Monday's notes: Predators get back to the grind

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 30, 2012 8:13 AM EST in Nashville Predators News

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 29: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators and Team Alfredsson poses prior to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Place on January 29, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

After a weekend of fun & games in Ottawa for the All-Stars, and a few days of rest & relaxation for everyone else, the Nashville Predators get back to work in anticipation of a busy week ahead, and a mad dash towards the playoffs over the next 9 weeks.

But before getting caught up in all that, check out this morning's news & notes...

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Nashville Predators News

Weber's willingness to accept stardom in Nashville has improved game - NHL.com
The key to Shea Weber's emergence as a dominant NHL player? Apparently it's motivational coach Stuart Smalley.

NHL.com: Suter counters perception he will test free agency - Nashville Predators
The team wants to dampen any speculation that Ryan Suter might leave the team sometime in the coming months.

Preds On The Glass: Here's My Pick for Today's Game
Buddy struck it rich!

Inside Smashville " Rinne key to Predators success heading down stretch
The best thing to happen over the weekend? Pekka got some rest.

Hockey Night in Nashville: Which Central Division team has the advantage going forward?
All four of the contenders have strengths, and all four have issues.

Mueller does well in skills competition - JSOnline
Chris Mueller did Milwaukee proud in Shooting Accuracy and the puck control relay.

David Climer: Nashville Predators must make deal or deal with consequences - The Tennessean
The Tennessean columnist provides the general sports fan in Nashville with an update on where the Preds stand heading towards the Trade Deadline.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Sidney Crosby's neck injury is biggest news at NHL All-Star game - Michael Farber - SI.com
The juicy stuff here is that there may be some discontent with Pittsburgh's medical staff on how Crosby has been treated over the last year-plus.

The Quiet Room: Sidney Crosby’s Neck "Abnormality" - Backhand Shelf
Get the lowdown on what the C1 and C2 vertebrae are, and what this all means for Crosby.

Flyers’ Scott Hartnell falls down for charity, hangs with Sedins and chirps Phaneuf at All-Star Game | Puck Daddy
Harts has really made a name for himself as the clown prince of the NHL.

Trade Rumblings: Ruutu, Carter on move? - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
One player who's not on the trade market? A San Jose Shark who Barry Trotz noted as the one guy around the league who most plays "Predator hockey".

The Cult of Stu | mc79hockey.com
Look past the focus on Edmonton here to the broader issue of what kind of Canadian junior players develop into scorers at the NHL level.

Yet another new feature at Behindthenet.ca - Arctic Ice Hockey
Super sexy stuff here!

P.K. Subban: Will Habs Patience be Rewarded? | All Habs
Talk ran wild last week that Montreal might need to ship P.K. Subban out of town. That would be absolutely nuts.

Should the Ottawa Senators Look at Acquiring Jeff Carter? - Silver Seven
Well, that would get him out of the Central.

Drance Numbers: Does Mike Gillis think Travis Moen can suppress shooting percentage?
Is there a unique method to the Vancouver GM's selection of trade targets?

Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Great Hockey Nicknames: The Embalmer
Yikes!

Will Devils escape from New Jersey? - The Globe and Mail
Ray Chambers is having a hard time getting himself out of the financial mess in which the Devils find themselves.

Brophy on Leafs: What they're up against - sportsnet.ca
Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have enough of a second half push in them to return to the playoffs?

Advice Needed: In-Town Visitors' Fan! - Stanley Cup of Chowder
One of our own tests the waters in Boston.

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Comments

Man, I miss Hartnell. He would be perfect on this team.

by Marcus Newman on Jan 30, 2012 9:21 AM EST reply actions

Ditto.

Maybe I should have included him in my fan-post, haha.

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 30, 2012 11:13 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Suter's saying all the right things...

I’m going to assume that he’s being totally honest and make the best of what he says. Just gotta wait for GMDP now.

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 30, 2012 11:14 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Oops, Android post-fail. Sorry.

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 30, 2012 11:15 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

i hope so, and he does sound sincere in wanting to stay

Also i dunno how the devils plan on keeping ZP with their financials a mess. Trade him to us, lou!

by JBoogie22 on Jan 30, 2012 1:14 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

ZP for Suter…straight up. Done. They both can but their money where their mouths are and re-sign with their current clubs if they want on July 1.

by Griz-ATL on Jan 30, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

nah… It sounds like he won’t be signing with NJ. Keep Suter and resign him. trade something to get Parise’s negotiating rights and sign him too.

by Predator119 on Jan 30, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

definitely easier said than done, but that would be amazing. Maybe they want to play together

by Predator119 on Jan 30, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

They would! Suter and Parise are buds, as has been discussed here a bunch of times. It would really be the ultimate triumph for Poile if he can get Parise for picks/prospects and then sign him, Suter, Weber to medium-long term contracts.

Parise fills many needs:
-Bona fide Top 3 forward – check!
-The move that Suter and Weber are looking for – double check!
-A position the Preds are weak in (left wing) – check!

"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 30, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Making Gbear happy - check! :)

But as reality would have it, the league, as they’ve done with the Coyotes for two years now, will help keep the Devils afloat until they can stabilize their financial situation. Still, Parise probably signs elsewhere next season for mega bucks.

Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!

by Grizzledbear on Jan 30, 2012 11:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions