As the sun rises over 501 Broadway, there is a new optimism that has taken over the frustration that was permeating the walls. For the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators have true number one center. Welcome Smashville Ryan Johansen… and welcome to the weight of expectations. All of the pundits, experts and a good chunk of the fans in Music City have been playing this as the only need for this Nashville team to make a serious cup run.
Let’s pump the brakes just a bit here… while the 1C position is something this team has needed, fixing that need on paper is one thing, fixing things on the ice go beyond that need. I will get into that later in this blog, but first, some practical analysis of the trade.
On the surface, this does seem to be a great “hockey trade.…
When you dig into it… it remains a great hockey trade. Both teams are filling a need here.
Columbus was desperate for a top pair defenseman for their blueline and dealt a legitimate 1C that they may end up missing in a year or two of three, but they have depth at forward and… given their lack of performance on the ice this season... and their injuries… heck, they may be a front runner in the Austin Matthews sweepstakes. Seth Jones is now their number one defenseman and it is probably time for him to assume that role... a role that was not available to him in Nashville.
Nashville, on the other hand, needed a bit of a shakeup. It was becoming frustratingly obvious that the lineup was not producing with any consistency and the offense was becoming incredibly predictable. The Predators are deep at the blueline at the NHL level and let’s be very frank here… Seth Jones was not going to get top pair minutes as long as Shea Weber (signed through 2023) and Roman Josi (signed through 2020) are wearing gold. A talent like Jones’ would be wasted not getting those top pair minutes and there was a real risk of losing him for nothing… Seth Jones’ value was never higher than it is right now.
I was in the “God No – Don’t Trade Jones… camp for quite awhile until I had a discussion with some very knowledgeable hockey people that took a really hard headed approach to the situation. I was asked the question, “Do you want Seth Jones on your third pair D for the next few years?… The sense of moving him being the right thing hit me because of the following facts…
- The top pair in Nashville is and will be Weber and Josi for the next four and a half seasons. - Jones will command top pair dollars as an RFA this upcoming offseason - Do the Predators want to pay those dollars for third D pair minutes?
It was definitely the right move for the Predators… if the team doesn’t make a deep playoff run, it won’t be from a lack of trying. The timing of this move is also a very good thing. You can see how this move works chemically over the next few weeks and make potential moves at the deadline to address any issues that arise.
Seth Jones is a great guy and will be a really good defenseman in this league. He should contribute to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a big way and I hope he does. He is a quality young man that has great potential.
Above, I mentioned that this may not fix all the on ice issues
Offensively, Johansen should make the top two lines more effective… that is a good thing. However, the need for some defensive adjustments is cryingly obvious and it may be another benefit of this trade.
Moving Anthony Bitetto into the third D pair role with Barrett Jackman should work nicely. After cooling his heels on the perma-scratch list for most of the season, Bitetto’s skillset will blunt the impact of Jones’ loss and may improve the non-offensive side of the Preds blueline adding a bit more piss and vinegar. Petter Granberg may also see some time as he re-acclimates himself to the NHL, and don't forget Victor Bartley who is currently in Milwaukee. The test of the Preds defensive depth is here.
So… we have our shakeup… the move is made and the need is filled. Now it is time for the team to step up on the ice and deliver. The Predators practiced today before taking off for Denver in preparation for Friday’s game against the Avalanche.
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Random Notes
- “Where They Stand… - Entering tonight’s play, the Nashville Predators stand 5th in the Central Division with a two point lead over Colorado (1 game in hand.) The Predators trail MIN by 4 points (-1 GIH,) CHI by 9 points (2 GIH,) STL by 7 points (3 GIH) and 1st place Dallas by 15 points (2 GIH). The Predators are currently in the second Wild Card slot, ahead of COL, Calgary trails the Preds by five points and the rest of the Pacific Division trails by 6 or more points.
- Ryan Johansen arrived in Nashville last night and is practicing with the team. He will wear number 92 for Nashville.
- Johanson becomes tied as the second leading scorer for the Preds as he joins the team with 26 points… and this is being portrayed as a down year for the 23 year old.
- Congratulations to Shea Weber, Pekka Rinne and Roman Josi on their All-Star selection.
- David Poile on the acquisition of Ryan Johansen.
- I wonder why Los Angeles was able to weasel out of their crazy Mike Richards contract and now, all of a sudden he is available to sign with someone else? Something doesn’t smell right here.
- Kudos to Philly on the Vincent Lacavalier deal…
- Seven games on the NHL schedule tonight (all start times CT) – 6pm – WSH @ NYI. 6:30pm – FLA @ OTT. 7pm – PHI @ MIN. 7:30pm – WPG @ DAL. 8pm – ARI @ CGY. 9:30pm – TML @ LAK, DET @ SJS.
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------------------------------------- Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game when Pete Weber and I preview the upcoming week and take a look back at the week that was. Our latest podcast is posted… We are preempted this week due to the Eric Nystrom Show so we will be LIVE on Saturday at 8am to preview Predators games against Arizona and Chicago. We will talk fallout from the trade with Columbus Blue Jacket beat writer Aaron Portzline and what else is happening on the rumor front with the man who was way out front on the trade… Eklund…
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