Hutton...he played one game for the hawks ( last game of the year). his rebound control is horrible but he is a battler.
- waitforawhistle

this is another The hawks system is weak in net...they needed a backup with UFA emery moving on and still let Hutton walk. Expect Rinne to play 70 plus this year again.

this is another The hawks system is weak in net...they needed a backup with UFA emery moving on and still let Hutton walk. Expect Rinne to play 70 plus this year again.
- bogiedoc

Watch the work of Mitch Korn with this kid. Mitch knows talent and can coach it out of the youngsters. Mitch said there was an instant connection.

Mitch Korn > Yoda

I'm gonna miss Cullen centering our 2nd line. He was easily one of our better skaters, works harder than anyone and made Setoguchi look good... almost. This move may not do much for Preds fans now, but I guarantee you, you'll be loving him as the season rolls along.

Every year Poile's movies make the fans say "surely, Poile has something else up his sleeve" and every year Poile's sleeves are completely empty.
- Lethargic

Looks like a $hitload of sand paper! Something this team has missed for 3 years. Still need a center & I will lay off DP for a few weeks.

Less than enthused...sorry.

Stalberg being called a top six forward is a bit of a stretch. He could get there...but the dude won a Cup this year and had all of three points. On a roster with that talent...that is concerning to me.

Cullen is solid...but old. Atleast the term is short...a four year deal would have been awful.

Not sure Nyquist adds grit...thought he was more of a skilled guy. Four years though...yikes Poile.

Hendricks adds some toughness...like that for the Preds but it isn't putting butts in seats.


Poile did what I thought and it is back to trying to win every game 2-1....yikes.

Looks like a $hitload of sand paper! Something this team has missed for 3 years. Still need a center & I will lay off DP for a few weeks.
- slash&smash

Need a center? Ummmmm.....WHAT?!?

Need a center? Ummmmm.....WHAT?!?
- PoileRulezzzYo

Sorry!!! 1st line Center, have a gut feeling a trade is in the works. The numbers don't work out. Spaling? Smith? Huggy Bear Clune?

Sorry!!! 1st line Center, have a gut feeling a trade is in the works. The numbers don't work out. Spaling? Smith? Huggy Bear Clune?
- slash&smash

I have MAJOR doubts that this team gets a first line anything from this point forward. I would love to be proven wrong...but most of the first line talent is gone at this point.

yawn.

I have MAJOR doubts that this team gets a first line anything from this point forward. I would love to be proven wrong...but most of the first line talent is gone at this point.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Maybe Stastny? Wilson Stastny Smith

I have MAJOR doubts that this team gets a first line anything from this point forward. I would love to be proven wrong...but most of the first line talent is gone at this point.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Unless a trade of significance occurs which may or may not happen.

None of us know at this point but maybe the team ends with better results than last season as a result of the recent roster changes and other moves that may come about.

Regarding some fans lamenting the lack of signing bigger UFA names, probably helps to remember the term: Unrestricted (and) Free Agent. They get to pick where they want (or do not want) to play.
Alfredsson - feels better chance for Cup w/Wings.

Horton wanted a smaller quieter market in which to play. His call. (However, 7-yrs with his injury history and probably not going to play until Jan 2014? Wow. Huge risk for C-bus. Better them than us at those terms.)

Clarkson left money (reportedly higher offer or offers) on the table to play for the Leafs. His family is there and that's where he wanted to be.

And so it goes.

To effectively compete for the near term, Preds will have continue to survive with development from within, timely trades, leftover UFA miracles and lots of good luck.

what happened to all the hype about all these big name players being bought out because of the new salary cap and crazy trades we would see? this has actually been a boring free agency.

This class of ufa didn't really impress me much so everybody hee hawing about not signing top 6 guy I think the best option is somewhere in a trade scenario if we were to get one.

what happened to all the hype about all these big name players being bought out because of the new salary cap and crazy trades we would see? this has actually been a boring free agency.

This class of ufa didn't really impress me much so everybody hee hawing about not signing top 6 guy I think the best option is somewhere in a trade scenario if we were to get one.
- predsthinala

The problem with the trade scenario is that typically you need pieces to trade to get good players. The Preds are not exactly loaded with pieces that they can afford to let go of.

The problem with the trade scenario is that typically you need pieces to trade to get good players. The Preds are not exactly loaded with pieces that they can afford to let go of.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Av's might let Stastny go for cheap. Since everyone signed all the FA's for to much money.

The problem with the trade scenario is that typically you need pieces to trade to get good players. The Preds are not exactly loaded with pieces that they can afford to let go of.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Watson, Ellis, Smith, Elkholm, Spaling, the 5'9" goalie the preds drafted! the list goes on.

Edit: Wilson & Klein are in the mix as well.

Av's might let Stastny go for cheap. Since everyone signed all the FA's for to much money.
- poisondhearts37

Would be great to see him here but I doubt that has a snowball's chance of happening.


Haven't counted (and don't really care I guess) but it does seem as though majority of UFA activity today was in the direction of EC teams.

yawn.
- predsthinala

Tend to mostly agree but it doesn't bother me too much considering the reality of UFA's & Nashville. Oil & Water when it comes to big names. Overpriced too.

I'm looking forward to the new season however! New faces and the "hope" & "springs" & "eternal" word combo...

Watson, Ellis, Smith, Elkholm, Spaling, the 5'9" goalie the preds drafted! the list goes on.

Edit: Wilson & Klein are in the mix as well.
- slash&smash

Well, you are certainly correct in that something of value will have to be given up if the team expects to get something of value in return. Never a one-way street in that respect. (Trades.)

Well, you are certainly correct in that something of value will have to be given up if the team expects to get something of value in return. Never a one-way street in that respect. (Trades.)
- blueline

Seriously something has to give. Dud 1st rounder Chet Pickard & Jon Blum are walking for nothing! Starting to worry a little. Nashville will always have to over pay till the 3rd round or further! Not sure anymore.

Watson, Ellis, Smith, Elkholm, Spaling, the 5'9" goalie the preds drafted! the list goes on.

Edit: Wilson & Klein are in the mix as well.
- slash&smash

Not one of those players on that first list is a proven commodity. I am not all about giving up Wilson because he actually has some potential and Klein (as much as I despise him) is actually somewhat reliable on our blueline.

The Preds are going to have to rebuild from within most likely...which will take time. I just hope Poile can draft some forwards that turn out to be worth a damn in the next few years.

Not one of those players on that first list is a proven commodity. I am not all about giving up Wilson because he actually has some potential and Klein (as much as I despise him) is actually somewhat reliable on our blueline.

The Preds are going to have to rebuild from within most likely...which will take time. I just hope Poile can draft some forwards that turn out to be worth a damn in the next few years.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Vesey, Aberg, and Leipsic all have had seasons that make me believe they have first line potential with second line being the most likely.

An aside - at the moment the Preds are 10th on both salary and cap for the '13/'14 season per Cap Geek. (Current projected snapshot.)

Vesey, Aberg, and Leipsic all have had seasons that make me believe they have first line potential with second line being the most likely.
- Bryant44

All will be at development camp next week.

Development Camp schedule (courtesy of Dirk at OtF), edited it a bit & saved as shared and pdf printable Google doc.

https://docs.google.com/s...10bjExZjZNX1E&usp=sharing

An aside - at the moment the Preds are 10th on both salary and cap for the '13/'14 season per Cap Geek. (Current projected snapshot.)
- blueline

Thats still counting the $3 mil to SK74 though

I think the Preds should deal Legwand if possible. He is UFA next year, will prolly end up in Detroit and he's a $4.5 million cap hit. Get something for him while you can and save the cap money this year.