Did Josi or Wilson skate in practice today???
- slash&smash

From Preds -

"Injury Update:
- Paul Gaustad practiced the full session with the team. After practice Coach Trotz said it looks promising for Gaustad to return to the lineup tomorrow night vs. Winnipeg.
- Roman Josi and Colin Wilson both skated prior to the full team practice. Josi participated in some of the early drills with the full team. The coaches indicated that both would remain out for tomorrow night's game."

More -

"The mood both on and off the ice was upbeat and uptempo. The guys were not pleased with the results from the last two games, especially, but were in pretty good spirits. Any concerns with Radulov's ability to fit in to the locker room should be immediately quelled. He was joking around on the ice and off the ice with the guys. Gill and Kevin Klein, the two guys with lockers just to the left of Radulov, joked about the extra media attention in their corner of the room."


"Lines for Today's Practice:
Fisher centering Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn
Legwand centering Hornqvist and Radulov
Spaling centering Bourque and Andrei Kostitsyn
Gaustad centering Halischuk and Yip
Smith centering Maclellan and Tootoo"


22 sitting tomorrow?

It's time for Trotz to get this team in Playoff mode. Last season they were struggling and fighting to make the playoffs and they started playing playoff hockey several weeks prior to the end of the season. (Remember, "Fear the Beard"?) They had to in order to make the playoffs. You can't simply flip a switch when the season ends and say we raise our level of play because these games mean more. That style of play needs to start now so it is engrained in every player when it counts the most.

More -

"The mood both on and off the ice was upbeat and uptempo. The guys were not pleased with the results from the last two games, especially, but were in pretty good spirits. Any concerns with Radulov's ability to fit in to the locker room should be immediately quelled. He was joking around on the ice and off the ice with the guys. Gill and Kevin Klein, the two guys with lockers just to the left of Radulov, joked about the extra media attention in their corner of the room."


"Lines for Today's Practice:
Fisher centering Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn
Legwand centering Hornqvist and Radulov
Spaling centering Bourque and Andrei Kostitsyn
Gaustad centering Halischuk and Yip
Smith centering Maclellan and Tootoo"


22 sitting tomorrow?
- blueline

I would think it's time for 22 to sit. A few years ago I would have never thought I would be saying something like what I'm about to say....But, Tootoo has not scored a single point in the month of March. 0 goals and 0 assists -6 in only 10 games. His line consistently gets stuck in the D-Zone by an aggressive forecheck which turns into a turn over way too many times.

This is a backhanded compliment on his game. We, as fans, expect more from him now because he has shown us all he has more to his game than running people, fighting and agitating opponents into penalties.

I know he's a fan favorite and benching him won't be a popular decision but IMO it's the right choice.

I would think it's time for 22 to sit. A few years ago I would have never thought I would be saying something like what I'm about to say....But, Tootoo has not scored a single point in the month of March. 0 goals and 0 assists -6 in only 10 games. His line consistently gets stuck in the D-Zone by an aggressive forecheck which turns into a turn over way too many times.

This is a backhanded compliment on his game. We, as fans, expect more from him now because he has shown us all he has more to his game than running people, fighting and agitating opponents into penalties.

I know he's a fan favorite and benching him won't be a popular decision but IMO it's the right choice.
- PredfanDan

I'm starting to wonder if Tootoo will be re-signed. His contract negotiations never take this long and Poile has shown that he's not afraid to let a fan favorite go. (Sully)

Earlier in the season I would have never had these thoughts, but with the dramatic tail off in production paired with the elevated play of Bourque and Halischuk, I think Tootoo may be becoming expendable.

Agree or disagree?

I'm starting to wonder if Tootoo will be re-signed. His contract negotiations never take this long and Poile has shown that he's not afraid to let a fan favorite go. (Sully)

Earlier in the season I would have never had these thoughts, but with the dramatic tail off in production paired with the elevated play of Bourque and Halischuk, I think Tootoo may be becoming expendable.

Agree or disagree?
- Predaceous

Agree. I think it is likeSmithson, get. Replaced by younger players. He does not fightthatmuchanymore, he does not produce offensively, seems to havelostthat"energy" the Tootoo train is heading out after this. Season

I'm starting to wonder if Tootoo will be re-signed. His contract negotiations never take this long and Poile has shown that he's not afraid to let a fan favorite go. (Sully)

Earlier in the season I would have never had these thoughts, but with the dramatic tail off in production paired with the elevated play of Bourque and Halischuk, I think Tootoo may be becoming expendable.

Agree or disagree?
- Predaceous

D,
Lets not forget that this is the best offensive season Tootoo has ever had. It's just...where has it gone this month?

D,
Lets not forget that this is the best offensive season Tootoo has ever had. It's just...where has it gone this month?
- PredfanDan

I haven't forgotten, but it was largely concentrated in a two month time frame and he's dropped off dramatically from that. You know how Trotz likes the word 'consistency.'

EDIT: His contracts usually get done by January, don't they? I wonder if the fact that it's not done is having a negative impact on his performance.

Tonight's game is probably the biggest must win game of the season to date, especially with a trip to face the red-hot Blackhawks tomorrow. This team needs to find a sense of urgency and fast. The bleeding needs to stop before it becomes lethal.