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Wednesday’s Dump & Chase: Sweater Weather

Hockey News & Rants

2018-2019 Nashville Predators Player Reviews: Miikka Salomäki | On the Forecheck
When I first started here at OTF, Miikka Salomäki showed a lot of potential. It helped that he became notorious for obliterating guys Nashville didn’t like during the 2016 playoffs. However since then he’s slipped into the role of “what happened to that one guy” after losing time to injuries.

The plucky optimist in me says there is still a place and a role for Salty in Nashville, but he has to stay healthy.

2018-2019 Nashville Predators Player Reviews: Juuse Saros | On the Forecheck
We live in a world where Juuse Saros is the backup goalie for Pekka Rinne. I can’t wait for the day when I can say things like “remember when we had Juuse and Pekks?”

I think Rachel summed up this season for Saros well. He played well, the Bridgestone crowd loves him, and I think fans are finally comfortable with the inevitable “life after Pekka Rinne”.

Previewing the 2019-20 Nashville Predators | NBC Sports
For once I have to agree with NBC; they took a well rounded look at the current Nashville Predators and pointed out all the things we need to be watching for, because they needed to change.

I’ll speak for all of us when I say we CAN NOT spend another season with a power play that’s the equivalent of melting garbage on the side of the interstate on a hot summer day. We just can’t.

Nashville Predators Defense Preview: “The Big Three” | AtoZ Sports
Maybe it’s just me but I’m ready to watch Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis go to work without the looming shadows of Shea Weber or P.K. Subban. That’s not to say I didn’t love and don’t miss Weber and Subban, but it’s hard to say they didn’t overshadow the rest of the defense at times. Now the other guys get to do their thing and don’t have to worry about being asked about the trade of all trades every other day.

Please make me proud so this take doesn’t come back to haunt me.

Get a peek inside Seattle’s soon-to-be NHL arena | K5 News
“One of the most challenging parts so far has been putting supports in place to handle the weight of the 44-million pound roof, which is staying in place.”

You know, one would hope a 44-million pound roof would stay in place.

NHL Rumors: Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and Justin Faulk | NHL Rumors
Please don’t trade Justin Faulk to Anaheim. He seems like a good dude and I don’t want to loathe him because of a blood feud he got traded into.

Lost leverage by NHL players’ union means it will have to trust Gary Bettman | Los Angeles Times
I’m glad there isn’t going to be a lockout for at least a few more years, but it seems like the players are just conceding because they know that a lockout hurts them more than the league.

Does this league even care about their players? What do they need more revenue for, more abysmal marketing campaigns that are poorly thought out or require Google photo search to understand?

NHL encouraged by talks with NHLPA, Commissioner Bettman says | NHL
“We have the same interests that the players do and that’s to make sure that the game is good for all stakeholders, especially including our fans,” the Commissioner said.

The players want to go to the Olympics.

The players want escrow changed.

You do not have the same interests as your players.

Inside Connor McDavid’s NHL political awakening | ESPN
There are two types of young NHL players:

Auston “I’m not the guy you should to talk to about this” Matthews

and Connor “I definitely have an interest in labor talks.” McDavid.

From the perspective of someone who is getting old, McDavid definitely has a good perspective on labor talks. Maybe Matthews does too, and maybe he just didn’t have anything constructive or positive to say. If that’s not the case, someone should probably make sure he doesn’t go MC Hammer broke before he turns 25.

Someone should also probably tell him who MC Hammer is…again, I’m getting old.

How 705 NHL games prepared Tom Laidlaw for ‘Survivor’ | ESPN
This is great…but hear me out…a Survivor spin-off where all the contestants are retired athletes from all sports leagues, and we finally put to rest the “who is the toughest athlete” debate once and for all.

Someone fund my ideas.