The offseason is rapidly drawing to a close as the Nashville Predators begin to reassemble, the players with children are already back for the start of the school year and the other members are coming back as they conclude their summer breaks and ramping up the training intensity as the beginning of training camp looms in a few short weeks.
The preseason team previews are coming out and there are really no surprises. This Predators team will be a favorite for another deep run in the playoffs, but the curious criticisms that have come out are simply fascinating. Especially the simplistic views about why the team did not get back to the Stanley Cup Final, let alone win it.
The most simplistic view… it’s all Pekka Rinne’s fault.
Puh-leese… Rinne will admit he wasn’t up to snuff, but those that think that Rinne was the only reason are being dangerously short-sighted. The Vezina winning netminder does turn 36 and many are discounting him as a difference maker for this team. Don’t let that nice guy image fool you, behind the smile is a competitor that feeds off that kind of criticism. So, Pred Nation is hoping that kind of writing will continue… remember when writers were discounting Rinne two season back??? Look, we know the transition to Juuse Saros is coming, the 23 year old is showing signs of being ready and eventually, Rinne will be done… I’m just not sure that the time has come yet… Rinne will be there to help his protégé and this year you probably need to target Rinne at 50 starts and Saros gets the other 32 as that transition continues.
A more nuanced, but still way too simplistic… the centers didn’t show up. You can at least make a case for this one… but honestly… are we really going to say “as goes Turris, so goes the Preds?” Ummm… I don’t think so. The JoFA line was outstanding, the second line struggled as Fiala and Smith only had 4 points each.
This view is my favorite… there is a problem in the room. Normally, you see this one in the comments of an article praising the Predators defense. Now let’s face it, one of the biggest reasons for the Predator’s post season flameout (besides a definitive lack of offense) was the play of the vaunted Predators defensive corps.
It is my belief that it wasn’t a matter of not showing up… but it was a matter of trying to do too much. The only defenseman that was consistently good in the playoffs was PK Subban… ironically the one that people keep pointing to... playing the old unproven tune as the “problem in the room.” This one is so old it is growing mold on it. Subban has been a model citizen both inside and outside the room, it’s time to recognize this tired old crap for what it is… bitter Montreal fans/media that can’t believe that Subban is flourishing outside a market with a habit of driving out personalities.
Look, the expectations are sky-high for this team… and they should be. They have talent, depth and experience and now have the knowledge that they have been there before. Winning the Cup takes all of that plus good health and quite a bit of luck. Dan Rosen, in NHL.com’s video preview may have said it best… the season for Nashville begins in April, they just need to get there healthy and in the right frame of mind.
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Random Notes
- Welcome The Athletic Nashville… quality sports guys are going to be covering Nashville sports and I am very excited about it!
- Former Nashville Predator Scottie Upshall has signed a PTO with Edmonton… and speaking of the most hard luck franchise in hockey…
- My lord, someone needs top sacrifice a live chicken in Edmonton for their blueline. Their already thin defense corps took a hit when Andrej Sekera is out indefinitely with an injury sustained while training for the upcoming season. His second major injury in the last two seasons.
- What a summer for Alex Ovechkin… a cup and a baby as he announces the birth of his son Sergei
- Eric Lindros has an interesting take on removing body checking from hockey… then backs away from it.
- Looks like long time Red Wing Niklas Kronwall is talking about retirement after this season after a long and successful career.
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