Paul McCann: Pasted by the Wild

Last nights performance was simply a lack of effort.

We were flat, there was no crispness to the game, and we were on our heals much of it.

Tack into it that we have the worst goaltending in the league right now and we are probably lucky it wasn't worse.

We have to make some changes immediately. Goalie/back-up goalie is thing one.

Last nights performance was simply a lack of effort.

We were flat, there was no crispness to the game, and we were on our heals much of it.

Tack into it that we have the worst goaltending in the league right now and we are probably lucky it wasn't worse.

We have to make some changes immediately. Goalie/back-up goalie is thing one.
- predJD

Why would we waste money or moves on goaltending right now? This isn't nor was it ever going to be a playoff team. We simply don't have enough talent. Our offense is atrocious and our blue line is grossly inexperienced. Unfortunately, we'll probably have almost the exact same team next year. Pekka and another year of experience should be a solid improvement on D, but up front, leggy is the only logical change. If we could get something for him at the trade deadline and sign Statsny or another improvement in the middle, we could see slight improvement. Forsberg could help, but he still probably won't see the minutes he needs unless he comes up during the second half and lights it up.

Why would we waste money or moves on goaltending right now? This isn't nor was it ever going to be a playoff team. We simply don't have enough talent. Our offense is atrocious and our blue line is grossly inexperienced. Unfortunately, we'll probably have almost the exact same team next year. Pekka and another year of experience should be a solid improvement on D, but up front, leggy is the only logical change. If we could get something for him at the trade deadline and sign Statsny or another improvement in the middle, we could see slight improvement. Forsberg could help, but he still probably won't see the minutes he needs unless he comes up during the second half and lights it up.
- Vegas Trotzkies

It always seems so obvious to everyone, except for Poile and the ownership. WE NEED OFFENSE!

Our forwards are magicians!!! You know why? B/C they all disappear during games. They all take turns playing well...Willy plays well, then Leggy, then Smith, then Fisher, then Smith again, then Stalberg gets a few points, then Horny gets hurt, then you get my point.

Please bring up Forsberg, so we can actually watch him play. The excuse of 'developing' him in Milwaukee is so lame. This team could use him as a shot to the arm in the offensive zone.

6-10-4 in the last 20 games. 7th time this year the preds have been shut out!

Our forwards are magicians!!! You know why? B/C they all disappear during games. They all take turns playing well...Willy plays well, then Leggy, then Smith, then Fisher, then Smith again, then Stalberg gets a few points, then Horny gets hurt, then you get my point.

Please bring up Forsberg, so we can actually watch him play. The excuse of 'developing' him in Milwaukee is so lame. This team could use him as a shot to the arm in the offensive zone.
- wareaglePREDS

Do you really want Trotz getting his hands on Forsberg and turning him into another grinder?

After a 4-0 pasting by division rival Minnesota , the Nashville Predators wake up this morning ten points out of the playoff hunt and looking for answers in a season that looks to be slipping away.
- pmccann

They're done. It's not slipping away, it's gone. Only the most myopic continue to have optimism that this is a playoff team. It wasn't a playoff team before the season even started. Poile's off-season moves didn't impress anyone but him and Trotz.

I still can't believe they passed on Grabovski because they wanted more mediocre players as opposed to one really good one.

I also don't think Housley is a very good defensive coach. Our defense has gotten progressively worse since Peterson retired from that position. That guy was vastly underrated.

Is there a rule in hockey that you can only have a coach and two assistants behind the bench? The Preds need to bring in an offensive specialist. Someone who can teach the boys how to pass properly and control the puck. Hopefully turn this team into a puck possession team instead of a puck turnover team.

D

They're done. It's not slipping away, it's gone. Only the most myopic continue to have optimism that this is a playoff team. It wasn't a playoff team before the season even started. Poile's off-season moves didn't impress anyone but him and Trotz.

I still can't believe they passed on Grabovski because they wanted more mediocre players as opposed to one really good one.

I also don't think Housley is a very good defensive coach. Our defense has gotten progressively worse since Peterson retired from that position. That guy was vastly underrated.

Is there a rule in hockey that you can only have a coach and two assistants behind the bench? The Preds need to bring in an offensive specialist. Someone who can teach the boys how to pass properly and control the puck. Hopefully turn this team into a puck possession team instead of a puck turnover team.

D
- Predaceous

I am a full - season ticket holder since year 2 . I have been through a lot of down years and still enjoyed going to games. This isn't even fun anymore. Never mind losing, this team is pitifull to watch. Big changes need to be made or I am gone.

They're done. It's not slipping away, it's gone. Only the most myopic continue to have optimism that this is a playoff team. It wasn't a playoff team before the season even started. Poile's off-season moves didn't impress anyone but him and Trotz.

I still can't believe they passed on Grabovski because they wanted more mediocre players as opposed to one really good one.

I also don't think Housley is a very good defensive coach. Our defense has gotten progressively worse since Peterson retired from that position. That guy was vastly underrated.

Is there a rule in hockey that you can only have a coach and two assistants behind the bench? The Preds need to bring in an offensive specialist. Someone who can teach the boys how to pass properly and control the puck. Hopefully turn this team into a puck possession team instead of a puck turnover team.

D
- Predaceous

Should have never let Joel Ward walk!!! The team has never been the same! Don't think Grabovski was interested in the preds.

Paul, take your pride as a PA out of your ***, and realize that this team is just a completely pathetic excuse for a hockey team. Are you that scared of losing your job that you don't want to publicly say anything is wrong with this team? Sad.

I was at both games this weekend and I was wondering if ekholm always looks so lost and makes mistakes? It may have been a fluke but from this weekend I see kid who should be in Milwaukee
I know its buffalo bias here but maybe pursue tallinder? He was a calming influence on Myers and maybe pairing him with Jones could be good for the both. Could probably be had for a 3rd round pick
also rookie goaltending is rough I think the preds should look into bringing in Jose Theodore to start until rinne is back and backup after. Always good to have a vet like that in the locker room anyways

My kids don't even enjoy going to games anymore. We've attended 6-10 games a year for the past several years. We went last night, and left in the middle of the 3rd period. No reason to hang around. The kids were bored. The hockey by the Wild was mediocre. Whatever the Preds were doing wasn't hockey. The school of rock kids, and the tiny tikes between periods (and the one older guy dancing on the jumbotron) were the only things that even remotely resembled entertainment. The crowd wanted to get into the game early - but were given no hope by the team.

Dead building. No jump or life in the team. Clear lack of skill up front. Inexcusably weak in goal.

I've been very slow to come around to this - but if those aren't symptoms of a team that needs a coaching & GM shake-up...I don't know what it takes.

Blech...things are depressingly awful in Predator land.

Should have never let Joel Ward walk!!! The team has never been the same! Don't think Grabovski was interested in the preds.
- slash&smash

He didn't have a choice. He was on waivers and Poile could have claimed him. His contract may have been a little pricey, but we would have to overpay any legit scoring FA forward anyway because no one want to come to Nashville and play in Trotz's system unless they're a defensive-minded player.

Not to mention we'd have him locked up for years.

I was at both games this weekend and I was wondering if ekholm always looks so lost and makes mistakes? It may have been a fluke but from this weekend I see kid who should be in Milwaukee
I know its buffalo bias here but maybe pursue tallinder? He was a calming influence on Myers and maybe pairing him with Jones could be good for the both. Could probably be had for a 3rd round pick
also rookie goaltending is rough I think the preds should look into bringing in Jose Theodore to start until rinne is back and backup after. Always good to have a vet like that in the locker room anyways
- sxm3398

Ekholm has some great games and some bad games, but this is his first season in the NHL and that's to be expected. Jones has his sucky moments too, as they all do.

To be honest, I don't like the way Trotz is rotating Ekholm and Bartley in and out of the lineup. He lets one of them play for weeks until they mess up. After that he puts the other one in for weeks until they mess up. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

He didn't have a choice. He was on waivers and Poile could have claimed him. His contract may have been a little pricey, but we would have to overpay any legit scoring FA forward anyway because no one want to come to Nashville and play in Trotz's system unless they're a defensive-minded player.

Not to mention we'd have him locked up for years.
- Predaceous

I thought Grabo was bought out & it made him a FA.

Should have never let Joel Ward walk!!! The team has never been the same! Don't think Grabovski was interested in the preds.
- slash&smash

Grabovski didn't need to be interested in the Preds. He was under a reasonable contract and could have been picked up on waivers for no compensation. They just choose not to pick him up. Of course he is an outspoken guy so that wouldn't fit the 'predator way'.

Grabovski didn't need to be interested in the Preds. He was under a reasonable contract and could have been picked up on waivers for no compensation. They just choose not to pick him up. Of course he is an outspoken guy so that wouldn't fit the 'predator way'.
- MusicCityVic

Last time the preds had an out spoken Center was Arnott. Love or hate him, he produced for 3 years. It is long over due for a 1st line C!!! & play him 20-24 Minutes/ game.

- And speaking of full credit… gotta give a shout out to Josh Cooper in the Tennessean. Unlike a lot of the “nattering nabobs of negativity” … he has been very tough, but fair in his comments regarding this team. Not taking the contrarian role just to garner readers… good on ya Josh.

Paul, i'm generally in your court. However, i'd like what your definition of "nattering nabobs of negativity".

In social media after all the FA signings we were told these were all great additions and the team would compete at a high level. Worse, if you disagreed with the signings you just didn't understand how the team was put together and should just defer to the GM and coach. I for one still don't understand why they didn't sign Grabovski. He was an obvious need and at 3 Million for one year he would have fit a short term need and maybe the Preds could have signed him to a longer deal if things worked out. Instead Cullen is signed for 2 years at more money and less production. Hendricks is signed for nearly 2 million a year for 4 years in a contract they will never been able to trade away. The jury is still out on Stalberg and his 12 million dollar deal. I doubt he ever fits in playing the "predator way". The only decent signing appears to be Nystrom. At the very least, some of this money could have been spend on a real backup goaltender, though I'm not blaming this medicrity on the loss of Rinne.

Where is the line between being a "nabob of negativity" and just being fed up with sticking with the same system that gets you in and out of the playoffs year after year. I get that there were ownership issues in the past and the roster was purged and all that. But we have been told for the past 3 years that the ownership and money isn't an issue. In 15 years we have won 2 playoff series.

When does accountability come into play for putting a horrible product on the ice? We have a great fan base now and excellent leadership in the marketing and service areas. Now the team is boring and ill equipped to compete. I'd rather bring up the kids and take the lumps than sit through this mess night after night.

Maybe instead of boing Suter, we should boo everyone else. I've long ago removed by gold colored glasses.

"nabob of negativity" Victor

Ekholm has some great games and some bad games, but this is his first season in the NHL and that's to be expected. Jones has his sucky moments too, as they all do.

To be honest, I don't like the way Trotz is rotating Ekholm and Bartley in and out of the lineup. He lets one of them play for weeks until they mess up. After that he puts the other one in for weeks until they mess up. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
- Predaceous

I thought Jones looked pretty good both games and has the stats to back up that play as well

I was unaware of the rotating rookie defensemen. I wonder why trotz doesn't keep one and let the other play top pair minutes in the ahl

After a 4-0 pasting by division rival Minnesota , the Nashville Predators wake up this morning ten points out of the playoff hunt and looking for answers in a season that looks to be slipping away.

Playoff hunt!?!?!?




They should be on the management hunt.

I thought Grabo was bought out & it made him a FA.
- slash&smash

He was bought out after no one claimed him. Washington then signed him for a more reasonable number, but also just one year I believe.

I thought Jones looked pretty good both games and has the stats to back up that play as well

I was unaware of the rotating rookie defensemen. I wonder why trotz doesn't keep one and let the other play top pair minutes in the ahl
- sxm3398

Not just those games. They all look great at times. They all have their breakdown moments as well. People were calling for Jones to be benched after two particularly dismal games not too long ago. Ekholm is solid, and he'll be a great defenseman in a couple of years. Right now he's learning as they all are. We have a very young group of defensemen. Three years from now they'll be awesome, but right now there are a lot of growing pains.

- And speaking of full credit… gotta give a shout out to Josh Cooper in the Tennessean. Unlike a lot of the “nattering nabobs of negativity” … he has been very tough, but fair in his comments regarding this team. Not taking the contrarian role just to garner readers… good on ya Josh.

I for one still don't understand why they didn't sign Grabovski. He was an obvious need and at 3 Million for one year he would have fit a short term need and maybe the Preds could have signed him to a longer deal if things worked out.

--respectfully snipped--

"nabob of negativity" Victor
- MusicCityVic

The price of the contract you're quoting is what Washington paid him as a free agent. If we had taken him off waivers it was a much higher price point and several more years. It still would have been a great investment for a team that has zero scorers, but I wanted to set the record straight on this.

However, I do agree with your points about the free agent acquisitions this summer. I don't know anyone who was happy with this group outside of the Stalberg acquisition, and Trotz isn't really giving him a proper chance to develop into the role he was brought in for.

Do you guys really believe in Eklund's rumor right now? The one about Moulson is a possible trade to Nashville?