UPDATE (10:30am) - St. Louis unveiled their preseason schedule this morning... so now, the known Preds preseason schedule is...

Sept 25 - vs. St. Louis
Sept 28 - @ Carolina
Sept 29 - vs. Carolina
Oct. 2nd - @ St. Louis
Oct. 5 - @ Washington

I expect at least two more games to be announced... rumors of the regular season schedule being announced this week also abound.

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Some changes to talk about since last I’ve blogged, let’s start off with the trade of Anders Lindback and Kyle Wilson to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was typical a David Poile “use an underused asset to get draft picks” move that was unsurprising in that it happened, the haul that it brought was very surprising. Two seconds and a third was quite a bounty. The bonus in all of this is that Lindback gets the chance to be a starter in the NHL, something that would not (barring disaster) happen in Nashville for the foreseeable future.

Anders Lindback endeared himself quickly to Pred Nation. His gutsy fill-in turn for Pekka Rinne early in his rookie season showed the kind of goaltender he can be. If he can tap into that experience, the Lightning may have solved their goaltending issues.

The goaltending prospect pool is fairly deep in the Predators organization. Jeremy Smith may be the logical choice to take over as backup for the team, however, David Poile indicated that bringing in a veteran backup may happen as well. David Boclair makes the case for bringing in a couple of familiar names in his CityPaper column on Monday. He posits that Chris Mason, Dan Ellis or Michael Leighton may be solid choices. I find it hard to disagree with him.

The situation that may prevent bringing in a veteran is the potential jam-up between the pipes in the Predators system. Besides Smith the Preds have Atte Engren and Chet Pickard that played in both the AHL and ECHL last year. The signing of Magnus Hellberg adds to the mix. Hellberg, Nashville’s first pick in last year’s draft, is a 6’5” Swede, another tall Nordic goalie… so far, a recipe for success in the Preds organization.

You get the feeling that the dealing isn’t done yet with a few short days left until the draft.

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Random Notes…

- The hockey community is gathering in Las Vegas for tomorrow night’s NHL Awards. Four Preds are nominated, Pekka Rinne for Vezina, Shea Weber for Norris, David Poile for GM of the Year and Mike Fisher for the NHL Foundation Award.

- We will also find out the results of the NHL13 cover voting and if Pekka Rinne or Claude Giroux will be on the cover of the video game for next season.

- Pred Nation is on pins and needles when it comes down to the Ryan Suter “will he or won’t he” situation. I’ve said it before, I will say it again… I think he hits the open market and some stupid money will get thrown at him. If he keeps his wits about him, he will sign in the best place for him… and that continues to be Nashville… for all the reasons Ryan has laid out.

- Dmitry Chesnokov is reporting that Alexander Radulov is returning to the KHL. That is according to Radulov’s Russian agent. Yawn…

- Apparently there’s an LA Kings fans with more cash than class… someone has been taking out ads with local papers in New Jersey and Vancouver lauding the Kings victory, still waiting to see if they show up in St. Louis and Phoenix.

- Controversial referee Stephane Auger has retired. Speculation in the Canadian media is that he was forced to retire, an opinion seemingly backed up by quotes from the head of NHL officials, Terry Gregson.

- A little trouble in paradise? Rumors are flying that Evander Kane does not want to remain a Winnipeg Jet. His entry level deal expires 7/1, making him an RFA. Perhaps a trade in the works?

- It looks like expectations are growing in Columbus that the Jackets will be trading Rick Nash before this weekend’s draft.

- Speaking of growing expectations, Edmonton may be looking at trading down from their #1 spot. They need blueline help and the moving down may be the best way to get it.

- Jaromir Jagr is going to be a free agent on 7/1. While he and the Flyers have been negotiating, the 42 year old Czech decided to test the open market.

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On the next SlapShot Radio

No show this week due to the NHL Awards, we will be back with our season finale next Wednesday at 6pm on 102.5 the Game.

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