“We may see a minor move or two today… but I don’t expect to see any headline grabbers.”
You know, as a prognosticator, I’m a helluva blogger. I had heard rumblings around the rink on Tuesday night that Martin Erat may be in play on deadline day but, frankly, I didn’t take it seriously. Hindsight being what it is, I should’ve. The news began to break around 3pm yesterday, then the delay in the 3:30pm press conference added to the speculation. Then confirmation came, the Predators and the Capitals completed a trade sending Martin Erat and Michael Latta to Washington for 2012 first round draft pick (11th overall) Filip Forsberg.
Forsberg is a 6’1’ forward who has top line skill and top line potential. With one game remaining in his Swedish league schedule he is the second leading scorer in that league, second only to another Preds prospect Pontus Aberg. The words “dynamic” and “game-breaker” have been used to describe Forsberg. Words that are rarely used when referring to Predator prospects.
This is a classic story, veteran player having a difficult season requests a trade thinking that a new environment would help him. Martin Erat has been a cornerstone of the franchise, playing in 723 games, posting 481 points (163g – 318a) all good for second on the all-time franchise lists. Perhaps Washington is the right place for him, where he doesn’t need to be the primary scorer, he should fit in very well with the Capitals. On a personal note, I wish him the best of luck with the Capitals and hope he finds his game again in a new environment.
So, attention turns to the game tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in town for a critical Central Division showdown between two teams that desperately needs points in order to firm up their position in the pecking order. Columbus comes into tonight’s game one point behind the Predators with a game in hand. A classic four-point-game, the Predators could inoculate themselves from Columbus’ game in hand with a win tonight and instead of being a point behind them, the Preds could finish tonight with a three point lead.
Nashville comes into the game with Colin Wilson still on IR, Mike Fisher and Gabriel Bourque continue to be listed as questionable. Columbus lists Jared Boll and Tim Erixon as out, Brandon Dubinsky and Nick Foligno are listed as probable.
The big story in Columbus was a trade deadline day that saw the team as buyers instead of their traditional role as sellers. Picking up Marian Gaborik and Michael Leighton, letting Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, Steve Mason and John Moore go was a ballsy move. John Davidson’s influence on this franchise is showing in the moves being made. The one move that I really like from the Blue Jackets involved picking up Blake Comeau for a 5th round pick in this year’s draft. It is a mid-season re-make of the lineup and eliminating the last vestiges of the one and done playoff team from a few seasons back.
These types of re-shuffles bring pressure… just ask the 2011/2012 Nashville Predators how adding so many names at (and beyond) the deadline worked out. The winner declared on deadline day is not awarded the Cup. If that were the case, Nashville would be defending a championship this season, having been declared trade deadline winner last season by quite a few pundits.
Game time for this critical showdown is 7pm… coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.
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SportsClubStats Update
The Predators are 4th in the Central and 10th in the conference. One point out of the last playoff spot, the biggest “uncontrollable” right now is games-in-hand… especially with St. Louis. That and three point games seems to be the biggest depressing factor on the Preds chances to make the playoffs. I have also raised the points needed to get the eight spot to 56.
5th – SJS – 44 pts – 1 game in hand
6th – LAK – 43 pts – 1 game in hand
7th –DET – 41 pts – 1 game in hand
8th – EDM – 39 pts – 1 game in hand
9th – STL – 38 pts – 3 games in hand
10th – NSH – 38 pts
11th – CBJ – 37 pts – 1 game in hand
12th – PHX – 36 pts – 1 game in hand
13th – DAL – 35 pts – 1 game in hand
Predators Playoff Chances – 15.1%
Most likely number of points needed to make the playoffs – 56
Points needed – 18
Impact Games Tonight (and who Pred Nation should be rooting for)
St. Louis @ Chicago - A Blackhawks win in regulation helps, any other result does not.
Edmonton @ Vancouver - Let’s go ‘Nucks! In regulation if you please…
Detroit @ Phoenix - The Coyotes were sellers yesterday, a Phoenix win in regulation helps
Predators Remaining Schedule
Twelve out of the last eighteen games are at home and we are tracking the team’s progress, so far, the Predators are 4-1-2 for 10 points, gaining points in six out of the seven games played since beginning this final stretch run.
3/21 – Calgary – W – 5-3 – 2 pts.
3/23 – Columbus – W – 5-2 – 2 pts.
3/25 – Edmonton – W – 3-2 – 2 pts.
3/28 – Phoenix – L – 4-7 – 0 pts
3/30 - @ Colorado – OTL – 0-1 – 1 pt
4/1 - @ Chicago – OTL – 2-3 – 1pt
4/2 – Colorado – W – 3-1 – 2 pts
Tonight – Columbus
4/6 – Chicago
4/7 – @ Chicago
4/9 – St. Louis
4/12 – Dallas
4/14 – Detroit
4/15 – Vancouver
4/19 - @ Chicago
4/23 – Calgary
4/25 - @ Detroit
4/27 - @ Columbus
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Random Notes
- Circle the date… Thursday April 25th, the SlapShot Radio watch party at Burger Republic! We’ll be enjoying some great food and cheering on the Preds against Detroit in what could be a critical game for the Preds playoff chances.
- The other move Nashville made yesterday was trading blueliner Scott Hannan to San Jose for a conditional 7th round pick.
- As was foretold by Jim Diamond, the Predators also announced the signing of Zach Budish yesterday. He is headed to Milwaukee to join the Ad’s.
- The Predators sellout streak came to an end Tuesday night. The team fell 900 short of their 30th consecutive sellout. It is a sign of the progress this franchise has made that Nashville not selling out a game has become the story… many can remember when getting a sellout was big news a few years back.
- So, a lot of pundit are pleased with what the Rangers did, especially after the Blue Jackets…. Ummm BlueShirts beat Pittsburgh last night…
- Do you suppose Rick Nash is wondering why he came to New York if all they were going to do was bring all his old teammates over as well?
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