Hockey News & Rants
Greg Johnson, former Nashville Predators captain, dies at 48 | USA Today
Such sad news. Greg was one of the founding members of the Nashville Predators and did a lot for the community. I’ve read nothing but great stories about how many lives he touched, even for a moment, during his time here.
Greg Johnson captained the #Preds from 2002-06, including in their first playoff appearance. He was selected by the team in their expansion draft in 1998. pic.twitter.com/A1IUt2FE4e
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 9, 2019
Predators’ Matt Duchene eager to put down roots in Nashville | The Tennessean
It was a bittersweet day for the Nashville. The news of Greg Johnson’s passing broke at the same time the franchise’s new face, Matt Duchene, was arriving to tour the city. That’s too many conflicting sports emotions for a Tuesday.
Part of me will always wonder if Duchene knew what he was getting himself into when he donned that cowboy hat during the All-Star Game in 2016. Did he know this is how that would end three years later?
Everything the light touches…#Preds | @Matt9Duchene pic.twitter.com/rxAzvRVthw
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 9, 2019
Duchene excited to finally make Nashville his home | NHL
“We talked for years of, ‘If we end up in Nashville,’ or that kind of thing over and over.”
Oh, he totally knew what his endgame was when he put that cowboy hat on in 2016!
Respect.
Blackhawks trade Henri Jokiharju to Sabres for Alexander Nylander | Second City Hockey
What is Stan Bowman doing? What’s the point of having a first round pick if you’re just going to trade them all away year after year?
This is an…uh…interesting move. I always say never count Chicago out, but sometimes I think someone should check on them.
Blackhawks are shaping up as NHL’s biggest wild card | NBC Sports
Never count Chicago out.
They still have some of the top talent in the league, but Corey Crawford’s health is questionable at best, and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are not getting any younger. Bringing back Brandon Saad hasn’t quite ignited the spark they’re still chasing. I don’t think Andrew Shaw is going to do much more than add some kindling, but maybe that’s a start.
NHL Rumors: Top Trade and Free-Agent Buzz on Mitchell Marner, Nikita Gusev, More | Bleacher Report
Mitch Marner has yet to receive an offer sheet, but apparently the Canadiens are considering it.
How many offer sheets will the Canadiens hand out this summer or has #OffresHostiles just became the new #DucheneWatch?
NHL Free Agency: 5 UFAs who could provide value | NBC Sports
There’s a few names on this list we’ve bounced around here at OTF that we wouldn’t mind seeing on the Preds’ roster next season.
That being said Nashville will 100% add Pat Maroon to their revolving door of bottom six grit.
2019 NHL Offseason: 7 Teams Trending Down | Hockey Writers
There’s a good mix of Nashville’s sworn enemies and flat out train wrecks on this list.
Then there’s Minnesota, who manages to be both.
PHT Power Rankings: Looking at every NHL team’s offseason | NBC Sports
Probably Better is still a step in the right direction for Nashville, and it’s better than being a good team who has gotten worse, which seems to be going around the league right now.
The cap era is brutal.