I will be live blogging the draft tonight... follow along and join the conversation!
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Silly season indeed, a couple of things going on today in the run up to tonight’s NHL Draft. Rumors broke early today about an Eric Staal to Nashville rumor… nothing to that one… and then the trades began, and the storylines are plain.
> The expected blowup in Vancouver is on – Ryan Kesler has been traded to the Ducks, Jason Garrison has been traded to the Lighting and Vancouver traded their third round pick next year for Derek Dorsett. Yup… the blowup is on… I expect more before this is done.
> Columbus got better – Before the draft, Columbus acquired Scott Hartnell, making them immediately tougher and traded unhappy d-man Nikita Nikitin to Edmonton for a 5th rounder tomorrow.
> What’s going on in Phoenix… err Arizona? – Just three hours before the draft, the Coyotes announce the initiation of buyout procedures for Mike Ribiero because of “behavioral issues.… Yikes!
> Will they or won’t they? – LOTS of rumblings regarding Winnipeg Jets Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. You wonder if they will pull the trigger…
> The new cap limit has been released… the cap is set at $69 million, the floor at $51 million. Almost a $5 million increase over last season, a healthy bump, but not as much of an increase as was advertised.
I just have this funny feeling that things are going to get even crazier before the day is done.
The Predators own picks 11, 42 and 46 in the draft and should get solid players in these slots, however… it would be rare to get a “ready… player at those slot. Depth picks to be sure, but real talent has come from these slots.
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More Random Notes
- The Predators announced that Lane Lambert had permission to discuss a new gig and it didn’t take long for Washington head coach Barry Trotz (it feel weird to type that) to scoop him up to join his staff in DC. Lane is a great guy and I hope thing work out well for him.
- Word out of 501 Broadway indicates no real movement on the Preds two main RFA’s Michael Del Zotto and Nick Spaling. No real urgency yet, but qualifying offers are due soon.
- It’s been a couple of days now and the Scott Hartnell to Columbus trade still makes no sense to me.
- Looks like the price for Jason Spezza has gone up… way up… you wonder if it’s a gambit on the part of the Senators in order to get a simply crazy return or… come back to the player and say, “I tried……
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SlapShot Radio is done for the season… we will be back in October for our seventh season.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
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