Before I get to today’s Deconstructing The Central blog, I’d like to give you some information on a hockey camp being delivered by Predator’s forward Matt Cullen. The camp will take place on Saturday September 6th from 2pm – 5pm and will include instruction on fundamental hockey skills. Each camper will also get an autograph from Cullen and a team picture with the Predators center.

The camp only costs $53 and is open to boys and girls of all skill levels from grade 1-8. You can register your child for the camp at MattCullencamps.com.

Sounds like a good time…

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I’ll be taking the next few blogs to concentrate on the Central Division and attempt to evaluate the moves made by each team. Did they address their needs effectively? Are they better or worse after the moves made? Writing this in July/August makes this a dicey proposition but what else am I gonna do… watch indoor lacrosse? Winnipeg was first, then Minnesota, then Dallas, next up? The Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado was the surprise darling of the league last season, winning the Central Division with 112 points. Expectations are high for this team coming into the new season, but there are a few potential concerns, primarily the youth of this team and the loss of Paul Stastny.

Key additions in the Rockies include some veteran leadership in the almost ageless jarome Iginla and playoff star Daniel Briere. The re-signing of Ryan O’Reilly is a real positive and the second year of rookie sensation Nathan MacKinnon should be watched to see if he avoids the ole “sophomore slump.” You could also look at the return of Alex Tanguay to full health as an add as he has been battling injuries over the past two seasons. Additions to a blueline that counted on stellar goaltending last season are Brad Stuart and Nathan Redmond. Not sure if that is substantial improvement or not.

In goal, the Av’s got excellent goaltending from Semyon Varlamov, who posted the most wins in the league last season with 41 and posted a stellar .927 save percentage, 2nd in the NHL only to Tuukka Rask among starters with more than 30 games played last season. It was Varlamov’s most successful season in his career and he will need to post similar numbers for this team to compete for a second consecutive divisional crown. Last year’s backup, JS Giguere retired and he was replaced by Reto Berra, who the Av’s acquired in a trade from Calgary. The Av’s then turned around and extended the backup for three years. Goaltending in the Rockies should not be a problem.

Offensively, it is hard to see where this team will improve on last season’s 245 goals. They certainly had a “score by committee” approach with Matt Duchene (23), Gabriel Landeskog (26) Ryan O’Reilly (28) and MacKinnon (24) doing the heavy lifting. Replacing Stastny’s 25 goals may be an issue, unless Jarome Iginla can continue to perform at the pace he has been at for the last few seasons. The 37 year old will be counted on to fill that void. Iginla will also add a much needed veteran presence on this young team.

You have to wonder if this year, the defensive shortcomings of this team come home to roost. 23 year old Tyson Barrie and Erik Johnson led this defense last season. A defense that was only fair… bottom third in the league in penalty Kill % (80.7%) and in shots allowed per game (32.7) … this team needs to get better defensively so they don’t have to rely so heavily on Varlamov. I will be very curious to see the impact that Brad Stuart has on this defense.

The key to this team’s performance will hinge on a couple of factors… How does the team play with a target on their back? And how do the new players fit in to their roles? My gut tells me that this may be a season that their defensive shortcomings get exposed and they take a step back. How big of one may depend on maintaining their offensive output.

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Random Notes

- The negotiations are continuing between the Predators and RFA Ryan Ellis and Preds GM David Poile is quoted in today’s Tennessean that the contract should be done by training camp.

- Mark your calendars for September 12, 13 and 14 in order to get a look at the prospects from four different NHL teams at the brand new Ford Ice Center. The Boston Bruin, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers prospects will join Nashville Predator prospects in a round robin of games starting on the afternoon of the 13th. More details are coming…

- Happy Birthday Shea Weber!

- Another nugget from Poile is that Mike Fisher’s recovery is on schedule. The “optimistic target” is still American Thanksgiving.

- The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has hit Pred Nation… a video for you…


- Y’know… while we’re scheduling outdoor games… A February game in Nashville would work! :-) Dudley Field would be a great location!! Or maybe the Sounds new ballpark?

- So, Tyler Dellow (aka @mc79hockey on Twitter) has joined the Edmonton Oilers staff… talk about keeping your enemies closer.

- Neat piece on ProHockeyTalk from Mike Halford on the Minnesota Wild and their upcoming financial issues… the cap could be a harsh mistress.

- The Seattle rumors just won’t go away. According to King 5 News in Seattle, a prospective NHL owner is already working on an arena deal… stay tuned.

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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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The SlapShot Radio Road Trip is back!!! Go to our Facebook page for more information and join us as we hit the road to Big D!

We need to nail down tickets quick gang… so head on over!

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