Paul McCann: A Great Day at Blue, A So-So One in Boston

sloppy sloppy sloppy effort. I'm not sure how we got up 3-2 playing like that. There were a few good shifts, but play like that won't win many playoff games.
We will take the point and move on

Need. Alexander Semin. Now.

Thanks Boston for being a nice host and letting the Preds leave with a point when they certainly did not deserve it.

You rarely see Suter making comments to the press (unless he is on a national stage like the all-star game ), but he said something pretty candid to Josh Cooper after the game today. "We don’t have the skill in here that’s going to tic-tac-toe and play run and gun with this team."

And yes I know it's just him stating the obvious, but I think that's a pretty pointed statement from a guy who is usually pretty reserved. If he is gone July 1 you can probably guess why he chooses to sign somewhere else. Not a good feeling to see him start verbalizing it is all I'm saying I guess.

Thanks Boston for being a nice host and letting the Preds leave with a point when they certainly did not deserve it.

You rarely see Suter making comments to the press (unless he is on a national stage like the all-star game ), but he said something pretty candid to Josh Cooper after the game today. "We don’t have the skill in here that’s going to tic-tac-toe and play run and gun with this team."

And yes I know it's just him stating the obvious, but I think that's a pretty pointed statement from a guy who is usually pretty reserved. If he is gone July 1 you can probably guess why he chooses to sign somewhere else. Not a good feeling to see him start verbalizing it is all I'm saying I guess.
- Predville

First--I agree that we didn't deserve a point out of this crap-fest.

Second--Suter has a lot of nerve talking down the rest of his teammates. He's looked pretty lousy at times since the all-star break.

First--I agree that we didn't deserve a point out of this crap-fest.

Second--Suter has a lot of nerve talking down the rest of his teammates. He's looked pretty lousy at times since the all-star break.
- wings-suck

No question, Suter needs to look in the mirror and play like the $7 million dollar player he claims he is.

No question, Suter needs to look in the mirror and play like the $7 million dollar player he claims he is.
- sigep predfan

So what forward will deliver the beat down? That is a HORRIBLE think to say about your forwards. Last I looked the Preds are scoring, the defense is looking pretty horrible. It seems like the D-men are losing most of the battles behind the net.

Those are trading words!
I hate reading between the lines but I think that was a message sent to DP not the offense.
Even though I agree with Suter, there are better ways to rephrase that comment.

"Yeah uhhh well ya know, we need to simplify our game, ya know and uhhh get back to playing Predators hockey ya know"?

Need. Alexander Semin. Now.
- TheOne

My wife is from DC so it saddens me to say that we watch a lot of Caps hockey (because they get national televised games so often) Some games I asked myself if Semin is playing because he can be so invisible. I think SK74 is a poor mans Semin. I've heard for years how good Semin is supposed to be but I think he is on the wrong team. If he can get on the right team he could explode into an elite player.
he is also an UFA at the end of this season. DP does not do high caliber rentals*

It would be sick down the road if we had the Radulov Semin combination






* Forsberg

Suter's play since the all-star break has been suspect. Then, when you add some out-of-character comments - it all paints a bizarre picture. He's looked in a daze a few times out on the ice. And he's usually the smartest, sharpest player on the team.

It's hard to tell whether he's trying to goad DP into making some big, splashy move. Or if he's just really unhappy with his current situation or what. His comments aren't completely off-base, but not sure they are the right thing on a team that WAS playing with so much good chemistry.

The thing that struck me over the past couple of games is the Preds lack of size and muscle coming to bite them. The "50/50" plays along the boards - are more like "80/20" plays in favor of the other team. The Preds never seem to come away with the puck. I'm not saying they need to have all huge, lumbering skaters, but size and strength become more and more important at the end of the season and playoffs. That's when the game slows down a bit, and the hard work in the corners & boards leads to those dirty goals that give you a shot at the Cup.

Maybe if DP can't find that outta-sight forward Suter's pining for...maybe he could at least find another serviceable forward with some size/strength. Plus, another D-man with some size. Doesn't even need to be a scoring D-man. Just a stay-at-home guy who can strengthen the back end. With Klein's sporadic play & the rest of the 2nd/3rd pairs small & inexperienced - the defense could use an upgrade.

I dont think Suter is tanking at all but he has to be making some GM's scratch their head a bit. He's only hurting his payday around league, not helping it. He knows he has the Preds over a barrel pay wise, he's not helping his case for mega deals with other teams.

Here is where a guy like SOB could really help. The strong silent "I lead with my play on ice" type Captain (Weber) isn't worth a bag of pucks to this team as a leader right now.

good read IMO..

http://www.theglobeandmai...inglepage/#articlecontent

Hey Suter: Here is 5 players who I think are playing better than you.

Player GP G A P
Craig Smith 54 11 20 31
Mike Fisher 48 17 16 33
David Legwand 52 13 20 33
Patric Hornqvist 55 17 12 29
Martin Erat 48 13 29 42

After 55 games. It's not up to these guys to prevent shorthanded attempts. When the forwards fail to stop them, it's up to you. When you fail to try, you don't have the right to call these guys out. Just sayin.

Yes, the effort was flat, but at this point, everything that has gone on - I'm about ready to turn my back and say bon voyage.

Hey Suter: Here is 5 players who I think are playing better than you.

Player GP G A P
Craig Smith 54 11 20 31
Mike Fisher 48 17 16 33
David Legwand 52 13 20 33
Patric Hornqvist 55 17 12 29
Martin Erat 48 13 29 42

After 55 games. It's not up to these guys to prevent shorthanded attempts. When the forwards fail to stop them, it's up to you. When you fail to try, you don't have the right to call these guys out. Just sayin.

Yes, the effort was flat, but at this point, everything that has gone on - I'm about ready to turn my back and say bon voyage.
- iamageek

On the flip side he IS playing better than 274 other D-men in the NHL.

Thanks Boston for being a nice host and letting the Preds leave with a point when they certainly did not deserve it.

You rarely see Suter making comments to the press (unless he is on a national stage like the all-star game ), but he said something pretty candid to Josh Cooper after the game today. "We don’t have the skill in here that’s going to tic-tac-toe and play run and gun with this team."

And yes I know it's just him stating the obvious, but I think that's a pretty pointed statement from a guy who is usually pretty reserved. If he is gone July 1 you can probably guess why he chooses to sign somewhere else. Not a good feeling to see him start verbalizing it is all I'm saying I guess.
- Predville

A slap in the face to his team mates!

On the flip side he IS playing better than 274 other D-men in the NHL.
- buelleo

Great. Glad for him.

good read IMO..

http://www.theglobeandmai...inglepage/#articlecontent
- coaster28

"We don’t have the skill in here that’s going to tic-tac-toe and play run and gun with this team."
- Predville

I wonder if he thinks his team is at the top of the NHL standings by some sort of magical, mysterious means?

His sentiment is not only a slap in the face of his teammates, but also the coaching staff and club management. A bit of a whiney, juvenile perspective. We all want our lives to be easy, with no disappointments, ever. That ain't life and it's sure not a competetive athelete's required perspective.

Suter should ask Pekka if he wanted it easy at the end of overtime when Merchand took a pass 10 ft behind himself and with a straight shot at our goal.

I wonder if he thinks his team is at the top of the NHL standings by some sort of magical, mysterious means?

His sentiment is not only a slap in the face of his teammates, but also the coaching staff and club management. A bit of a whiney, juvenile perspective. We all want our lives to be easy, with no disappointments, ever. That ain't life and it's sure not a competetive athelete's required perspective.

Suter should ask Pekka if he wanted it easy at the end of overtime when Merchand took a pass 10 ft behind himself and with a straight shot at our goal.
- Fangor

Boy are you guys not going to like this....

This team has been playing great. When they are on their game they can dominate the game. While there are still weaknesses we can all point too, this team has been playing WELL ABOVE expectations. And they have for a long time. However that also means that as well has they have been playing - they simply do not have the same skill as many teams with lower points/or have beaten. My concern all year is that this team will not be able to keep this consistency throughout the year, yet alone the playoffs. Boston is a much deeper team than us. More skill. Odds are BOS will consistently beat us - along with many teams. We have been above our skill level...the problem is that falling off that cliff can come fast and hurt hard. DP needs to add skill.

You know, this Suter thing is really getting annoying. No player is bigger than the team itself, period. There comes a point where you have to say, is it really worth keeping player x and at what cost? Suter's overall body language and demeanor sucks right now. He is coming off like a whiny little biotch. I'd serve him up on a silver platter before the trade deadline and see what offers come about. If the offers are no good, then trade him at the draft, but he CAN'T be allowed to hit free agency under any circumstance, period. Anything in return is better than nothing.

They are slumping a little bit right now, but I'll take balanced scoring over one or two puck hog prima donnas where the teams standing depends on how well/bad those one or two players are playing. Suck it up and man-up, Ryan! You'll most likely get your wish soon enough.

You rarely see Suter making comments to the press (unless he is on a national stage like the all-star game ), but he said something pretty candid to Josh Cooper after the game today. "We don’t have the skill in here that’s going to tic-tac-toe and play run and gun with this team."
- Predville

I am glad that Suter does not want to be a distraction...

Boy are you guys not going to like this....

This team has been playing great. When they are on their game they can dominate the game. While there are still weaknesses we can all point too, this team has been playing WELL ABOVE expectations. And they have for a long time. However that also means that as well has they have been playing - they simply do not have the same skill as many teams with lower points/or have beaten. My concern all year is that this team will not be able to keep this consistency throughout the year, yet alone the playoffs. Boston is a much deeper team than us. More skill. Odds are BOS will consistently beat us - along with many teams. We have been above our skill level...the problem is that falling off that cliff can come fast and hurt hard. DP needs to add skill.
- buelleo

You know the teams with the most gifted scorers are pretty much on the outside looking in or are right on the edge.

Stamkos - out
Perry/Ryan/Getzlaf - out
Ovechkin - cusp
Hossa - plummeting, soon to be on cusp if not out.

IDK.. it would seem a more balanced 3/4 line team is the key to success.

I would be more inclined to agree with some of Suters comments if they had played a real good game and got schooled by Bruins. They played a crap game and nearly stole it. Would Preds play that crappy 4 games in a row? I doubt it.
They played Vancouver tough and went to a shoot out. If that's a playoff game I like our chances winning it in OT. As to playing WELL ABOVE expectations? I would argue they have played to expectations, maybe a bit beyond for a couple of young guys but certainly in-line with the career expectations of a Wilson Smith Ellis Josi. Erat/Legwand/Fisher/Weber are in line with career numbers and Kostitsyn is just a wild card who knows what you are gonna get.

Suter needs to button it and play.

Anybody else hoping the Wings beat the Stars Tuesday so their win streak is still going when the Preds go the Joe on Friday?