Nashville Predators News & Notes
Ekholm Added to Team Sweden; Preds Sending Five to World Cup | Nashville Predators
I’m so excited that Ekholm made the team and I hope he kills it. I’d love nothing more than him to make people realize how good of a defenseman he actually is on one of the bigger stages in hockey.
Pekka Rinne encouraged by strong finish to season | The Tennessean
He’s too aggressive and puts himself out of position.
Around the World of Hockey
Laine, Haula added to Finland’s final World Cup roster | Puck Daddy – Yahoo Sports
From Yahoo Sports: The Finnish World Cup team announced their final roster decisions for the tournament Friday morning.
Matthews gets a chance to play alongside McDavid, Eichel (Video) | TSN
Team North America is going to be fun to watch. I think they’ll be a bit more disorganized than the more veteran teams but the skill level between those three listed above and so many of the others is just fantastic.
Matthews headlines additions to Team North America | ProHockeyTalk
Auston Matthews and Jonathan Drouin are both elite talents and played their way onto Team North America’s roster.
NHL reportedly reviewing Slava Voynov’s 2016 World Cup of Hockey eligibility | SBNation.com
Russia…you would.
End of Lightning season feels like end of Steven Stamkos era, too | Tampa Bay Times
It’s time for the two to part ways and the biggest factor leading to this (other than the cap situation) is none other than formerly disgruntled Jonathan Drouin, whose play in the playoffs was every bit of what Tampa expected to get when they drafted him.
(Editor’s Note: If the Lightning don’t bring back Stamkos and ditch a bad contract for a defenseman, they can afford to bring back just about everyone else. Killorn, Namestnikov, KUCHEROV, and Paquette are all due new deals this summer. If they believe in Namestnikov to carry on in his development, they can afford to lose Stamkos and lock up their younger talented players. They love the Anthony DeAngelo kid, and he could see NHL time starting next year.
-DB)
NHL: Joe Thornton and Brent Burns of the Sharks have been added to Canada’s national team | San Jose Mercury News
Joe Thornton has been a beast in the playoffs. I really hope he and Burns don’t shave between now and the World Cup of Hockey. Let the beards flow like wine!
NHL Goalies Who Will Be Affected By Expansion | TSS
Tampa and Pittsburgh are going to have a fun time deciding between proven veterans and fantastic young guns.
Here’s The Challenge That NFL, NHL, MLS And MSG In Las Vegas Would Present | Forbes
The market could go from being empty to packed very quickly and, as much as I love the NHL, they’d be climbing an uphill battle trying to draw against the NFL.
NHL ties run deep on Czech Republic’s 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster | SBNation.com
The Czech Republic is going for chemistry but that probably won’t be enough against teams like Sweden, Russia, and Canada.
NHL Mock Draft 2016: Predicted First-Round Picks Pre-Stanley Cup Final | NESN
Mock drafts are next to pointless but I love them anyway.