Hockey News & Rants
2018-2019 Nashville Predators Player Reviews: Pekka Rinne | On the Forecheck
Pekka Rinne has a knack for silencing those who doubt his performance. While he may be on the back end of his career, he’s still one of the top goalies in the league.
With that being said, here’s hoping he doesn’t have to bail the team out night after night and can finally get the Stanley Cup.
Locked Down: Grading the Nashville Predators’ 2004 Offseason | On the Forecheck
Nick is reviewing the 2004 Predators’ offseason. The good, the bad, the ugly, he’s got it all if you’re feeling nostalgic this Wednesday morning.
Tolvanen Tallies Twice as Preds Prospects Finish Perfect in Showcase | NHL
“ Eeli Tolvanen simply stated he desired to show he still had that natural-scoring touch.”
Well…if that’s not a mood I’m not sure what is.
Inside Matt Duchene’s decision to sign with the Predators | ESPN
Four years in the making, and now it almost doesn’t seem real.
There’s a lot of good conversation with Matt Duchene here, and it’s definitely worth the read. He has some great insight to the league’s lack of marketing not just for the game but for their players as well…
“But we’re almost hockey players first, athletes second. If we could change that way of thinking, I think the game will grow.”
Fantasy Hockey 2019-20 Team Previews: Nashville Predators | Fake Teams
“Solid depth through and through”
Depth, you say? The Nashville Predators, you say? The Nashville Predators have depth, you say?
What a time to be alive.
2019 NHL Prospect tournament: Kirby Dach among 4 Blackhawks injured vs. Wild | Second City Hockey
If anyone every writes down the top commandments for being an NHL prospect, I think the first one should be don’t get injured in pre-season.
Seriously, it’s not even October, camp is barely open…what are you doing?
Details emerging on Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel’s apparent rocky, complicated relationship | PensBurgh
Despite my biased feelings against the Pittsburgh Penguins, this is a solid read. It’s not very often players open up about what they were going through during a season, especially when it comes to fighting with coaches and teammates. Honestly, the league needs more of this. Make your players relatable, make them human.
Phil Kessel didn’t stand a chance at staying in Pittsburgh. Now, whether or not his absence actually helps Malkin get his game back remains to be seen.
As NHL camps open, many prominent free agents remain | SportsNet
“Everybody’s waiting on somebody to make a move,” Toronto centre Auston Matthews said. “I’m surprised there’s lots of guys. It’s not just (Marner). You’ve got a lot of really good players that aren’t signed yet. I guess everybody’s just kind of playing the waiting game.”
But why? What exactly are teams waiting on? I find it hard to believe this many teams are in the same kind of cap crunch that Toronto is in, and need to wait to put guys on long-term IR to make room to sign their RFAs. So what gives?
Also if this isn’t a mood too…
“My mom picked up the phone and called me and said: ‘P.K., listen, you’re young still. You have lots of time. If you’re ready to go and play, go play,”’ Subban recalled. “And I went and played and won the Norris Trophy.”
NHL Free Agency: A look at which restricted free agents are still unsigned and why | CBS Sports
Looking at the names still unsigned, I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen more offer sheets.
Winnipeg might mess around too long and lose both Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor. Stranger things have happened.
Fiala has ‘fair offer’ from Wild, GM says: report | NHL
I’m still not sure how we feel about Kevin Fiala these days. I feel like half the people I talk to didn’t care to see him go, while others were devastated. I’ve always been on the fence about Fiala, because I always saw the potential in him, but he needs something to set that potential off.
Missing training camp in hopes of getting more money is not one of those things. If I’m Kevin’s people, I’m convincing him to go to camp; it will be better for his development in the long run and his career. He can make more money later.
2019-20 NHL alternate jerseys | NHL
That black Canucks jersey is a classic. I’d give anything for the Preds to get a third jersey that cool.
Maybe one day.
Maple Leafs’ Matthews front and centre in NHL’s new, young Fun Brigade | Toronto Sun
As he should be. It’s too bad the NHL will miss out on the opportunity to market him, to do…whatever it is they’re doing with their marketing currently.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta still exploring NHL options in Houston | RocketsWire
“As part of the lease agreement between Toyota Center and the Rockets, only an NHL team owned by the owner of the Rockets is allowed to play at the facility.”
What a strange lease clause. It’s almost like Fertitta has been planning this…
Meanwhile, please just relocate someone to Houston, I don’t think I can survive another expansion in less than a decade.
A way-too-early look at the NHL’s 2020 RFA panic | ESPN
It’s NEVER too early to panic.
Given how long it’s taking teams to sign RFAs this summer, it’s definitely not too early to speculate at least.
After Signing Major Deal With Bauer, ‘Nasher’ Hopes to Take NHL ESPORTS Into the Mainstream | Hockey News
Video games are such a market and their own community it’s surprising that sports haven’t gotten into this sooner. It’s definitely a bridge between the game and the community of people who maybe can’t afford to play the real game so they turn to the virtual one.
As for Nasher, what a dream gig. If you were looking for motivation to quit your day job, this might be it. I’m not saying quit your day job, but I am saying if you have to quit your day job to pursue your real dreams…you gotta do what you gotta do.
Full disclosure: I’m not good at the advice…can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?