Paul McCann: The Sun Came Up in Smashville - Nashville's Blueline

This just in: Nash has been traded to the L.A. Kings!



Great job there Toronto.

- Not only does David Poile has a big hole to fill, so does Lou Lamoriello…
- pmccann

I think Poile's job is infinitely more difficult than Lamoriello's. At least Lou has Kovalchuk locked up. We have Weber, but if he signs a one year offer sheet, that effectively ties Poile's hands. He would almost have to let him go because the current CBA doesn't allow players who sign an offer sheet to be traded that same year.

Not a good situation no matter how you look at it. Now we'll see what kind of a GM Poile really is.

In regards to that Freep Article...

"The Red Wings also made the Finals 3 years ago and were 1 game away from another second straight Cup..Sorry but just because 2 over rated and now over paid players decided to join a crappy team in the Wild, does not mean the Red Wings are all of a sudden a second tier franchise."

Couldn't of said it better....

Sry, it posted twice.

In regards to that Freep Article...

"The Red Wings also made the Finals 3 years ago and were 1 game away from another second straight Cup..Sorry but just because 2 over rated and now over paid players decided to join a crappy team in the Wild, does not mean the Red Wings are all of a sudden a second tier franchise."

Couldn't of said it better....
- Hockeytown4life

Bitter much?

Paul, you left out Big Hal Gill!

Paul, you left out Big Hal Gill!
- Polecat

It's there. His name just wasn't bolded.

It's there. His name just wasn't bolded.
- Predaceous

Whoops...

In regards to that Freep Article...

"The Red Wings also made the Finals 3 years ago and were 1 game away from another second straight Cup..Sorry but just because 2 over rated and now over paid players decided to join a crappy team in the Wild, does not mean the Red Wings are all of a sudden a second tier franchise."

Couldn't of said it better....
- Hockeytown4life

I hate to disagree... actually, I don't hate to disagree, I just disagree. The Red Wings faded down the stretch and exited the playoffs in 5 games to a team that had never beaten them in the playoffs before. They lost their two best defensemen and Hudler, but heyyyy, you have Tootoo.

As it stands right now, the Wings are not as good as they were at the end of last season, and that ought to concern Wings fans. There's still time to prop up that franchise again by acquiring Nash or Semin etc, but if that doesn't work out, then what? The Wings have a lot of work to do.

So now Suter is claiming he was on the up and up with Poile all along.

Ron Johnson ‏@RonJohnsonWKRN
Ryan Suter tells Minneapolis radio station he was straight forward and honest with David Poile. He has not heard Poile’s comments… cont

… Suter said he does not know where Poile’s comments are coming from in reference to Suter’s agent’s November comment on Suter staying.

So who do you believe? Personally, I believe Poile. We heard enough out of Suter during the year to know that he mislead Poile in more than one area.

In regards to that Freep Article...

"The Red Wings also made the Finals 3 years ago and were 1 game away from another second straight Cup..Sorry but just because 2 over rated and now over paid players decided to join a crappy team in the Wild, does not mean the Red Wings are all of a sudden a second tier franchise."

Couldn't of said it better....
- Hockeytown4life

Considering nearly every Wings fan was guaranteeing that Suter would sign there...this is funny.

Ok so we lost Suter ( don't think he'd have been worth $90+ mil). I'm not as worried about the DEF as I am the offensive side of the team which is the same problem we have every off season. We pretty much have the same offense as we started with last season (which is just average). The only true offensive talent we had went back to Russia. There's not a lot out there in the FA market (pretty much a down year for talent). What if anything can we do at this point other than add 3rd 4th line guys or trade away Weber away to get some decent offense???? I know Poile usually does well to field a solid compeitive team, but I gotta say this year seems like it's gonna be especially hard. Guess we will see....

It stinks we lost Suter.

It stinks more that Suter misled Poile to think he was still coming back here (Poile would have shipped his rights off and got something!)

It stinks that we missed out on Carle - but not for that price

It rocks that that we still have one of the best D-men in the league

It rocks that we have one of the best goalies in the league

It rocks that we have ownership that is willing to invest in players like never before.

It rocks that we have a great GM who I wouldn't trade for anyone...if anything this thing with Suter will make him a stronger GM going fwd.

You know what Nashville...we are going to be okay...in fact we are going to be better than we were last year.

On the plus side, Josi looked good in the playoffs.

On the plus side, Josi looked good in the playoffs.
- JVR2112

You are right...the Jossi/Gil pairing looked really good at times.

It stinks we lost Suter.

It stinks more that Suter misled Poile to think he was still coming back here (Poile would have shipped his rights off and got something!)

It stinks that we missed out on Carle - but not for that price

It rocks that that we still have one of the best D-men in the league

It rocks that we have one of the best goalies in the league

It rocks that we have ownership that is willing to invest in players like never before.

It rocks that we have a great GM who I wouldn't trade for anyone...if anything this thing with Suter will make him a stronger GM going fwd.

You know what Nashville...we are going to be okay...in fact we are going to be better than we were last year.
- predjoe

Totally agree with what's in bold. I know it can get tiresome having the same people in place with a franchise, but trust me as a Canucks fan who suffered for decades under really deep incompetence (think of the Bluejackets as current parallel), you guys have been well served by Poile. Just look at the state of the Wild, Bluejackets and, er, Thrashers compared to what your team has accomplished.

In a world where Christian Ehrhoff can be paid 10 million for one year, you just have to keep your head down and keep your eye on the long game.

It stinks we lost Suter.

It stinks more that Suter misled Poile to think he was still coming back here (Poile would have shipped his rights off and got something!)

It stinks that we missed out on Carle - but not for that price

It rocks that that we still have one of the best D-men in the league

It rocks that we have one of the best goalies in the league

It rocks that we have ownership that is willing to invest in players like never before.

It rocks that we have a great GM who I wouldn't trade for anyone...if anything this thing with Suter will make him a stronger GM going fwd.

You know what Nashville...we are going to be okay...in fact we are going to be better than we were last year.
- predjoe

You've also got a pretty good coach.
You guys will be fine.

So now Suter is claiming he was on the up and up with Poile all along.



So who do you believe? Personally, I believe Poile. We heard enough out of Suter during the year to know that he mislead Poile in more than one area.
- Predaceous

Suter p'ed off more people than David Poile.

As for Detroit, sure Nash would make them tougher upfront but their gaping need is on defense, losing Lidstrom, Stuart and Rafalski in the last two summers.

And here's the other thing, unless Holland tanks the season and waits for a "shot" in free agency next year, they have to trade now for improvement. And their prospects are OK, not great. And no one is out there waiting to give Holland a sweetheart deal to keep the Big Red Machine humming. In fact, any GM dealing with Holland right now has a TON of leverage. If Detroit fans think Tomas Jurco and the kid from Finland are going to get them Nash, they are dreaming.

Great Lakes, Tough Times.

Bitter much?

- John Jaeckel

Come on...you honestly think anybody is afraid of the Minnesota Wild now?? They might
manage the 8th or 9th seed if they are lucky. Not bitter...just calling it like I see it.

i would hate to be you guys right now, with the barrage of ridiculously retarded offers for weber that everyone is going to be posting.... so umm ill give you sam gagnier, a couple of ahl guy, and a second. like jesus. i think seeing that crap will be more painful that losing suter. hopefully your management can get everything straightened out. always enjoyed seeing the predators do well

Come on...you honestly think anybody is afraid of the Minnesota Wild now?? They might
manage the 8th or 9th seed if they are lucky. Not bitter...just calling it like I see it.
- Hockeytown4life

You think many teams are scared of the Wings right now?

Considering nearly every Wings fan was guaranteeing that Suter would sign there...this is funny.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Right...I forgot you had already spoken to every one of us...how silly of me....

You think many teams are scared of the Wings right now?
- PoileRulezzzYo

No and nobody is saying they should be last I checked....

Ok so we lost Suter ( don't think he'd have been worth $90+ mil). I'm not as worried about the DEF as I am the offensive side of the team which is the same problem we have every off season. We pretty much have the same offense as we started with last season (which is just average). The only true offensive talent we had went back to Russia. There's not a lot out there in the FA market (pretty much a down year for talent). What if anything can we do at this point other than add 3rd 4th line guys or trade away Weber away to get some decent offense???? I know Poile usually does well to field a solid compeitive team, but I gotta say this year seems like it's gonna be especially hard. Guess we will see....
- jstyle13

You do realize the Preds tied for 8th overall in offense last season, right? We were one of two teams that had 11 guys with double digits goals. We don't have a sniper, but Hornqvist almost scored 30 goals for the second time in 3 years. I'd still like to see Poile bring in a top 6 forward, but the team did pretty damn well offensively last year.