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TSN Game Plan Review

June 5, 2016, 11:21 AM ET [2 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I always like to read the off-season game plan series on tsn.ca… Nashville’s was posted earlier today, written by Scott Cullen. It’s a solid read, even though I think Cullen depends a little too much on possession stats.

The most interesting parts of his game plan for the Predators involve the blueline and of course… goaltending. I won’t go into the whole Shea Weber thing, the sides are tightly drawn and no injection of facts change minds on either side of that debate. His take on Anthony Bitetto and Petter Granberg is strong as he doesn’t see either player with a regular role next season. I think he may be selling both players a bit short, but time will tell there. One of the adds he sees coming to Nashville caught my eye… defenseman Eric Gryba. The 28 year old right shooting d-man with over 200 games of NHL experience, he spent last year in Edmonton after three seasons in Ottawa. A career positive player, Gryba could be a nice partner for Barrett Jackman on the third pairing.

Another name that caught my eye in Cullen’s piece, Pittsburgh’s Ben Lovejoy… however, with his performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, his price may be rising too quickly for a third pair d-man.

Even though Cullen’s analysis of Pekka Rinne is a bit off, saying that Rinne never recovered from a slow start… I guess he didn’t see the team post All-Star break. His basic point is correct though… the Predators need Rinne back in his 2014-15 form (2.18 GAA .923 Save %) for the team to be a realistic Cup contender for next season. Part of that issue needs to be solved in the backup role, and here is where things get dicey.

Frankly, I would like to have Carter Hutton back for another season, he grew into the backup role and delivered every time he needed to last season. Hutton is through the “bad goal to wake him up” phase and now knows the kind of preparation needed to be effective in the role. That being said, Hutton hits UFA at a perfect time for him, coming off his best season as a pro. Just looking at the stats, Hutton has the 5th best GAA among UFA goaltenders, 6th best save percentage. He may get some looks on the open market… however, as of this writing there are 23 names on the UFA Goaltender list, including Al Montoya, Jhnoas Enroth, James Reimer, Chad Johnson, Cam Ward, and Kari Ramo. Quite a few experienced NHL starters on that list…

It may come down to the amount of work Hutton can be given, and there is an argument to be made to lighten Rinne’s workload as the big Finn seemed to tire at times this season. Rinne started 66 games last season, 64 the previous season… perhaps getting him into the 58-60 range Rinne benefitted from rest a few times last season so 20-25 starts for Hutton shouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility.

If Hutton is bound and determined to test the market, where do the Preds go for a backup? Two tantalizing suggestions from Cullen in his game plan. If the Preds go UFA, Cullen suggests Al Montoya. The 30 year old got 22 starts last season in Florida, winning 12 of them while posting a respectable 2.18 GAA and a solid .919 Save %. Both numbers just slightly better than Hutton’s. Could be a solid add if the developing goaltenders in the Nashville system are judged to need another season in Milwaukee…

That brings up Juuse Saros. The 21 year old went 21-8 with 4 shutouts with the Admirals this past season, played one game for the Preds as well. He posted a .920 save percentage and a 2.24 GAA while splitting time with Marek Mazanec. If Saros is judged to be ready, then there is no need to go UFA here. But Saros needs to be ready and has to gain the trust of the coaching staff so they will use him to the 20+ games necessary to give Rinne the rest he may need. That is the goaltending quandary the Preds find themselves in. Saros is clearly the goaltender of the future for the Predators ad he must be developed correctly… this one bears watching.

Last is the projected depth chart from Cullen, featuring a lot of the kids from the Baby Preds coming up. Cullen projects Kevin Fiala on the third line with Ribeiro and Jarnkrok, has a fourth line centered by Colton SIssons with Viktor Arvidsson and Miikka Salomaki. The next six on the depoth chart include Gabriel Bourque, Vladislav Kamenev, Austin Watson, Pontus Aberg, Cody Bass and Max Gortz.

With development camp less than a month away, it will be fun to watch some of these names, along with prospects like Yakov Trenin, who just finish a point-per-game season with Gatineau of the QMJHL and most especially, a flying under the radar prospect that just finished an excellent first season with the Admirals.

Is it October yet?

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In case you missed our Saturday special SlapShot Radio, live from the Music City Sports Fest at Music City Center. Out guest list included…

- The head coach of the Washington Capitals – Barry Trotz
- Hockey writer Neate Sager from Sportsnet talking about the CHL – NHL agreement and why it is time to be rewritten.
- Tony Brown – The Voice of the Lake Erie Monsters to give us a look at the Calder Cup final between the Monsters and the Hershey Bears.

Here is the podcast…



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Random Notes

- The Music City Sports Festival was a big hit yesterday. Glad to see quite a few Pred fans coming out to say hi.

- Tongues are wagging about Filip Forsberg already… relax… he will get signed. I am hearing that they are looking to lock him up long term versus a shorter term bridge contract.

- Interesting signing early last week when the Preds signed Jonas Gunnarsson to a one year entry level contract. Wondering if that is a cover for Milwaukee should Saros or Mazanec ends up as backup in Nashville. Gunnarsson has played with both Petter Granberg and Kevin Fiala.

- Nashville also announced the signing of Cody Bass to a two year deal as well last week.

- Jeff Kealty was interviewd for Predators.com and was pretty clear that the Predators are going for the “best available” with their #17 first round pick in the upcoming entry draft.

- You will start to see the mock drafts over the next few weeks...

- No shortage of drama in the Stanley Cup Final, San Jose finally breaking through and snapping their four game playoff overtime losing streak with a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.

- You have to love the attitude of Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray, after giving up a bad game tying goal and an OT winner that bounced off his mask, he was moving on… he seems to have the right temperament for success, but you do wonder how long his leash is with Marc-Andre Fluery waiting in the wings.

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