...worth considering for the Preds as the trade deadline approaches: Jeff Carter and Zach Parise. Every other name being discussed is NOT a "major" upgrade at forward, but just more of the same. Come on guys! Do we really need another 15-goal forward? Is it worth trading away some good talent to get another 15-goal forward? I say NO. PredNation wants, needs, and deserves a big, solid, defensively-responsible, 30+ scorer and... quite frankly... if that's not the goal, then why bother?

I am SO SICK of people saying "Well, players like Carter and Parise won't be an option for Nashville, but there are other players who could make a nice addition to their team." Ownership, in their wisdom, has said that money will not be an issue, so it's time for David Poile to find out how serious they really are. The Preds can sign Weber, Suter (at $7+M ea.) and Carter or Parise (at $6-7+M) and keep everybody else they want to keep if Ownership is really serious about winning The Cup. Sure, we might have to rely a bit more heavily on youth and depth; and we might have to waive goodbye to one or two good friends, but there is no reward without risk.

Once they've made the decision to go and get one of these guys, the question becomes "which one." Well, this is a bit like choosing between Marissa Miller and Giselle... you can't really lose. On the one hand, I don't see Columbus, no matter how deep in the basement they are, trading away one of their best players to a division foe; but I suppose stranger things have happened. New Jersey, on the other hand, is in serious financial trouble and simply can't afford to keep Kovalchuk, Elias, and Parise. Carter's contract is more affordable; Parise is more available. Carter will cost us more talent in exchange, but fewer actual dollars. New Jersey simply needs to get something for Parise as they won't be able to re-sign the UFA once their season ends, but he will be substantially more expensive to keep long term.

SO, let the discussion begin: Is The Cup as close as one key player? Is the reward worth the sacrifice? Is it enough to add more of what we already have? Or do we Go Big and get what we really, really want and need.

GO PREDS!