Nashville Predators News & Notes
Predators Recall Colin Blackwell from Milwaukee | NHL.com
[deadpan] I’m sure that fixed it.
Nashville Predators 1, Dallas Stars 4: It Wasn’t Good | On the Forecheck
It’s hard for me to believe that just this summer my “fire Laviolette” take was controversial.
Other News & Notes
Weekly Question: What Would You Sacrifice For A Top Pick? | Silver Seven
Our counterparts over at Silver Seven debate whether it’s better to have two top-ten picks or one top-two pick. That one’s tricky–it’s better to have one gamebreaking star than two good players in hockey, unlike soccer, but with draft picks you never know for sure what you’re getting.
Even a first-overall pick can disappoint, be a poor fit for a team, or get misdeveloped (‘sup, Nail Yakupov). Meanwhile, sometimes the best players of a draft get overlooked; take Nikita Kucherov, who went in the second round in the draft that saw Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (‘sup, Edmonton) and Gabriel Landeskog go first and second overall. (Landeskog is really good, but still.)
Oilers’ goaltending regression central to recent struggles | Sportsnet.ca
Speaking of Edmonton, absolutely shocked that [squints at scribbly note on hand] Mikko Koskinen isn’t actually the second coming of Dominik Hasek.
Anthony Duclair’s hat trick leads Senators over Tortorella, Blue Jackets | ProHockeyTalk
I had somehow forgotten Tortorella’s…extremely Tortorella…rant about Duclair’s competence last spring. Good for him showing his former coach that when he’s put in a position to succeed he can do that.
Kings’ Ilya Kovalchuk still believes he can be an offensive contributor | Sportsnet.ca
I still believe that if I enter raffles I’m going to actually win something (though at least I don’t buy lottery tickets), so, you know.
Blackhawks blow three goal third period lead, lose to Blues | ProHockeyTalk
Man, it’s good to see the Preds aren’t the only ones who’ve been managing things like this. On the other hand, this isn’t great company, these days.
Peter DeBoer will consider coaching in NHL again this year | Sportsnet.ca
Unlike certain other coaches, DeBoer was simply fired for being bad at his job. This makes him a hot commodity for other teams who are looking for new people to do that exact same job. You know, the one he was just fired for being bad at.
I don’t understand how NHL coach hiring works.
Referee Tim Peel likely done for season after broken leg | Russian Machine Never Breaks
Oh yikes. Hopefully he makes a complete recovery and enjoys getting to sit back and watch games from a comfy piece of furniture.
Coyotes believed to be frontrunners to land Devils star Taylor Hall | Sportsnet.ca
I cannot fathom why the Devils won’t let potential trade partners talk about an extension. They can’t possibly be hoping to get Hall back this summer, can they? (Also GO NOT COLORADO GO, although my counterpart at Mile High Hockey says he’s heard that the Avs are still in on Hall.)
U.S. women’s hockey beats Canada 4-1 in first game of the Rivalry Series in Hartford | Hartford Courant
Team USA had a disappointing earlier meeting with Team Canada earlier this fall, but started the Rivalry Series off with a fresh, younger roster and a good deal of success. The next game will be Tuesday.