We heard from the players yesterday as they had their last media availability at Bridgestone Arena. It was a stunned and subdued bunch cleaning out lockers and saying goodbye for the season. All echoing the refrain that while the season was a good one, it didn’t end the way they wanted it to.
We learned a new medical term, “subluxed patella.” I’m still not sure what it is, but it doesn’t sound like fun. Actually, according to orthopedics.about.com… it is when your knreecap comes out of or doesn’t move smoothly in a groove in your thigh bone, I guess you could call it a dislocated kneecap. According to the site, surgery is arthroscopic. So, with a 4 – 6 week recovery time, Shea Weber will be back on the ice in plenty of time for training camp. So everyone can breathe again…
We also learned that Mike Fisher was battling groin problems in the series, again, that doesn’t sound like fun either…
We learned that several Predators are headed to the World Championships in the Czech Republic. Pekka Rinne will play for Finland, Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala will play for Switzerland and Seth Jones will play for Team USA. These are the only ones we know of so far, there still may be a few more. As an aside, NBCSN will carry all of Team USA’s games in the tournament. First game on NBCSN is Friday at 9am CDT as Team USA plays Team Finland.
A few of the players talked contracts. There are 11 free agents on this team, five of them restricted. Mike Ribeiro, Mike Fisher both were pretty clear they wanted to be back in Smashville next season. Matt Cullen, who is 38, appears to be assessing if he wants to play another season or retire. He had a solid season and would probably be welcomed back to the fold.
So today, it is the final presser of the season. GM David Poile and Head Coach Peter Laviolette will address the media and give their take on the season just passed and the future of this team, then the offseason begins in earnest… sigh.
Four and a half months to training camp.
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Random Notes
- I clicked with glee to see the Puck Daddy Eulogy for the Nashville Predators at Yahoo.com. I love those things, when they are well done they are like a great Friar’s Club roast. When I saw it was written by the gang over at “The Committed Indian” I was even more excited as they are a pretty funny, creative group. Two paragraphs in... I was sorely disappointed. Unfortunately, it is a boring rundown of tired clichés about hillbillies, country music… and get this… they even try a joke about the mayor (who attends games regularly) and a
“never worn” jersey! Now
THAT’s the very definition of irony! Honestly guys… how disappointing… I expected better of you.
- The Norris finalists were announced… Shea Weber was not among them. I’m not surprised nor mad about it… personally I think Roman Josi deserved it a bit more than Shea.
- So, does Subban and Karlsson split the east coast Canadian vote and Doughty finally get a Norris? Frankly... I think Subban is the only one that deserves to be on that list... I would've liked to have seen Giordano on it, injury aside...
- A couple of excellent games last night as Tampa Bay found its offense… well except for Steven Stamkos… and forced a game seven back home Wednesday night.
- Too funny to watch Sportsnet, HNIC and TSN writers complain about Tampa scratching Jonathan Drouin on Twitter pregame last night… as coaches, they are pretty good writers.
- Good golly… Petr Mrazek may be missing a vowel or two, but DAMN… what a save on Brian Boyle last night!
- Congratulations to Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals on winning their first round series last night. The Rangers will be a formidable foe and it should be a good series.
- Funny thing about irony... it's so... ironic...
- NBA player and member of the Washington Wizards Paul Pierce did some pretty good trolling on social media after the Wiz beat the Raptors… last night he was trying his hand at chirping in hockey from his glass seats at the Verizon Center.
- We may learn more about what happens in St. Louis today… their final media availability happens in a few hours.
The NHL is dark tonight… waiting on Game Seven tomorrow night in Tampa
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