-scoring touch, which has helped Mike Fisher pile up a healthy number of assists of late. It's helpful on occasion to set those performances in proportion to the overall campaign, however.

Just before Opening Night, I took a stab at how the major offensive contributors on the Preds would fare this season.

So how are those predictions turning out so far? Let's take a look...

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The table below shows the predictions I made back in October on the left, with the season-long totals each Predator is currently on pace for.

	Prediction						On Pace For
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	Shots	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	Shots	Comment
Patric Hornqvist	80	28	27	55	50	280	80	22	13	35	45	216	Very disappointing so far, shots are down ~30% from pace of last two seasons.
Martin Erat	70	18	37	55	40	125	67	19	35	54	22	101	Same old Marty. Inspiring sometimes, invisible at others.
Sergei Kostitsyn	82	18	35	53	30	120	71	19	22	41	37	76	Does his recent hot streak give hope for the 2nd half?
Colin Wilson	82	24	26	50	30	160	76	15	28	43	28	127	A strong push to the playoffs could earn him millions.
Shea Weber	82	14	31	45	70	240	75	17	43	60	48	233	Could set a new franchise scoring record for defensemen (55 by Timonen in 2006-7).
David Legwand	75	18	27	45	30	160	75	22	28	50	22	142	Enjoying his best season since Paul Kariya rode alongside.
Ryan Suter	82	5	37	42	60	130	82	9	37	47	48	162	He picked a good time to challenge his career-best numbers.
Mike Fisher	75	17	23	40	70	170	67	15	28	43	28	142	So far, so good.
Jonathon Blum	82	9	24	33	50	110	62	6	7	13	11	47	When will he get back to the NHL, and will it still be with Nashville?
Cal O`Reilly	65	9	24	33	10	70	48	4	7	11	7	24	Waived by both the Preds and Coyotes already.
Niclas Bergfors	82	17	14	31	8	160	11	1	1	2	2	11	This year's Kostitsyn? More like this year's Svatos. Woof.

Overall? The O'Reilly and Bergfors flameouts were a letdown, but most of the rest are in the ballpark. Obviously Jordin Tootoo has been a revelation, as I didn't even both including him as a fantasy hockey prospect.

What are your thoughts on the performance of some of the individual Preds to this point? Who has impressed, and who has been a disappointment?

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Comments

hustlechuk

impressive! i know he’s not playing against top lines, but 9 goals at the half way point is a pleasant suprise.

by predwheels on Jan 16, 2012 10:45 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

and I’d throw in Spaling just because when he scores…it’s over for the other team..

by HardCorePredFan316 on Jan 16, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

make that 10 goals

by predwheels on Jan 16, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

I'm still a bit surprised they dumped Bergfors so quickly

After only 11 games? I guess it is 1/8th of the season, but still.

by Old Kentucky Shark on Jan 16, 2012 11:46 AM EST reply actions

same ole Preds

who scores today may not score for another month. I expected (dont know why) Horny and SK74 to be better.

by jeffery101y on Jan 16, 2012 12:45 PM EST reply actions

i stand corrected

SK74 scored two games in a row

by jeffery101y on Jan 16, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

Nobody has been a disappointment.

Except for Suter turning into Benedict Arnold.

One guy goes cold, another steps up in his place. Death by a thousand bee stings, like I said.

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 Jan 16, 2012 3:53 PM EST reply actions

However, Dirk, you did put the question out there about Tootoo

Tootoo 2.0
Jordin Tootoo looked like a changed man, and hockey player, after returning from his time away from the team last season to battle personal issues. Is he now ready to deliver a full, productive season as more than just an agitator?

I emphatically say YES! He’s already had a career year (6G, 15A) and still there are many games to play. Even though he didn’t score today against the Isles, he did register a (tied for) team leading 4 SOG. He is 4th on the team in SOG this year, 4 more will give him 100. He’s only broken 100 SOG twice in previous years and there’s still plenty of season left for him to set a new record in that category as well. Toots is still hitting hard as well, he is in a close 2nd (78) for most hits among forwards behind Smithson (83).

Not quite surprised considering how he came back after treatment last year, but impressed? very.

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Jan 16, 2012 5:42 PM EST reply actions

BTW

I realized in looking through the comments on your Predictions that I called Tootoo for 13g, 20a, 33p. He’s not quite on pace for the goals I called him for, but his assists are on a much better pace.

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Jan 16, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

There’s no question, Tootoo has taken his game up a level this season, something which typically doesn’t happen with guys his age. He’s yet another guy in need of a new contract which will give Poile fits.

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by Dirk Hoag on Jan 16, 2012 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

Right, but Tootoo isn’t a typical guy. And getting his head straight contributed immensely to this breakout season. I said during the playoffs and the off season, Tootoo was going to have a career year. Looks like I’m right and we’re barely past the half-way point!

"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand

by DonBorvio on Jan 17, 2012 5:50 AM EST up reply actions