The Recap
The last time we scrolled the Nashville social media depths we were Western Conference Champions tied 2-2 with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the middle of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Final.
After defying all odds, that you can relive here and here, it felt like Nashville’s year.
Then, Game 5 happened. A game none of us need to recap or revisit…ever.
Then, Game 6.
The pivotal moment where Nashville had the opportunity to turn everything around. Force a Game 7. That’s all they had to do.
And well…you know how this one ends.
The Hangover
In the blink of an eye the party was over. The streets were deserted. The party still happening inside Bridgestone was the one no one wanted or cared to see.
The Nashville Predators didn’t become Stanley Cup Champions. For a few days after it happened, you don’t want to talk about it. You start avoiding anyone who might want to talk about hockey in fear that they’re going to say something to anger you or just make you sad.
You’re not ready to acknowledge the ugly truth that sometimes the good guys just don’t win.
But heaven help any Penguin’s fan that you might get stuck in an elevator with.
Eventually life moves on right? The dust settles and everyone goes about their everyday routine. Nashville goes back to being Music City.
Only it doesn’t.
Now Nashville gets to be Music City…
…and Hockey City.
The Preds haven’t reached their final goal. Nashville still doesn’t have a cup, but we’ve come a long way and accomplished a lot:
- Exposing how sensitive Pittsburgh is to Catfish.
- Chicago fans will now boo us louder than we’ve ever booed them.
- St. Louis is still sad blue.
- The Ducks no longer have a Game 7 problem, they have a Nashville problem. /
It wasn’t what we wanted, but Nashville deserves to be proud. For a team that didn’t stand a chance to be approaching a milestone 20th season in the NHL as Western Conference Champions, that’s not just a statement, it’s a damn testament to the hockey movement that’s engulfed the city.
Summertime
…and the livin’s easy…
The dust has settled on the Predators’ season, but also pretty much on the NHL for the summer. The expansion draft is over and instead of wishing James Neal has a great summer we’ll be signing his yearbook I’ll miss you.
Thank you, @jneal_18. pic.twitter.com/nYe52VoNXc
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 22, 2017
Insert heartbreak.gif here
The Preds have also decided to cut ties with Colin Wilson, formerly known as Playoff Colin Wilson, who was traded to Colorado on July 1st.
3️⃣3️⃣➡️2️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/L5i5TCeHvx
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 6, 2017
We’ll be seeing you Willy!
And while we’ll miss the familiar faces we’ll be getting some new guys in return.
So excited to join a great organization in Nashville! Cant wait to get started with the @PredsNHL!
— Nick Bonino (@NickBonino) July 1, 2017
You might have heard of Nick Bonino. He just won a Stanley Cup at Bridgestone Arena, something he enjoyed so much he decided to become a Nashville Predator.
Too soon?
Bonino has already been to Nashville and seems excited for the opportunity to play here so we’ll welcome him with open arms and hope he forgives P.K. for the whole broken leg thing.
Nick Bonino: “The noise @BrdgstoneArena for Game 4 was almost enough to make my leg ‘not broken.'” #Preds
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) July 6, 2017
See…he loves us already.
Meanwhile…
While a lot of the boys have slowly fallen off the face of the earth into summertime obscurity, we all know there’s one guy we can always count on to brighten our day.
You already knew.
Subban is having the time of his life. Then again when is he not?
Wimbledon and supermodels. What a life.
Elsewhere…
That’s some flo RoJo.
RyJo is taking his precious pup on a roadtrip. He looks about as thrilled as I do sitting in Nashville traffic after five minutes.
Arvy is reppin’ the Ville all the way in Spain. Possibly in a hotub on a roof in Spain, but that’s besides the point! Rep yo city!
Speaking of hats, P.K. might want to check his hat closet because I think Fil’s been raiding it.
Baby Aberg stealing the show! Now that Baby Bonino is in the mix Nashville’s baby cuteness/60 just exploded.
1985…Maybe?
If you would have asked me which Pred I would have expected to see in a custom vintage throwback jogging suit and Dog the Bounty Hunter hair extensions this summer, my answer would not have been Mattias Ekholm.
Yet somehow I’m still not surprised.
My only question is, did the suit make swishy noises when he skated?
Flashback Saturday
‘Nuff said.
Is it October yet?