It’s the last day of the dog days and there has just been the slightest hint of fall in the air early in these late August mornings, just enough of a hint to get the juices flowing for hockey. It has been a tumultuous off-season for the Nashville Predators front office, after winning their first playoff series and taking the Vancouver Canucks to the wall in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Pred Nation had high expectations for what would transpire in June, July and August, looking to see how Predator’s GM David Poile would take this team to the next level.

To look at a lot of comments on a lot of boards… those expectations were not realized. From the buyout of JP Dumont, to not re-signing Steve Sullivan, from the RFA fiasco to the arbitration with Shea Weber, from the Lombardi/Franson trade to the loss of Joel Ward, Shane O’Brien and Marcel Goc to free agency… it’s hard to call this off-season a rip-roarin’ success. But is that fair? Let’s take a look at that.

One of the storylines going into last season was that the leadership mantle was passed over to the “kids” with the selection of Shea Weber as captain… this off-season completes that transition. David Poile has gone all-in with the kids. It is a move that needs to be made, however… it does have its’ share of risks. This team has some wind at its’ back right now in the Nashville market, positive press and a good feeling left from a playoff run that electrified this city is being leveraged well… and that shows from ticket sales that continue to increase in advance of the upcoming season. The team will need to get off to a decent start to keep that momentum building.

Another risk is the looming specter of a triple witching hour, Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne are unrestricted free agents at the end of this season, Shea Weber is an RFA. Speculation will build rapidly about what the Predators will do with these three players should they not be signed by the time 2012 dawns. The distractions at trade deadline time could be deadly. I’m not one to push the panic button, I believe that these three players will get re-signed and will be in Nashville for quite awhile, much to the consternation of members of the traditional hockey media, but… stranger things have happened.

Barry Trotz has worked wonders, keeping this team steady through exceedingly rough waters, he is the ace in the hole for this team. Trotz has indeed worked wonders with this team and I expect to see the same thing this year.

August is finally over my friends… we are now only 11 days away from the rookies reporting… hockey is just around the corner.

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Random Notes

- Big congratulations to Troy Hansen, Jeremy Bennefield and the entire gang at 102.5 The Game for a VERY successful debut of the newest sports talk radio station in town. Frankly… the stunt programming they did all throughout last weekend was fresh, funny and conveyed a different attitude. The battle for sports ratings is now joined.

- As the new flagship for the Predators, 102.5 The Game is already providing more coverage and more information to the hockey fan.

- Don’t forget about the Nashville Predators Foundation Dinner and Golf Tournament on September 8th and 9th. The golf tournament is sold out, however there are less than 100 tickets remaining to Petey’s Preds Party at Bridgestone Arena… call (615) 770-2321 for tickets.

- The Toronto Star is reporting that former Pred Matthew Lombardi has been declared free of concussion symptoms. In an incredibly misleading headline, the paper declares him “almost up to speed.” Lombardi can do 20 minutes on a bike without symptoms, that’s a good thing, but hardly ready to play hockey. I certainly hope that he can resume his hockey career as soon as safely possible.

- Interesting trade between Calgary and Phoenix… that looks like one where both sides will be happy with the results. Phoenix gets a needed center in Daymond Lankow, Calgary gets much needed cap relief.

- The Philadelphia Flyers signed up and coming winger James van Riemsdyk to a six year contract extension for a cap hit of 4.25 million a year. This is a clear “potential” contract as the youngster hasn’t exceeded 35 points in a season in his brief NHL career

- The LA Kings are back in black… and silver, returning to their late 80’s color scheme. No word yet on whether A-Ha or Wang Chung will be playing between periods of their games

- Speaking of the Kings… they are still locked in negotiations with RFA blueliner Drew Doughty. Seems like term is the issue in these talks…

- At last Saturday’s Tailgate Party on the plaza at Bridgestone Arena I spoke to quite a few Atlanta fans that made the short drive up I-75/I-24 to Smashville to pick out their seats. Dressed in Thrasher gear, they all had done a little shopping in the Preds pro shop to get their new team’s duds. They were very excited to come back for their first game as a member of Pred Nation… all were coming to the first preseason game at the Bridge… against Winnipeg.

- 15 days till training camp opens.

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