Paul McCann: This One Hurts...

A lot of pundits are calling Los Angeles the favorite in this WCF series. Are you kidding me? After watching the ‘Yotes squeeze the life out of first Chicago and then Nashville, you have to call Phoenix the favorite.
- pmccann

Did you see the Kings squeeze the life out of the top two teams in much more impressive fashion than Phoenix did over us and Chicago?

Sorry, Paul, but I have to go with the Kings on this. The Preds had a ton of opportunities that they flat out missed. I don't see the Kings missing those chances.

Kings in 6.

"A lot of pundits are calling Los Angeles the favorite in this WCF series. Are you kidding me? After watching the ‘Yotes squeeze the life out of first Chicago and then Nashville, you have to call Phoenix the favorite."

You beat a #1 and #2 team - you'll be the favorite.

Say what you will about Rads, but he had 6 points in 8 games and +2.

Was bringing back Alexander Radulov a good idea?

This guy should go back to th KHL on the first plain out of town, SEE YA!!!!

"A lot of pundits are calling Los Angeles the favorite in this WCF series. Are you kidding me? After watching the ‘Yotes squeeze the life out of first Chicago and then Nashville, you have to call Phoenix the favorite."

You beat a #1 and #2 team - youll be the favorite.

Say what you will about Rads, but he had 6 points in 8 games and +2.
- buelleo

I'm glad Radulov came back. I hope Poile is able to re-sign him, but even if he doesn't come back (Slava Malamud predicts he's played his last NHL game) then at least we've put the whole bailing on his contract mess behind us and can move forward as an organization.

*Suter won't be back. I would be thoroughly shocked if he re-signs. I'm going to hate him regardless of where he ends up simply because I feel like he lied to the fans and this organization, but if he ends up as a Red Wing I will hate him like no other.

*I'd love to see Gaustad and Gill back next season, but I think Gaustad goes back to Buffalo. As for Gill, he's already past the age where Preds Mgmt tends to re-sign players to the roster, but we'll see. He definitely made the defense better.

*Weber - Keep trying to re-sign him. If he doesn't put pen to paper by the trade deadline then ship him out. No more of this holding on to our UFA dmen in hopes of advancing in the playoffs. It didn't work with Hamhuis, it didn't work with Suter, it probably won't work with Weber. If he doesn't sign then give the team some building blocks for the future.

*Tootoo - I'd be surprised if he's back

*AK - Same here

*SK - I think they'll sign him for one more season. He's been productive during the regular season. If they can ever get him to shoot more consistently he could be quite a player for us.

*Wilson - I think that allowing him to play the last three games and putting him on the top line in the last game may have done some real good towards getting him to re-sign without making it difficult for Poile.

I wonder how many guys we let go, how many rookies we bring in, and whether or not Poile will continue to build towards a championship or try to revert back to the rebuild he attempted last summer.

D

Nashville will have a tough time putting together a team that was as good as this years team. They also really put all their eggs in one basket by trading picks for Gaustad and Gill. I think they will still be good however next year because they have Rinne. I can see Suter moving on but Weber will be signed to long term and big money....

Pheonix vs LA should be a good series. I am cheering for LA but I won't be dissapointed with whomever comes out of that series. I just want it to be entertaining. Even if it's good defensive hockey

Was bringing back Alexander Radulov a good idea?

This guy should go back to th KHL on the first plain out of town, SEE YA!!!!
- The_Hinter

Down here in Smashville we fly on PLANES. but i get your drift.

Man oh Man, i drank the mainstream media koolaid. Overlooked all the Preds warts and saw a large silver bowl in their future. Bummer.

I dont think Rads proved he is worth a monster contract. If he comes back, I think you will see a onesy for 2.5 to 3.5 with Poile saying Prove it Rads and I will pay you.

I think we have seen the last of Suter. He wants to be Batman iso Robin.

Kings have the snipers to make Yotes pay but the Yotes have the sticks in the lanes to keep the snipers from getting the pucks. If the previous trend continues, the WCF games will all go to OT.

I am sure everyone in Washington is blaming Joel today. Wonder if they have thought where they would be if he hadnt scored in OT of game 7 of the first round??????? Todays hero is tomorrow's goat.

Going to be an interesting summer.

If for no other reason than physical size and toughness, I think the LA forwards will prove too much for the Coyotes defense. Nashville still lacks that.

Not to troll but.

Do you guys see weber and suter leaving
And if they do , do you guys see Nash going into a rebuild

They could get alot for rinne and weber
Lindback will be a great goalie. And there's no use continuing to finish 8 and 9 (which is where I see them finishing if they lose suter/webs)

Rebuilds are painful, but are worth it if they work

If...

LAK knocked off the 1st seed, they knocked off the 2nd seed, they are aiming to knock off the 3rd seed. LAK is on a all-time confidence high with Quick and Brown's infectious confidence that leads the team. I say LAK in 5 over PHX.

NSH loosing to PHX is tough pill, at the same time, it will be tougher pill in the off season if things don't work out with the RFA and UFA players. What NSH gave up for the deadline trades, NSH can cash in in the draft by trading the rights away to other teams. Maybe just picks, but it will help NSH.

You win with 'character' players. Radulov bailing on Nashville while he was still under contract tells you all you need to know about his character. He just proved it again with the Phoenix incident.

Your team will be better off if he goes back to the KHL never to be heard from again.

Did you see the Kings squeeze the life out of the top two teams in much more impressive fashion than Phoenix did over us and Chicago?

Sorry, Paul, but I have to go with the Kings on this. The Preds had a ton of opportunities that they flat out missed. I don't see the Kings missing those chances.

Kings in 6.
- Predaceous

Your LA is showing D.

I will use another "D" word... destiny... I see that quality in Phoenix... I also see some of it in LA but I do believe that the 'Yotes are slight favorites, discipline will make the difference.

Your LA is showing D.

I will use another "D" word... destiny... I see that quality in Phoenix... I also see some of it in LA but I do believe that the 'Yotes are slight favorites, discipline will make the difference.
- pmccann

I can see either team winning. LA should be the better team, but Phoenix has been shooting seeing-eye pucks that find strange paths into the net, as well as getting plenty of help from "intent to whistle" calls. It will be interesting to see which team wins.

Speaking of "intent to whistle", when will the GMs finally talk about making these reviewable? The players play until they actually HEAR a whistle. It seems to me that the war room should be able to review ANY goal scored before a whistle. Intent is too subjective. If the ref thought the puck was covered and intended to blow, then let him explain his reasoning to Toronto. If the replay shows the puck covered, then disallow it. However, if video shows it was free the entire time, ALLOW THE FRICKIN' GOAL.

(frank) me, thanks a lot Preds, you just lost me my chance at 300$

Now that I've had half a dozen cups of coffee, I feel I can put words on screen that make sense.

Overall, this season was not a disappointment. Was there media hype going into the post season? Absolutely. But there were questions. With Hal Gill out, we were defensively tepid. With AK & Rads out, we were lacking snipers. Behind the bench, Trotz was facing a coach on a team modeled after his own. The only thing we knew FOR SURE going into this post season is that Pekka would do his job, and do it he did.

The Yotes played their game perfectly. The refs did too, unfortunately. But what ultimately matters is the Preds lost to a well played game. We couldn't cash in on, by my count, 14 GOLDEN opportunities through the last 3 games, but such is the fate of this team. Poor Horny couldn't hit the side of a barn Sunday, and Radulov/Weber had probably 4 empty net chances between them last night. But alas, the Hockey Gods have their chosen ones this year, and we are not it.

So what needs to change going into this summer? For one, Shea needs a new partner (Josi?). Suter has angered me since just before the ASG when he was nominated. I KNEW then that he would have an effect on the rest of the season, and I just didn't know how negative it would be. His play has been abysmal. I think we keep SK, Gill (who loves it here, surprise), AK, and would love Goose, but his home is Buffalo and we knew that when we got him. Tootoo has spent his last days as a Pred, so we will probably keep Potatoes. The rest, well... July 1 is just around the corner.

I know this is disjointed as a read through it, but my thoughts are now on screen.

You win with 'character' players. Radulov bailing on Nashville while he was still under contract tells you all you need to know about his character. He just proved it again with the Phoenix incident.

Your team will be better off if he goes back to the KHL never to be heard from again.
- maaddmike

Actually you win when you score more goals than the other team.

So would a character player be Tootoo with 3games 0points? Or Fish with 4 points in 10 games and -4?

Or the other guys?
Radulov 8 games 6 points +2
AK 8 games 4 points +3

Yes...I am totally biased...but to say Phoenix is the "favorite" going into their series w/ LA? Really??

Sure, Phoenix suffocated Chicago...but how many AWFUL goals did Crawford give up that NO OTHER GOALIE in these playoffs would've? Chicago's D isn't that great and their goaltending is mediocre at best. = Not that impressed by their series win.

Phoenix beat Nashville. Nashville's D and goaltending are top notch...but remind me any scary offensive threats? NONE. Name the forwards on Nashville other teams are afraid to play against...I can't think of one. AND, Nashville played w/o arguably two of their best forwards for 2 games. Nashville hit posts, had opportunities that other teams would've cashed in on....again, Phoenix winning...not that impressed.

Kings beat the President Trophy winners in 5...dealt w Sedin(s)...Kesler...chased Luongo (gold medalist, SC finalist) ...beat Schneider..undefeated on the road.

Beat St. Louis. TOP DEFENSIVE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE...still undefeated on the road.

Kings went 8-1 against the #1 and #2 seeds.

Phoenix has yet to see a player who is playing as hot as Dustin Brown....Kopitar...Richards...and if Jeff Carter wakes up..watch out.

W/ all this said...Phoenix is playing good hockey and it'll be a hell of a series...they will push the Kings. But if LA keeps up this pace of play...they will not be denied.

Kings in 6.

Nashville will have a tough time putting together a team that was as good as this years team. They also really put all their eggs in one basket by trading picks for Gaustad and Gill. I think they will still be good however next year because they have Rinne. I can see Suter moving on but Weber will be signed to long term and big money....

Pheonix vs LA should be a good series. I am cheering for LA but I won't be dissapointed with whomever comes out of that series. I just want it to be entertaining. Even if it's good defensive hockey
- riceroni

Dont forget when we took VAN to 6 games last year we lost: Sullivan, Ward, Dumont, Franson, Smithson, Goc, Blum, Geoffrion, O'Brien

I'd keep Radulov, but on a very short leash.
He looked dangerous setting up guys on most shifts.
If he learns the system and starts back checking consistently he will be a good asset.

What is the deal with Kevin Klein? Is he a legit top 4 defenseman?
Sometimes he looks great, other times a liability defending.
Just a younger guy going through the learning process, maybe.

How can you question bringing A-Rad back in. The guy may be young and maybe immature, but he's an offensive threat every time he's on the ice. He's got superb vision and soft hands and can make the players around him better. How come nobody is questioning whether Kostitsyn should have been back? He was invisible all night. Of course you keep Radulov. He's a top young offensive star who produces. You don't let that go......

Is 2015 here yet?

Good season boys. I might be down there in the fall to see the new look predators. Good luck on keeping the changes from being too drastic.

And thanks, Paul McCann, for your always entertaining blogs. Do you think this playoff run inspires the ownership to dig deeper into their pockets?

How can you question bringing A-Rad back in. The guy may be young and maybe immature, but he's an offensive threat every time he's on the ice. He's got superb vision and soft hands and can make the players around him better. How come nobody is questioning whether Kostitsyn should have been back? He was invisible all night. Of course you keep Radulov. He's a top young offensive star who produces. You don't let that go......
- Phenom

There's also word that Rads is going to have knee surgery rather than join Russia at the Worlds. http://www.rt.com/sport/h...ville-predators-knee-775/ If his knee was that bad, it explains why he didn't play at full speed all the time. I'd definitely try to re-sign him as long as he doesn't want Weber-type money. He still needs to prove that he can play in this league in order to earn major dollars. Success in the KHL means nothing in the NHL.