First off… my apologies for my absence over the past few weeks… sometimes the day job gets crazy…

So... to catch up… we will be finishing the 2017/18 post mortem this week and we will also do a detailed review of Nashville’s (Milwaukee’s) free agent acquisitions and my annual schedule review. So let’s get to some…

Random Summer Notes

- UPDATE - Preds announced signing of Zac Rinaldo this morning to a two-way deal.

- UPDATE II - James Neal signed with Calgary for an insane five year term at 5.75 million per year... sorry, but his declining performance doesn't warrant that term.

- Ground was broken on a new rink in Bellevue last week, giving Nashville two more desperately needed sheets of ice. Opening is set for August of 2019.

- Nashville went outside the organization for Milwaukee’s new head coach, hiring Texas Stars assistant Karl Taylor to be the Ad’s new bench boss. This is his first head coaching opportunity in the AHL.

- The Predators annual Future Stars game was last Friday night as over 5,000 Pred fans came out for a high paced scrimmage that traditionally closes out the annual Prospect Development Camp.

- Camp invitee Zach Magwood was the star of the night, potting a hat trick for Team Gold, including a nice little mid-air bunt into the net for his second goal.

- Eeli Tolvanen also had a solid evening, potting one in the third period and looking like he was working on his playmaking skills. An almost universal perception that Tolvanen was the leader of this camp.

- After the camp, Dante Fabbro decided to return to college for his junior year as the captain of Boston University with a real chance to win a national championship. Queue the naysayers immediately drawing a comparison to a certain “gentleman of Harvard.”

- Belated congratulations to Pekka Rinne on his long overdue and well-deserved Vezina.

- More belated congrats to PK Subban, who will grace the cover of NHL19 this year… now, if only they used the real PA Announcers in the game…

- Day one of free agency saw Nashville sign three depth players, former Florida Panther Connor Brickly, former Arizona Coyote Jarred Tinordi and former Colorado Avalanche Rocco Grimaldi.

- Lots of rumors flying about Zac Rinaldo signing in Nashville… but no official announcement yet.

- Considering the term that James Neal is looking for, there is almost zero chance of a return to Nashville.

- The St. Louis Blues acquired Ryan O’Reilly from Buffalo yesterday… if that was the add then I would be saying good on them… but they gave up a 2019 1st, a 2021 2nd and three players including Patrik Berglund and Vlad Sobotka. Way too much…

- Tyler Bozak and David Perron are two more adds for the Blues… meh.

- Watch out for Buffalo… they are loading up and should be a contender… especially if Carter Hutton is truly ready to be the man in western New York.

- Hmmm… wondering what is going on in Winnipeg. They couldn’t hold on to Paul Stastny, interesting trades, and a few UFA’s allowed to leave… good role players being abandoned by the Jets.

- Stastny ended up in Vegas… interesting move.

- Chicago stuck a toe into the free agent pool, acquiring goalie Cam Ward and defenseman Chris Kunitz.

- I really like the move of Colorado adding Ian Cole to their blueline.

- Realllllly interesting exchanges between CBJ bench boss John Tortorella and the GM of the Penguins regarding Jack Johnson… can’t wait till that game…

- John Tavares goes home to play for his hometown team. Leaf fans are already planning the parade.

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Tweets by @PredPAPaul


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