Before I get to today’s column, I want to let you know about an event going on today to benefit Best Buddies. Stop into any Tennesse Chipotle Location on Monday, July 17th between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to support Best Buddies.
Please present the flyer…
click here for the flyer or mention that you are with Best Buddies when dining at Chipotle and 50% of your TOTAL tab will be donated to Best Buddies Tennessee!
A great way to get a great meal for a great cause!
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There is an interesting phenomenon going on in Pred Nation as this offseason drags on. There is a paranoia growing that this Nashville Predators team hasn’t improved itself in the offseason. That they haven’t covered the losses of James Neal and Colin Wilson, that they don’t have enough scoring… that they haven’t done enough to continue the drive toward a championship in Nashville…
To quote Uncle Joe… that’s just a bunch of malarkey!
This team lost a little size in Wilson and scoring in Neal… no question about it… but let’s face a few facts here. Colin Wilson is a great guy, but his performance and durability have been called into serious question for several years now… and when you look at James Neal’s production, it seems to be headed in the wrong direction… those 35 goals and 41 assists from those two players have been replaced, without even counting improved production from players like Fiala and Aberg. The attitude and size have been replaced. Neal’s leadership has been replaced. The only question remaining is… does Mike Fisher return to the fold… or decide to hang them up.
Adding Fisher back into the mix will improve this team as it stands right now, even more… the only thing I’d like to see with Fisher is management of his games played… a fresher Mike Fisher in the playoffs would be a marvelous thing for Nashville. So, maybe,,, not play him in back-to-backs… give him a few more games off and keep him in the 50-55 game range… could make for a much better captain come playoff time.
I get the microscope that gets dragged out in the offseason. Discussions like this are fun… however the reduction being played on players like Nick Bonino doesn’t make any sense. Every time Bonino has been placed in a 2C role, he has excelled… in ’13-’14, he spent the season in that role with Anaheim, potting 22 goals and 27 assists. Last season, he spent significant time in the 2C role for Pittsburgh and again, delivered offensively, posting a respectable 18 goals and 19 assists.
Bringing back Scott Hartnell brings that attitude and the net front presence we’ve seen in his previous stint with Nashville. He’s a big body that excels on the power play and has posted some really good shooting percentages over the past three seasons, connecting at a 13.97% rate during his three seasons in Columbus. It’s a little much to expect Hartnell to get back to the 30+ goals he has scored previously, but 15-18 is not a stretch for the veteran left wing. Plus… don’t underestimate the impact a player like Hartnell can have in the development of a Vladislav Kamenev or Pontus Aberg.
Given that the only team in the Central that have improved themselves (so far) are the Dallas Stars… and even then, their defense is still suspect… the division is up for grabs, with Nashville being the prohibitive favorite. I’ll be breaking that down over the next week or so…
60 days until training camp opens
64 days until first preseason game
80 days until season opener
85 days until home opener.
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This is the first chance I have gotten to congratulate the Voice of the Nashville Predators on several honors he has received in the last few week. Pete Weber was awarded his 5th Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year award, the third consecutive year he has won the honor. While that one is an important one, the second one, announced about a week later, is one that enshrines him in the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Pete spent 16 years broadcasting sports in Buffalo, covering the NHL’s Sabres, the NFL’s Bills and Triple A Buffalo Bison. He is beloved in Buffalo and well-remembered by that fan base even after spending the last 20 years in Music City. I’ve said it before and I will say it again… Pete is an asset, not only to the Predators, but Nashville as a whole and we are lucky to have had him here for so long.
Next up should be a call from Toronto as I don’t think I have ever seen a more worthy candidate for the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award than our own Pete Weber.
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Offseason Notes
- Arbitration dates are getting close… the first one up could be the most difficult, Viktor Arvidsson is scheduled for this Saturday.
- While no date is set, expectations are that we should get a decision from Mike Fisher over the next few weeks.
- This Friday night, the Predators are sponsoring a “Glow in the Dark” skate at Bridgestone Arena. It’s one last chance to skate on the Stanley Cup Final ice.
- So, the latest additions to the Preds have chosen their numbers… Scott Hartnell returns to his 17 that he wore for the Predators in his first go-round with the team. Anders Lindback will also wear the number he wore with the Predators, 39. Nick Bonino will continue to wear the number 13. Alexei Emelin has not selected his number yet.
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SSR’s ninth season finale is in the books and we are already planning season ten. SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the region and we have some awesome stuff planned for next season.
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