The Nashville Predators Development Camp holds its first public on-ice session today at Centennial Sportsplex from 10 a.m. – noon, so Predators fans have a chance to beat the heat and enjoy some live hockey this week. We’ve got everything you need to follow the action, starting with your camp roster with schedule and jersey numbers, and Seth’s comprehensive guide to the players in attendance, starting with the goaltenders & defense, then the forwards. Be sure to print those out and take them with you!
For now, follow after the jump for your morning notes, which includes two columnists portending doom over the upcoming CBA negotiations, outrage over Hockey Hall of Fame exclusions, and a Cellblock 303 road trip that tops ’em all…
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Nashville Predators News
Announcing the 2011 Opening Weekend 303 Road Trip | Section 303
The 303 gang is kicking it up a notch, organizing a bus trip to see both the season opener at Columbus, then a game the next night in St. Louis.
A well educated Jeff Foss makes the transition to professional hockey – Nashville Predators Examiner
If professional hockey doesn’t work out, I think Jeff Foss will be just fine.
Watson did not find post-draft success of other Predators top picks | Nashville City Paper
It was a rough season in Peterborough for Austin Watson, who has one more year of junior hockey left.
Nashville Predators imitate goalie success with Magnus Hellberg – The Tennessean
Long Tall Magnus follows in the footsteps of Peks and Anders the Giant.
Prospects learn to play the Nashville Predators way – The Tennessean
Josh Cooper checks in from Day One of Development Camp.
Around the NHL
Larry Brooks Explains What’s Going to Happen in the Next CBA – Jewels From The Crown
Quisp performs a proper evisceration on Larry Brooks’ melodramatic ravings on the CBA.
Rising NHL cap forcing small clubs to splurge – The Globe and Mail
Dave Shoalts flips through his 6-month old issue of Forbes to beat the drums about small market distress.
Penguins Offer Contract To Jaromir Jagr, Expect to hear answer tomorrow – PensBurgh
What is this, “Mullet Come Home Week”? First Ryan Smyth goes back to Edmonton, and now Jagr may return to Pittsburgh?
Hejda Gaining Leverage (Puck-Rakers Blog)
Landing Jeff Carter won’t help if the Blue Jackets defense takes a step backward, and losing Jan Hejda would hurt.
The Malik Report : Red Wings trying to retain their own free agents-to-be as UFA day approaches, market thins
Detroit could be a major player in free agency, but they need to lock down a few of their own guys first.
Timonen surprised by most of the trades, not ready to retire – Broad Street Hockey
Former Preds captain Kimmo Timonen will navigate through the turmoil in Philly.
Canes Now – Cole set to test free agency | newsobserver.com blogs
Erik Cole will hit the market, is he a goal-scorer who could help the Preds.
Kaberle, Ehrhoff or Wisniewski, a Bruins’ Perspective | The Hockey Writers
Boston traded for Tomas Kaberle, but he’s headed for free agency, and they can use that money on a variety of replacements.
Now It’s On: Islanders’ Christian Ehrhoff Gamble is Reach for Next Step – Lighthouse Hockey
The Islanders traded for the Vancouver defenseman who is about to become a free agent. If they can sign him to a new deal, that’s a nice influx of talent there.
Shame on the Hockey Hall of Fame: Pat Burns Passed Over Again – In Lou We Trust
I suspect for a while they’ll freeze him out just so they don’t look like bozos for not admitting him last year while he was still alive.
Is Pavel Bure a Hall of Famer? | The Hockey Writers
There are notable exclusions every year, and this time around one of them is the prolific Russian scorer.
Non-Sports Expert Journalist wades into Sports Analysis, with predictable results – Arctic Ice Hockey
More regrettable nonsense from a writer who doesn’t understand analytics, and has nothing to offer in its place but mythologizing results.
Is modern hockey equipment dangerous? | Hockey Gear HQ – news, reviews & deals
Has hockey equipment like shoulder and elbow pads become more like weapons than protective gear? And if so, can anything be done about it?
And lastly… Bloge Salming is back with another instant classic: “Ranger State of Mind”