*** UPDATE at 4:09 pm. Ryan Jones has been re-signed to a 2 year contract worth $975,000 per year. The official statement does not specify a two-way contract, so I am assuming it is a one-way deal as rumored by John Glennon a few weeks ago. ***
Back again friends. This time, answering the questions sent to my email inbox over the past 5 days. I'll answer this batch and then give you all the opportunity to get in one last question that hasn't already been covered. Ok, no delaying, on to your questions.
"Do you think Ellis will be backup all season or will he end up traded? Also, is Rinne the real deal?
Michael
Smyrna, TN"
Well Michael, you never say a goaltender in Nashville will be the backup all season. There's just no guarantees. Not only because of performance, but also there are injuries and other various things. Ellis will most likely start the season as the backup but I honestly look forward to seeing what he'll bring next month in training camp. I have a feeling Elly has been training hard all summer and will be very prepared to not only play to his potential but also challenge Peks at training camp. I do think Pekka Rinne is the real deal. His height and athleticism aren't likely to suddenly go away. The key will be handling being a #1 in the NHL day in and day out.
As far as the trade deadline, as long as Rinne plays up to potential, there are no injury issues, and the team has confidence in either Mark Dekanich or Chet Pickard to play backup, then there is a very real chance that Ellis is moved at the deadline. I hesitate to say it would happen for sure because the organization may feel having both Ellis and Rinne for the full season gives them a better shot at playoffs. Although many already have Dan pencilled in as a deadline deal, there may be events that keep him here in Nashville for the full season.
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"BF,
Ward was the highlight of the previous season.
Does Ward achieve another level of effectiveness?
Who has the best chance to be the "pleasant surprise" this year?
Is the coaching staff preparing to be more aggressive in game planning to improve the scoring chances.
Fangor (:= "
I think Ward can honestly hope to achieve a 20-20 season. 20 goals and 20 assists would help add some scoring depth if he's doing this from the 3rd line primarily. However, Joel Ward's game is not an offense first game. He is a very solid defensive player, strong on the puck, and picks his spots well for a counter-offensive.
The best chance for a "pleasant surprise"? It's tough to tell but here are some guys I will be keeping a close eye on in training camp to see if they have that potential: Peter Olvecky, Ben Eaves, Alexander Sulzer, Hugh Jessiman, Cal O'Reilly, Mike Santorelli, Nick Spaling, Colin Wilson, Jonathon Blum, and Teemu Laakso.
In regards to the coaching staff I can't tell you what will happen, but I can tell you what I'd personally like to see. First and foremost I'd like to see a much better power play. As in, one that finishes in the middle of the league as opposed to the bottom 5 they've been in the last two seasons. Or for instance, when they go out I actually think they may score as opposed to just watching a clinic on passing and turning circles.
Secondly, I too would like to see a more aggressive approach to the offense. Honestly, the thing I really want to see is these guys be allowed to be creative without repercussions. All too often it appears to be set plays when the Preds are on offense even during 5 on 5. While some of those plays work, I would love to see the creativity return to the ice. Personally, I feel that has been lacking the past couple of seasons, but with the return of Steve Sullivan for a whole season that should help things a bit.
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"Brandon,
Please explain how starting the 2009-2010 season with a lower NHL proven talent pool puts the Preds in a position to challenge for a playoff spot. GM Poile has attempted to put a huge "spin" on the fan base by claiming that the best free agent signings were re-signing Ward and Sullivan. This is the same GM who claimed on 104.5 that the Preds were a "Radulov and a full season Sullivan" away from being an elite Central Division team. So, if Poile knew prior to and during the 2008-2009 season that Radulov wasn't coming back and that Sullivan was at best questionable how does he explain the lack of movement at last years trade deadline and during the free-agent period, [except for letting some players that made up his "Radulov/Sullivan less" elite team go]?
Are the Preds always going to be one injury away from being competitive?
--
Regards,
Ed Krass
Day One STH"
This is a really in-depth question so I'm going to take it step by step (or sentence by sentence rather).
Quite simply, I agree with the insinuation of the first sentence. They aren't in a great position to challenge for a playoff spot at this moment. The one thing that I can say to take it from my opinion to the positive side of things is that defense and goaltending win games and the Preds should be solid there.
I don't see what else David Poile could say. Putting out the fact that this roster is less experienced than last season's team that missed the playoffs on front street isn't good business for a franchise. It's his job to be confident in what he's done and to sell that to the fan base, which equals sold tickets hopefully. Plenty of fans see through that of course (as you did) and raise real concerns.
I do think the re-signing of both Sullivan and Ward were solid moves, but they were the only big moves and didn't do a whole lot to take a next step forward in the offense department. Don't get me wrong, a full season of Sullivan and Joel Ward will help things, but as I said to Jeremy K. Gover on their 303:30 podcast, if you look at the amount of offense that left the team via free agency (a combo of Nichol, Fiddler, and Bonk) then all this does is essentially equal out to the production of last season if Sully puts up around 70 points and Wardo achieves that 20/20 season. That's why I say it wasn't a step forward. It was a step to get back to where they were. Hey, I could be wrong. They could light the lamp often next season, but as of now, on paper, I'm not convinced that they will score enough to get into the top 15 offenses in the league.
I have no explanation for no movement at the trade deadline last season. I was one of the very few in this market who came out and openly expressed my displeasure at the time. As I said on both the 560 pre-game show and on Hockeybuzz Radio at that time, my whole issue was not that we didn't add a great name, rather, it was all about depth and that the Preds were an injury away from being done. I ended up being right as both David Legwand and Martin Erat went down, and the offense couldn't recover because of depth. So I'm with you on that one Ed. There is STILL a cause for concern with offensive depth. Injuries happen to every team. To go into a season hoping everyone stays healthy and you'll get through it, that's foolhardy to me.
Very good questions Ed that every Pred fans should ponder (and answer in the comments portion of this blog.)
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"Hey Brandon,
2 questions:
1) What do you think the final 8 teams are going to be out of each conference at the end of the year next year? 1st round winners? 2nd round winners? Conference Winners? Cup Winner?
2) Do you think we can make it to the playoffs this year? If so, what needs to be accomplished/done to do so? If we do make the playoffs, do you think this is the year we can get a road win/series win?
1.) Not trying to dodge the question Kris, but it is still a bit early for this. I'll wait till the traditional prediction time just before regular season and then I'll answer all those.
2.) I do think the Preds can make it to the playoffs, but they still need to add another scoring forward for me to be convinced of that. The depth issue looms large for me and I can't call them a playoff team until that is resolved. If they do make it there, then the answer to your last question is very dependent on the opponent. As of right now, as the roster stands, I would say no but that's mostly because right now I don't see playoffs for this season with that many young players being depended on.
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"I've played with Ryan Jones along with many other NHL players and prospects and thats why I can't understand why Nashville can't come to terms... Last I talked to Jonesy he was telling me that they will not offer him a one way and it seems crazy to me as the Preds lack a net presences to begin with and this is a huge part of the new NHL as it's tough to move a man from the front of the net when you cant touch him... Why aren't they offering this kid a one way? He will be a great NHL player in comparson to the other guys I have played against and with over the years..
-Joel "
According to John Glennon's blog, Inside Predators, Jones should be signed to a one-way deal this week.
I too think they should put him on a one-way and give him the ice time to continue to develop and grow his game. I was a big proponent of putting Jones on the 2nd line last year to really let his style of game be used to its' full potential. This year is no different. If the Preds GM David Poile does not add another forward (and I'm thinking he won't) then I would like to see Ryan Jones get some time up on the 2nd line. I've discussed this before and really, at this point, my stating that his game doesn't work on the 3rd or 4th line is beating a dead horse. We'll see what happens come training camp next month, but I have high hopes they will put him in a spot to succeed.
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"Which Deadliest Catch captain do you think would be the best replacement for Barry Trotz?
The Predators roster competes on Wipeout. WHO YA GOT??
- Lethargic "
Never go against Sig Hanson on Deadliest Catch. I'd take him as the coach. Although, it would beg the question of who is more extreme. Sig or John Tortorella? Now that's a debate.
First of all, the idea of a professional sports team participating on Wipeout is awesome. So I applaud you for that. Unfortunately, insurance and injury risk would never let this dream come to fruition. However, I have to play along and after much thought I truly think I would go with Jordin Tootoo. That guy will just barrel through obstacles and keep on going. My runner up goes to Pekka Rinne for the pure athleticism he possesses.
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OK folks. You too can now answer these fine questions in the comments section of this blog. Also, I'm going to give everyone one last chance to get those emails in with your questions. Please limit the topics to somehow Nashville Predators or NHL related and make sure I didn't cover the answer in the above questions.
Join the Discussion:
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