We at SlapShot Radio are very excited to announce a series of Wednesday night Playoff Watch Parties. We will be broadcasting the show live at 7pm while watching playoff action at Tavern 96, located at Bridgestone Arena. Come on out and talk playoff hockey with Pete Weber and I as we enjoy the great hospitality at Tavern 96. Starting this Wednesday night at 7pm… More details to come on the SSR Facebook page and slapshotradio.com.
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It’s Fan Appreciation Weekend at Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators take the ice for their last two games of the season. Tonight, the Preds get to play spoiler as they take on the Phoenix Coyotes. The Yotes are locked in a battle with the Dallas Stars for the last playoff spot in the West. The Predators have to pick themselves up after Tuesday’s disappointing loss and play three more before the end of the regular season… and the potential end of an era in Nashville.
The torches and pitchforks are out, given the team missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, there is a contingent of Predator fans that want a change. Somewhere… anywhere… just change! Jim Diamond wrote a very cogent article, without a lot of the screaming and yelling that normally accompanies these types of pieces, about the signs pointing to an end of Barry Trotz’s record setting tenure behind the bench of the Nashville Predators.
I understand the dissatisfaction of the results over the past two seasons. Trust me… my budget takes a hit… no playoff games means no additional PA income for me, it also means no playoff income for the organization. After getting used to that additional income over an eight year period, it is a budget constraint that no one wants to adjust to. Pred Nation gets mad at a sudden end to the season in mid-April instead of mid-May as they have become accustomed to or mid-June as they would like to become accustomed to.
Diamond is right… all signs are pointing to a change behind the bench in Nashville. But the question needs to be asked… should there be a change? Sure it will make the torch and pitchfork brigade happy… but will it make a difference? I’m not so sure… the road to missing the playoffs has been paved with coaching changes that were supposed to answer the “problem with a team.” Look no further than Vancouver for the latest example of that…
Many are saying and posting that the Predators’ failure this year is because of coaching and the coach’s “system.” I’m not so sure of that one either… arguments can be made that the only reason the Predators still had a chance at the playoffs this season is because of coaching. Frankly, this coaching staff has facilitated some high-powered offenses over the past few years… I know it is a perception, I also am not sure that perception is rooted in reality however as this “system” has produced players that have had career years offensively… Jason Arnott’s 33 goal season, Steve Sullivan averaged a point per game in his tenure with the Predators (better performance than any other team he played for,) Paul Kariya averaged 80 points a season here, JP Dumont had three of the most productive seasons of his career, Patric Hornqvist has turned into a dependable 20 per year goal scorer… so again… I’m not sure the “system” is incapable of producing good offensive numbers.
Quite a few comments are spouting that this team never goes after offensive talent. Again… a reality check is in order. It is a well known fact that the best route to acquiring an elite goal-scorer is through the draft. The Predators have had one of these players and the Prodigal Pred may be the clearest definition of “Million Dollar Talent with a Five-Cent Head.” Acquiring a sniper is difficult at best through trade or free agency, and anyone expecting immediate help in this year’s crop of free agents needs to check their expectations… although Thomas Vanek would be a nice pickup. :-)
So, tonight could be the second to last Predator home game with Barry Trotz behind the bench… game time is 7pm for Fan Appreciation Night. The plaza party begins at 5pm and season ticket holders get a one hour “foodfest” inside the arena from 5-6pm. Plenty of prizes throughout the night and the popular “Shirts Off Their Back” promo will happen post-game.
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Random Notes
- Somehow it’s just fitting that the Predators were eliminated from playoff contention in a game involving a shootout.
- During the last few seasons, the playoff race came down to the last weekend… not so this year. All the playoff teams are established except for the Dallas/Phoenix race for the last wild card. Is it the new format? Or is it just an anomaly?
- The Detroit Red Wings have made the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season… the Predators get a better draft pick, making the David Legwand trade an even bigger steal for the Predators.
- Pekka Rinne’s next win will break the team record for victories by a goaltender held by Tomas Vokoun.
- Thoughts and prayers going out to the family and friends of longtime Tennessee Volunteer PA Announcer Bobby Denton who has passed away after a battle with cancer. Denton has been the in stadium voice of the Vols for over 40 years.
- Mark your calendar for Saturday May 3rd for Petey’s 5K Face-Off, the annual run/walk to support the Peterson for Parkinsons Foundation. It was a blast to do it last year so make sure to join the SlapShot Radio team for this fun event. More information is available at the
PFP Website.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the
link.
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SlapShot Radio, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. We return for our playoff run on Wednesday April 16th and we are live from Tavern 96 at Bridgestone Arena.
Don’t forget to visit our season’s advertisers…
The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills,
Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (615-872-7762),
Nolensville Collision Repair Center and Burger Republic, check their excellent menu out at
their website, Defend Quality… Burger Republic.
Want to be part of the SlapShot Radio family?
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base, we have special deals available as we cover the playoffs with the best hockey talk in the mid-South. Contact me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
Radio station owners/programmers, contact us to carry SlapShot Radio on your station, we are satellite delivered every week via SkyView on the SlapShot Radio Network.
Our podcasts are posted… Click
here to download or listen to any of this season’s podcasts.
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