Paul McCann: Goals and Roles - Five Signings for The Predators

4 years/$10 million for Nystrom? What. The. (frank).

Stalberg is a nice regular season player but will completely disappear in the playoffs. I watched it happen time and time again. Outside of that, great off season by the Preds who have one of the best coaches in the business. As a Hawks fan, not looking forward to going against Weber and Jones the next 10 years.

Preds should make a move for Grabo

Preds should make a move for Grabo
- As_I_See_It

Nice License

If you think Stalberg is a top-six forward now....... just wait, you've got another thing coming

Stalberg is a nice regular season player but will completely disappear in the playoffs. I watched it happen time and time again. Outside of that, great off season by the Preds who have one of the best coaches in the business. As a Hawks fan, not looking forward to going against Weber and Jones the next 10 years.
- tazer2013

Yeah that is my concern with this guy. I wasnt sure whether he got overtaken by the young kids with the Hawks or if it was a failing on his part. Just knew he wasnt around much during the playoffs.

Who knows i guess we will see

4 years/$10 million for Nystrom? What. The. (frank).
- ProudestMonkey

Hendricks contract is worse.

The term on these deals are whats getting me more than the salary. Some good young talent coming.

I suppose the Stalberg & Cullen deals make sense, even if Cullen seems a bit overpaid. But, doesn't 1.8MM/year seem a little high for Hendricks? Based on his role with the Caps. I guess Poile had to bring in some kind of muscle. As I look at the current roster, the only scrapper is Clune. And he's not afraid to go...but gets his clock cleaned in almost every fight.

I won't argue that the Preds probably upgraded a few of their bottom 6 spots. And perhaps Poile is stockpiling a few pieces for some type of trade. Is this the time he considers moving Leggy? Poile has tons of Centers on the roster. And, with Legwant at $4.5 with one year left, he may be able to group Leggy with another player & a pick to get a legitimate top-6 forward.

At this point, I'm assuming Poile's "top 6" forwards are:

1. Wilson
2. Smith
3. Fisher
4. Legwand
5. Stalberg
6. Hornqvist

That may be the weakest top 6 in the Western Conference. (I realize a couple of these guys may not fit on the first two lines, but they seem like the top forwards on the team as it stands.)

I suppose you could always put an "overpaid, aging, big guys" 4th line out there with Gaustad centering Nystrom and Hendricks. That leaves you with Cullen, Borque and Beck (or Watson or Clune) as your energy line?

Oy. I'm getting a headache.

I'm not really impressed with today's haul. I hope I'm wrong, but it's just more of the same, and what has that gotten us so far?

Stalberg is nice to have, and maybe he is a top 6 on this team, but just looking at his numbers, he not top 6 on any of the real cup contenders.

I have to believe that a trade is in the works. Otherwise I can't see how these guys all fit in.

I think all four guys are overpaid. Not saying a few of them don't fill roles but they are just getting too much money and we still don't have a legitimate scorer.

I'm not really impressed with today's haul. I hope I'm wrong, but it's just more of the same, and what has that gotten us so far?

Stalberg is nice to have, and maybe he is a top 6 on this team, but just looking at his numbers, he not top 6 on any of the real cup contenders.

I have to believe that a trade is in the works. Otherwise I can't see how these guys all fit in.
- Predaceous

Agreed. The players they signed today are basically the same types of players they just released.

A backup goaltender also comes from the defending Stanley Cup champs…
- pmccann

Am I missing something? What are you talking about?

Am I missing something? What are you talking about?
- BillKessel

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

I just do not get how Stalberg fits the Nashville role. Yes, he is very fast and scores in bunches against Columbus but he is a turnover machine and he refuses to play defense. For as big as he is and with his speed he can be an awesome forechecker and backchecker but just wont do it.

Between the draft and the initial day of free agency, I think the Preds have done better than anyone else (on paper) to this point. That's why they play the games but all in all I would agree this team got a lot tougher to play against.

looks like a lot of same old same old. a bunch of 1-0 & 2-1 games that could go either way...

A glass half empty perspective could reasonably say, not only have we not added the top 6 scorer we desperately need , we haven't really even replaced SK.

More than happy to be proved wrong but as far as upfront goes, it looks like we just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Well, looks like the preds are going to back to be an bumhole & elbows teams again! Wearing them down to the shoot out. Just hope Rinne gets better in the soot out than last year!

There just has to be more moves in the Poile plan.
Or, maybe, Poile hasn't come off the bender he went on since SJ fell into his lap.

Yikes. That nystrom contract doesn't look pretty. He was pretty brutal for us last year. Not even sure if he brings much grit.

Hellberg will win the backup role just like Lindback did a couple years ago

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.

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

Calling someone a battler is like saying he's not very talented but he tries hard

"Signing Victor Stalberg away from Chicago gives the team a legitimate top six forward…hard work, grit, all the things that Pred Nation is used to seeing out of a Predator team."



Not this Victor Stalberg...he was given numerous opportunities to play with the likes of Toews, Kane on the top line over the last 2 years. He failed. He disappears in the playoffs. Sure he somehow got 40 points 2 years ago while not being on the PP. He is quick and fast and does create great chances for himself with that speed....but HE CAN'T FINISH...and has cement hands.

Grit? Ahhh....no! This guy is a complete misfit for the Trotz/Pred system...very surprised they went after him.

Your team will still be the scoreless wonders and need Rinne to stand on head to have a chance each game.

Hendricks contract is worse.

The term on these deals are whats getting me more than the salary. Some good young talent coming.
- poisondhearts37

Hendricks is a real gritty player with some amazing moves on the shoot-out. I wish to hell he had stayed with the Caps....but not for the money that the Preds are throwing at him.
Hendricks gives it his all every shift, the kind of player the Caps desperately need.