A quick note to welcome Scott Nichol back to the Music City, Nichol was announced as the new Director of Player Development for the Nashville Predators yesterday. The feisty forward spent four seasons in Nashville as a fan favorite that certainly played bigger than his size. Nichol takes over a position that has been vacant since Martin Gelinas left the team to take a spot on the Calgary coaching staff.

After leaving the Predators, he spent time in San Jose and St. Louis, retiring after the Blues were eliminated in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Nichol begins his responsibilities at the upcoming NHL Draft, June 30.

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Taking a look at my conference finals picks…

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #4 Boston Bruins - My pick – Boston in Six - Boy did I get a bunch of grief for posting this in my predictions…

I think the drama finally catches up with the Pens.

Man… I knew I should’ve bought those PowerBall tickets instead of letting that little old lady in front of me at the Publix. :-) The interesting piece of this series is how out of character these Pens are. And the fact that goaltending hasn’t been what has beaten them. They finally began playing like the talented team they are last night, but it was too little too late and now… well… call this one over, ummm… well??? The Bruins do have a history of not defending these type of series leads real well… Nah… the Pens are done like dinner.

Out West…

#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Los Angeles Kings - My pick – Chicago in seven - This is looking a lot like the Sharks/Kings series… home teams holding serve. It could end earlier, but I really don’t see LA taking one in Chicago. Sticking with my pick here…

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Random Notes

- Negotiations are continuing with Roman Josi. The young blueliner is an RFA and exposed to potential offer sheets on July 5th.

- So… how many goalies will use the equipment changes as an excuse next season? I put the over/under at 4.

- It is amazing how many NHL “stars” flat out haven’t shown up in these playoffs.

- Add me to the chorus registering amazement at Gregory Campbell’s amazing shift, finishing a shift after breaking his leg? If anyone asks why you love this game… show them that highlight.

- OK… if Winter Classic 2015 is Philly / Pittsburgh at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA happens… well… it will be a fantastic scene… a cross-state war that could be even more fun if they split the seating, 50k per team… Tim Panaccio has more in his column on CSNPhilly.com.

- Blues forward Andy McDonald shocked a lot of hockey fans today by announcing his retirement. He cites post-concussion concerns as the reason for his stepping down.

- The AHL’s Calder Cup Finals are set. Detroit’s farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins will take on Tampa Bay’s top farm team, the Syracuse Crunch. The series gets going Saturday night in Syracuse.

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SlapShot Radio, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, our latest podcast is posted… we will be back with our fifth season finale in two weeks on June 26.

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