Lots to talk about today as it is rematch Game Night in Smashville as Pred Nation welcomes a new face and an old friend. Let’s get to the trade news first, then to the game.
Rumors started breaking early Wednesday about an imminent move coming from 501 Broadway. Those rumors turned out to be true as Preds GM David Poile moved a second round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft to the New Jersey Devils for veteran center Brian Boyle. Boyle is a 6’6… 245 lb. 13 year NHL veteran with deep playoff experience, a physical game and plenty of grit… more importantly, he is not afraid to go to the net.
My first take on this move… exactly what this team needs. Boyle makes this team four deep at center with the right players in the right slots. His size, skill and toughness is needed and his most important role will be his net front presence on the power play. Then an hour later, David Poile pulled the trigger on another move to address the size and physical needs of this team as Cody McLeod is back on the Predators, exchanged for a 7th rounder in the 2020 draft to the New York Rangers. In his press conference yesterday, Poile mentioned that “if I could have a do-over… he may not have waived McLeod last season. Poile mentioned his influence in the locker room, his size and his physical play as major reasons for the move.
Both of these deals imply a recognition of the need for a little more size to get through the death race known as the Central Division playoffs, let alone the rest of the Western Conference. Winnipeg and Vegas are teams with size, these moves address the disparity between those teams and Nashville. To be honest, Nashville didn’t really give up a lot, a 2nd in 2019 and a 7th in the 2020 draft… and Nashville still has the rest of their picks in June. GMDP retains his rep as a wizard.
The players expect to be in town today, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or both in the lineup tonight against Dallas. Rematch, revenge… call it what you want, but the team has been clearly unhappy with the result from Saturday’s game and seem to be welcoming the opportunity to get another crack at the Stars so quickly. Dallas is on a a bit of a roll, winning their last five games, including last Saturday inside the friendly confines.
The Predators are expecting Kyle Turris back in the lineup either tonight or this weekend. David Poile classified the second line center as “day-to-day.… Poile also mentioned that Miikka Salomaki is close to return as well.
The rivalry between these two teams is building, next year’s Winter Classic will add to it, all it needs to come to a full rolling boil is a playoff series. I expect to see a lot of the same nastiness and behind the play shenanigans we saw Saturday night… given that, I wonder if head coach Peter Laviolette gets McLeod right in there as a bit of a deterrent. It will be interesting to watch.
This game begins the Dallas Stars’ Mom’s Trip… I am sure that Pred Nation is hoping the Stars don’t see the same positive impact that the Preds saw earlier this season with their mom’s trip. Game time is 7pm, Pregame begins on 102.5 the Game at 6pm, FS Tennessee begins at 6:30, puck drop is at 7:08pm. Very limited tickets remain…
See you at the Bridge!
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The Where We Stand section
Nashville maintains the second slot in the Central Division, three points behind the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg holds two game in hand over Nashville. The Preds lead Dallas by eight points, Minnesota by eleven points and St. Louis by 15 points.
Nashville currently holds the 4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race and has a 99.8% chance of making the playoffs according to SportsClubStats.com… the “85% chance… line has moved down a bit to 89 points right now.
Impact Games Tonight – 6:30pm – WPG @ MTL, STL @ TBL. 7pm – EDM @ MIN.
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update –The Admirals dropped a close one to Texas last night, losing 1-0, next game is Friday at home against the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins.
- Survivor – Pred fans will remember Brian Boyle from his ceremonial puck drop last season on the Preds second Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Boyle is a cancer survivor and his story is simply amazing.
- Net Front Presence – This quote from Brian Boyle in his introductory phone call to the media should warm the hearts of Pred Nation… "I love to get in front of the net and make plays… It's just getting those opportunities are where it counts. I think I try to get open and get deflections, but also creating space for guys so that they can create space as well. Shot volume is usually a great recipe for power play success."
- Right at Home – Cody McLeod won’t have a lot of logistical issues moving back to Nashville, his family never left! Cody’s wife and children have lived in Nashville the entire time he was on the Rangers.
- Done – The Predators announced that Zac Rinaldo would be undergoing season ending shoulder surgery. Surely a prime reason for the McLeod acquisition.
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