Nashville Predators News
OTF (Un)Official Survival Guide: Hockey and Health | On the Forecheck
The staff at OTF understands we are all living through a unique and often trying period. Social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, and the new stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic cause major disruptions to the normal routines of life.
2020 NHL Entry Draft April Ranking: Top 31 | On the Forecheck
I’m including this AGAIN because Eric puts in so much work for these, and he’s one of the very best I’ve seen at scouting prospects – in fact, his mock draft last year finished in the top 3 of all mock drafts on the internet.
FBI Memphis Honors Nashville Predators | FBI.gov
The FBI Memphis Field Office is pleased to announce the Nashville Predators as the recipient of the 2019 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). I didn’t think I’d ever link to the FBI website in any – let alone GOOD – circumstances, but this is a very pleasant surprise.
Nashville Predators give back to Sumner Teen Center | WZTV
While they’re off the ice, Nashville Predators are continuing their efforts to help the community during COVID-19, giving the Sumner Teen Center a grant check. It’s fantastic to see the organization continuing to help the community, even now.
NHL announces the ‘NHL Player Gaming Challenge’ in ‘NHL 20’ | CBSSports.com
Each NHL team will have a player representative in the video game challenge – Led by Nashville’s own True Gamer Boy, Filip Forsberg. Also it gives me the excuse to post this picture again:
Predators 2017 Stanley Cup playoff run to re-air on Fox Sports | Tennessean
Starting April 28, the Golden Classic series will feature the Predators’ 2017 Stanley Cup playoff run over a seven-week span.
This Day In Preds History: Nashville Collects First Overtime Playoff Win | NHL.com
Nine years ago tonight (well, actually two days ago now) in Anaheim – and into the early morning hours Nashville time – Jerred Smithson became the first playoff overtime hero in Predators history.
Analytics Corner
The Fourth Hockey (Analytics) Night in Canada – or #HANIC – Is Saturday Night
Meghan Chayka (co-founder of Stathletes) and Alison Lukan of the Athletic have been co-hosting virtual HANIC meetings via Zoom on Saturdays since the quarantine began, but fear not, as they have featured former NHL and women’s hockey players and coaches, sports media representatives, and of course, some of the smartest hockey analytics folks out there. It’s a very accessible mini-conference, and it’s aimed towards people with all levels of knowledge, including people who don’t even like analytics. The link above is a registration link – so sign up and jump on zoom for an hour or so of actual, real-life hockey talk!
#HANIC 4:
How to begin tracking hockey data @AlisonL
Register here for Sat 7PM EST: https://t.co/Pql2zNYrHX #womenintech @HockeyAnalytics #sportstech
— Meghan Chayka (@MeghanChayka) April 23, 2020
Hockey Is For Everyone
What the NWHL’s expansion into Toronto means | The Ice Garden
For just the second time in league history the NWHL is expanding into a new market. Three seasons after the Minnesota Whitecaps joined the league in 2018-19, the NWHL is going north of the border.
Expansion is very good. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get an NWHL franchise here in Nashville one day, but first, Toronto.
2020 NWHL Draft announced, set for two nights on Twitter | The Ice Garden
The two-night draft will take place on Twitter at 6 PM Central on April 28th and 29th. This will be pretty great, I can’t wait.
For Saint Anselm’s Amanda Conger, her biggest assist comes off the ice | The Ice Garden
Conger was named the winner of the 2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award after donating her kidney last summer.
This is a wonderful story from The Ice Garden’s Gabriella Fundaro – I really enjoyed this piece.
Around the League
Commissioner Bettman discusses season restart, Draft scenarios | NHL.com
The NHL hasn’t given up on the idea of completing this season, and Gary Bettman discusses the possibility in a somehow both vague AND detailed way. With last night marking the first night of the “Virtual” NFL Draft, I imagine that it could be an option for the NHL as well. Then again, the Jets would be at a disadvantage, seeing as Winnipeg doesn’t have internet (or an airport)
Blue Jackets sign G Elvis Merzlikins to two-year contract extension | NHL.com
Rookie netminder ranks among NHL leaders in GAA and shutouts this season.
Just so you know, GAA (goals-against average) is a very bad statistic, but you do you, NHL dot com.
Roy signs two-year contract with Golden Knights | NHL.com
Nicolas Roy signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $750,000.
On Campus: 10 players who could make NHL impact next season | NHL.com
With more than three dozen college players signing NHL contracts since the end of the college hockey season, here is a look at 10 who could have an impact in the NHL as soon as the 2020-21 season.
This is a pretty decent list, although it sure would be nice if David Farrance was eligible for inclusion, but hey – I can’t blame a guy for getting his education.
Tweet of the Week
I haven’t stopped thinking about this tweet from friend of site @Statsrespecter:
Barry trotz and David Poile https://t.co/ajV9i2ZaYp
— statsinfecter (@statsrespecter) April 19, 2020
Song of the Day
It’s stuck in my head, so now I have to get it stuck in yours too! Have a great weekend, y’all