The Max Pacioretty rumors have been flying hot and heavy over the past few days since Darren Drager talked about them on TSN. When put into perspective, you can see that the Preds may want to get a little scoring insurance against potential late season injuries.
I mean after all… all you need to do is look at last season’s playoff run and know that you can never have enough depth, but you do need to balance that against the current team chemistry. Look, GM David Poile still has assets to play with in a first rounder this year and some prospects in Milwaukee and he certainly hasn’t been afraid to swing for the fences.
Oh… and he LOVES to keep his cards close to the vest, sometimes rumors that come out of Nashville are mis-directions. But one thing is for sure...
Any potential deadline trade will be scrutinized to within an inch of it’s life depending on the ultimate results come June… if there is a parade down Broadway… then any move made will be judged a success… anything short of that… any move made will be second guessed for years.
It’s why the GM makes the big bucks… making those kind of decisions…
My opinion? If you can add to the scoring punch of this team… go for it… as long as it doesn’t kill the long term prospects of a team whose championship window has just opened.
The Preds final game before their bye week is tomorrow at Bridgestone Arena, limited ticket remain for what should be a fast, up-and-down game with Edmonton.
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“Where We Stand… update… a daily tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most, brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
After last night’s play, the Predators stand third n the Central Division with 54 points, three points behind Winnipeg (2 GIH) and one point behind St. Louis (4 GIH) … the Preds lead Dallas by three points (2 GIH)… and lead Colorado (0 GIH) and Minnesota by seven points (1 GIH.)
Impact games tonight (all time Central) – None.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 96% after yesterday’s play.
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Random Notes
- Teams have begun their bye weeks… Vegas, LA, San Jose, Dallas, Colorado, Anaheim, Arizona, New Jersey, Boston, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York Islanders, Detroit and Montreal are on their bye weeks.
- The bye weeks are driving an incredibly light schedule, only one game tonight… seven tomorrow, two on Wednesday, three on Thursday, five on Friday.
- The Predators practice today at Centennial Sportsplex at 11am, last practice before the Bye week.
- After the bye week, Nashville has a home heavy schedule for the following four weeks with only a single game on the road. The next extended roadie is Feb. 5 – 10 as the Preds play four in six, travelling to New York, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen finished the World Juniors tournament with 1 goal and 5 assists for Team Finland. Tolvanen now returns to Jokerit in the KHL, his return to the Jokerit lineup is still up in the air.
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------------------------------------- SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. 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 co-hosts, Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bring a true insiders perspective to the show. Our guest this week is ESPN hockey writer Greg Wyshynski and Zack will have another of his “StatShot… segments.
We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results4 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. Also… 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.
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