PHX has a ton of players going to be UFA's or RFA's next season. That could indicate a fire sale being held by the league in an effort to sell the team for relocation. If we are only going to pick up a rental for the rest of the season how does Shane Doan sound? He's a big power forward with 15/15/30.
- PredfanDan

I would rather have Whitney, 15/27/42 plus he is cheaper salary wise and in what it would probably take to get him. Really, the guy you may want would would be Radim Vrabata. Right now he has 23/16/39 plus he would not be a rental with 3 years left at 3 million. He continues to get better and is a solid 2 way player. What would he cost if available and he as a NTC?

I would rather have Whitney, 15/27/42 plus he is cheaper salary wise and in what it would probably take to get him. Really, the guy you may want would would be Radim Vrabata. Right now he has 23/16/39 plus he would not be a rental with 3 years left at 3 million. He continues to get better and is a solid 2 way player. What would he cost if available and he as a NTC?
- PredsFan8

What concerns me about Vrabata is that he has already been on 5 other teams and this is his second stint with PHX. What is the reason behind him not being able to stick with a team despite producing good numbers?

What a strange situation to be in. They are in awesome shape in the standings, but when you look at the lineup it leaves me scratching my head. How are they doing this? It's through balanced scoring and good defense/goaltending, yet none of these guys are marquis names outside of Weber, Suter, and Rinne.

I can see where Poile has big decisions to make b/c you don't want to upset the apple cart too much. He could go after a superstar, but that would require giving up a lot, or a vet like Whitney for a little more scoring punch without breaking the bank. I don't know what the answer is...weird times.

Edit: I would trade Suter before the deadline if he hasn't signed by then and not let him make it to free agency. Anything is better than nothing!
- Polecat

The way this all shakes out is at this point simply an unknown - for me anyway. We just don't have enough information. I do know that this impending FA season seems to be more difficult and perplexing - for all GMs. Not many want to show their hands and few want to give away potential high quality players. All worry that any moves might backfire bigtime.

Back to some Preds stats, while certainly not all relevant ones are in the league's top tier (shots for, shots against & faceoffs could use improvement), we are still 2nd in PP percentage at 22.5% (just slightly behind Canuck's 23%), 12th in PK percentage, 9th best goals for per game (surprise!), 9th fewest goals against pg, and we have the 5th fewest avg penalty minutes per game.

All this means nothing if we don't win but it does speak well for players and coaching at this point.

Trotz et al are doing a bang-up job.

I like Lane Lambert.

Hemsky is not worth more than a 3rd round draft pick IMO. Hemsky is a free agent at the end of the year and is constantly injured. Not exactly what we need when the playoffs get going and everyone amps up their game.
- Mainert

I would rather have Whitney, 15/27/42 plus he is cheaper salary wise and in what it would probably take to get him. Really, the guy you may want would would be Radim Vrabata. Right now he has 23/16/39 plus he would not be a rental with 3 years left at 3 million. He continues to get better and is a solid 2 way player. What would he cost if available and he as a NTC?
- PredsFan8

Uh...........did I not just post this earlier?

What a strange situation to be in. They are in awesome shape in the standings, but when you look at the lineup it leaves me scratching my head. How are they doing this? It's through balanced scoring and good defense/goaltending, yet none of these guys are marquis names outside of Weber, Suter, and Rinne.

I can see where Poile has big decisions to make b/c you don't want to upset the apple cart too much. He could go after a superstar, but that would require giving up a lot, or a vet like Whitney for a little more scoring punch without breaking the bank. I don't know what the answer is...weird times.

Edit: I would trade Suter before the deadline if he hasn't signed by then and not let him make it to free agency. Anything is better than nothing!
- Polecat

You just answered your question.

Uh...........did I not just post this earlier?
- Predman29

You did, but does it matter? Didn't realize people on this board couldn't post about the same player...next time I will give credit to who mentioned a player first.

Give us Weber for Schenn, Coburn, Wellwood, and a 2012 first round pick.

You did, but does it matter? Didn't realize people on this board couldn't post about the same player...next time I will give credit to who mentioned a player first.
- PredsFan8

Oh, come on. No it doesn't matter. Why so sensitive? Geez.

Give us Weber for Schenn, Coburn, Wellwood, and a 2012 first round pick.
- LeachHextall27

Pass...Schenn may be young but one has to wonder why teams are willing to get rid of him, he would not be traded for a 2nd time, Coburn a 3rd line D man (maybe) and Wellwood a 6th rd pick, and finally your 1st rd pick likey will be one of the last picks in the 1st rd because with Weber you maybe on the favorites in the East if your goalie situation gets worked out.

How about Carle or Meszaros, Couturier, and a 1st for Weber? Although I still don't know if we would do that at this point.

You just answered your question.
- Predman29

Obviously Rinne is the main cog in much of the good fortune we've seen so far but don't discount the performance of the rest of the team. The guys are playing hard and playing well in front of him and he'll be the first to say so.

Oh, come on. No it doesn't matter. Why so sensitive? Geez.
- Predman29

Him sensitive? I must have missed something.

This is the first that I have heard or seen anyone post anything that said Suter was waiting to hit free agency? The only thing that I had heard was that Suter wanted to see Poile make some kind of move to show him as well as Weber that he and the ownership group was committed to winning and spending the money to get the team to the next level.
- PredsFan8

he did say that but also all but come out and said he isnt going to sign. hes gonna wait.

I heard an interview on The Zone this morning stating just that. The bottom line is it's just speculation. That guy has no idea what's going on in Suter's head. He also didn't seem to know much about hockey and free agency from what I was hearing.
- Predaceous

Of course it's just speculation. Speculate is all any of us outside of the organization can do. However, it's not the first time it was mentioned and these media people do have a lot more access to the players to ask them questions, etc. So while I still wouldn't accept anything they say as 100% fact, I will put a little more weight behind the comment than I would if one of us had posted a similar comment on the message boards.

I heard an interview on The Zone this morning stating just that. The bottom line is it's just speculation. That guy has no idea what's going on in Suter's head. He also didn't seem to know much about hockey and free agency from what I was hearing.
- Predaceous

I heard the same interview with David Boclair. Oh, and in the same interview, (as per Mark Howard, and then everyone else agreed they thought they heard the same thing) they said the only reason Weber is still an RFA is because his agent messed up some paper work........................that is when I stopped believing anything that was being said.

- Reveen

And how did that work out for us? Not what the Preds need.

I heard the same interview with David Boclair. Oh, and in the same interview, (as per Mark Howard, and then everyone else agreed they thought they heard the same thing) they said the only reason Weber is still an RFA is because his agent messed up some paper work........................that is when I stopped believing anything that was being said.
- wings-suck

Yeah, I heard that too. This is our knowledgeable sports media at work. From this to "We Want Crosby," our media is pretty inept when it comes to hockey.

And how did that work out for us? Not what the Preds need.
- Mainert

If the rest of the team had been healthy I think it would have worked out great for us.

If the rest of the team had been healthy I think it would have worked out great for us.
- Predaceous

If you guys did snag Hemsky as a rental it would be huge for the Preds, Hemsky is a game changer. This may be the last shot with your current core in tact why not make a run?

If you guys did snag Hemsky as a rental it would be huge for the Preds, Hemsky is a game changer. This may be the last shot with your current core in tact why not make a run?
- Reveen

How is Hemsky a game changer? He's never played an entire season and only hit the 20 goal mark twice. Granted, I don't watch him play much, but I don't see what all the fuss is about.

I certainly wouldn't give up much for him. He'd probably get injured the moment he stepped off the plane at BNA.

How is Hemsky a game changer? He's never played an entire season and only hit the 20 goal mark twice. Granted, I don't watch him play much, but I don't see what all the fuss is about.

I certainly wouldn't give up much for him. He'd probably get injured the moment he stepped off the plane at BNA.
- Predaceous

You really need to watch him play to understand. His offensive creativity is unreal, great skater and excellent puck skills. You would get an instant boost to your powerplay.

I think Edmonton is nuts for dealing him, I suspect with the influx of kids (Hall, Eberle and RNH) Hemsky is feeling displaced and won't sign with the Oilers.

How is Hemsky a game changer? He's never played an entire season and only hit the 20 goal mark twice. Granted, I don't watch him play much, but I don't see what all the fuss is about.

I certainly wouldn't give up much for him. He'd probably get injured the moment he stepped off the plane at BNA.
- Predaceous

Even if it cost the Preds Blum and a 1st it would be well worth it.

Even if it cost the Preds Blum and a 1st it would be well worth it.
- Reveen

I wouldn't pay that for him.

Even if it cost the Preds Blum and a 1st it would be well worth it.
- Reveen

- Whyme78

You won't be laughing if Detroit pays that price to land Hemsky.