Preseason is over and the next time the puck drops for Nashville… it counts. After a 3-2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning we saw some of the worst of NHL officiating in the game. Not necessarily the penalty calls themselves, but another example of “evening up… the penalty calls as the game went on.
The parade to the penalty box started with six of the first seven penalties being assessed to Nashville during the first 30 minutes of game play. I am not quibbling with the calls… but what happened next is why a lot of folks are highly critical of NHL officiation. It was “Mary Kay… time… Tampa got whistled for eight of the next twelve penalties. Yup… 19 penalties in all, ten for Nashville and nine for Tampa.
I have been watching this game for a long time and it is this type of game that makes a lot of long time fans of the sport absolutely crazy.
The best part of Saturday’s foul-fest was a good chance to see the PK in action… which did a decent, if not perfect job. The shame of Saturday’s loss was the 5 on 5 play… the Preds could’ve used a little more of that play as the full strength play looked very, very good.
Now attention turns to the final roster decisions. There are 26 players in camp… one of them (Ryan Ellis) will be going on IR to begin the season so that leaves two cuts that need to happen. I am assuming that it will be one on defense and one at forward… and the decisions will not be easy. They won’t be easy because you can make cases for either side.
On the blueline… the decision seems to be between Anthony Bitetto and Samuel Girard. Both players have had very good training camps. Bitetto brings more size, more grit and 64 games of NHL experience. The 27 year old will have to pass through waivers in order to be sent to Milwaukee, which I do not believe that he will do… another, defensive-starved team will grab him in a heartbeat. Girard can be sent back to juniors and the decision process there includes a consideration if another year in juniors helps him… which I am not sure it does considering he has dominated over the past two seasons, leading scoring for all defensemen in the Q.
At forward, the decision may come down to Frederick Gaudreau and Vlad Kamanev. These two players have had solid camps as well. Which player benefits more from another season in the AHL? Which player can contribute more at the NHL level. In this observer’s opinion, you go with Gaudreau to start the season. But the leash may not be very long. This is another tough decision.
However, as I write this… another fairly strange but sensible option comes to mind…
Keep the defensemen and send both Gaudreau and Kamanev down. OK, before you start flaming me, hear me out…
If you keep Bitetto and Girard, you get a chance to get at least nine games worth of look at Girard… to see if he can hold up in the NHL… and you don’t lose a player to the waiver wire, extending your decision-making window for a couple of weeks. If Girard doesn’t appear to pan out… you can get him back to Shawinigan by the middle of October and the prospect has a clear understanding of what he needs to do for long term NHL success.
Expect some heated discussions over the next day or so at 501 Broadway.
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A brief word to pass along codolences and prayers to the family of Dave Strader who passed away over the weekend after an 18 month fight with cancer.
A great broadcaster and friend to SlapShot Radio, his voice will be missed. Godspeed Dave.
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I was so honored to be the host of the Best Buddies Friendship Walk yesterday… not only did we break our fundraising record for the walk, we had an incredible celebration of Best Buddies. We all had a blast!!!
It’s not too late to get involved or donate… Click Here. This is a great group of people and we are honored to be a small part of it.
Check out a video of the festivities… Thanks to Denise McCann for the great pictures and video!
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Random Notes
- It was not a good weekend if your football team began with a “T… …
- Pekka Rinne and Roman Josi came out to walk in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, continuing their quiet and highly effective support of this outstanding organization.
- So, the national pundits predictions have the Preds anywhere from first in the Central, to as low as sixth! Oh Greg… THAT’S your farewell present to Pred fans????
- KHL Watch – Eeli Tolvanen continues to terrorize the KHL, now up to 16 points in 13 games, the 18 year old posted a goal and an assist on four shots in Jopkerit’s 3-1 win over Severstal yesterday.
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------------------------------------- SlapShot Radio has an exciting season in store for our tenth anniversary season. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.
We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. Our new co-hosts are ex-Preds Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bringing a true insiders perspective to the show. This week is our annual season preview show featuring Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and much much more.
We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results at a reasonable price. Just ask our sponsors… including day one sponsor Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799, and TurfMasters… check out their great service at TurfMasters.com.
We are also welcoming a new sponsor to the SlapShot Radio family… The Crag… Nashville’s premiere location for indoor rock climbing. Newton Dominey and his awesome crew have a great location in Cool Springs and they are opening a new location in South Nashville at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Nolensville Rd. Check out their website at ILoveRockCLimbing.com If you’ve never done it before… you need to try, they specialize on helping first timers.
Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great preseason advertising deals available for our tenth season when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.
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