Along with a “Best Fans Ever” banner - because that’s how those self-righteous dimwits that flock to Bridgestone arena view themselves. Any fan base that celebrates those juvenile crowd chants deserves all the disappointment that can be lumped on them.
- Chief4Feathers

Yeah, because Hawk fans are the epitome of class...jeez. Keep tooting your horn Chief Blowhard!

For real.

I have been to playoff game in Nashville - it’s as close to a Trump/MAGA rally or perhaps a Jerry Springer show as I’ll ever get.

They painted a car with Blackhawks logos and let people hit it with a hammer before the game. Ignorance and conviction walking hand-in-hand...
- Chief4Feathers

That's actually funny. But the ticket thing is lame, opposing fans in the building makes the experience better.

What's with all the hate from Hawks fans?
- Good On Paper

They are mad because their team isnt beating up on little old Nashville anymore and one little blogger named VopatsRash is in their heads.

Yeah, because Hawk fans are the epitome of class...jeez. Keep tooting your horn Chief Blowhard!
- Polecat

Southern man, better keep your head. Don’t forget what your good book says.

So you're telling me that yelling 'you suck' every five minutes, beating up a car with a sledge hammer and having some washed-up country singer sing the National Anthem (badly) didn't work? Couldn't happen to a more deserving fanbase of bombastic ignorant fat posers.

The very best part was seeing them play Rocco freaking Grimaldi on their second line. Followed closely by Kyle Turris scoring seven goals in a season. 857K a goal. At least David Poile (The Greatest GM in the History of GM's!) can comfort himself with all his Stanley Cup rings...

Give the Stars full marks for beating the Preds. They played well. There are two components to the Preds failure - 1st line got smoked by Dallas' first line & the Power Play was nonexistent. If the first line puts up 4-5 goals, and the power play converts at even 15% (instead of ZERO), the Preds win the series. That's why I think it would be foolish to blow up the roster. Forsberg, Arvidsson, Eckholm & Ellis had a terrible series. So did the coaching staff. They need to be accountable for that.

Here are my key off-season moves in order of importance:

1. If Lavy is retained, he must make changes. First off, re-hire Phil Housley to retool the power play and improve team defense.

2. Re-sign Roman Josi. This may include trading Ellis or Subban to free up the cap dollars.

3. Unload Turris - at any cost, even if Poile has to retain a little bit of salary. Sometimes you have to be willing to admit a mistake and overpay to fix it.

4. Sign a top-six forward (Duchene/Pavelski/Etc.) - even if Poile has to overpay.

5. Re-sign Sissons and Grimaldi. Both should be able to be signed to affordable deals.
- holycow_75

Spot on analysis. I'm looking forward to how the off-season plays out as there's bound to be some interesting and unexpected moves.

That's actually funny. But the ticket thing is lame, opposing fans in the building makes the experience better.
- forbetterorWORSE

Yeah kind of, but they're not the only team that does it. It's an outdated practice for a lot of non-traditional market teams to keep opposing fan bases from flooding the arenas. Preds really haven't needed it for five or six years now, but they still do it, under the guise of wanting their fans to get first crack at tickets... Personally, I like have opposing fans at the games to jaw with as long as nobody is acting like drunken idiots. The fans from Winnipeg last year were pretty cool, respectful and are passionate about the game of hockey, and I love that.

Dude, don't even bother trying to talk sense right now. Let the trolls and the vultures have their fun. Give it a couple of days and then we can all start moaning and groaning and looking towards the future.
- Squatchy

Meant to give you a shout-out on your post from Sunday. It was quite good.

And yeah, it would be nice to actually talk hockey but that's not always easy in the online world.

Yeah kind of, but they're not the only team that does it. It's an outdated practice for a lot of non-traditional market teams to keep opposing fan bases from flooding the arenas. Preds really haven't needed it for five or six years now, but they still do it, under the guise of wanting their fans to get first crack at tickets... Personally, I like have opposing fans at the games to jaw with as long as nobody is acting like drunken idiots. The fans from Winnipeg last year were pretty cool, respectful and are passionate about the game of hockey, and I love that.
- Squatchy

I live in Ottawa and we don't even bother trying. Montreal, Toronto even the Bruins/Rangers often out do our own fans in the building. The nature of having a young team (comparatively) to Original Six teams geographically nearby.

Yeah kind of, but they're not the only team that does it. It's an outdated practice for a lot of non-traditional market teams to keep opposing fan bases from flooding the arenas. Preds really haven't needed it for five or six years now, but they still do it, under the guise of wanting their fans to get first crack at tickets... Personally, I like have opposing fans at the games to jaw with as long as nobody is acting like drunken idiots. The fans from Winnipeg last year were pretty cool, respectful and are passionate about the game of hockey, and I love that.
- Squatchy

I’ve been to over half of the NHL arenas to see a game - my bucket list is to visit them all before I’m done. Never really had any problems anywhere we went, including traditionally “tough” venues like Boston and Philadelphia. And to be fair, in the four times I’ve been to Bridgestone I’ve never had a bad run-in with any fan or anything close to it. But in terms of the vibe?... its the least attractive place to see a game because of the crowd. Offsides by 10ft?... “Ref you suck” chant. Preds finally score a goal but still down in the game “(Inset Goalie Name) you suck”chant. It’s bad combination of passion and ignorance. I know I’m not the only one who sees it like this - because fans from other teams note the same things.

There’s a lot to like about the Nashville Predators, but their juvenile fanbase overshadows all of it.

For real.

I have been to playoff game in Nashville - it’s as close to a Trump/MAGA rally or perhaps a Jerry Springer show as I’ll ever get.

They painted a car with Blackhawks logos and let people hit it with a hammer before the game. Ignorance and conviction walking hand-in-hand...
- Chief4Feathers

Springer was a Chicago based show. All playoff opponents get a car that has their logo painted on it.....not just Chicago. The money that is made off of smashing the car goes to charities. The ignorance is on you and your comments above.

Springer was a Chicago based show. All playoff opponents get a car that has their logo painted on it.....not just Chicago. The money that is made off of smashing the car goes to charities. The ignorance is on you and your comments above.
- Martin\'s E-Ratt

Yeah, I read the sign about the charity contribution as people were smashing the car - it’s still a stupid event to promote.

Meant to give you a shout-out on your post from Sunday. It was quite good.

And yeah, it would be nice to actually talk hockey but that's not always easy in the online world.
- blueline

Thanks. The Trolls will eventually get tired and crawl back under their bridges, and we can get back to discussing things that matter. Any conversation of any merit will get lost in all the poop slinging and mouth breathing. They're bringing up the confederacy and Trump for pity's sake. The gif featuring Poile and the Turris ball and chain was hilarious though.

Springer was a Chicago based show. All playoff opponents get a car that has their logo painted on it.....not just Chicago. The money that is made off of smashing the car goes to charities. The ignorance is on you and your comments above.
- Martin\'s E-Ratt

Thanks for bringing that up. I wanted too, but I try to avoid addressing Trolls directly. Not worth the time and effort. Funny how some of them like to omit certain facts when they don't fit their narrative... Gee who does that sound like?

So, the banner raising next fall will be for the 'Central Division Regular Season Champions'?
- scottak

Blackhawks have in the past hung Division banners in both the UC and the Madhouse as have the Bulls. That's the standard for winning a division in pretty much all sports and there's nothing out of the ordinary about it. Hanging them is mostly dependent on what other banners a team has to hang - after all, there's only so much rafter space. Teams will generally hang what they've got. Having said that, I'll agree that the Preds "Regular Season Conference Champions" from last season was pretty lame. But that should be of little to no interest for other teams and fans. Preds can do as they please with their space. Not sure why it bothers some so much.

When you win a bunch of Cups as the Blackhawks have in the recent past, the lesser banners will be put in storage to make room for the ones that count. That's great and hats off to your team. But don't forget that until your Cup in 2010 it had been 49-years since the 'Hawks last won a cup - 1969. And before that you had to go back 23 years to 1938 for what was at the time only your second Cup. You know that time, back when the NHL consisted of a whopping six teams, four of which went to the playoffs each year. Oh yeah, and no salary cap restrictions.

These attempted straw man putdowns over banners hanging in Nashville is rather lame.

Thanks for bringing that up. I wanted too, but I try to avoid addressing Trolls directly. Not worth the time and effort. Funny how some of them like to omit certain facts when they don't fit their narrative... Gee who does that sound like?
- Squatchy

Ok, I know this is harder to understand because I can’t draw you pictures... True, Springer was Chicago-based - but that doesn’t mean I would ever pay for a ticket and actively participate in that poop show. However, I have paid for tickets at Bridgestone and been a part (however unwillingly) of that poop-show. Hence why I said it was as close to being at a Springer show as I’ll ever get. We’re talking participation/attendance, not physical proximity to an event.

Thanks for bringing that up. I wanted too, but I try to avoid addressing Trolls directly. Not worth the time and effort. Funny how some of them like to omit certain facts when they don't fit their narrative... Gee who does that sound like?
- Squatchy

No problem.....to each their own i guess.

Blackhawks have in the past hung Division banners in both the UC and the Madhouse as have the Bulls. That's the standard for winning a division in pretty much all sports and there's nothing out of the ordinary about it. Hanging them is mostly dependent on what other banners a team has to hang - after all, there's only so much rafter space. Teams will generally hang what they've got. Having said that, I'll agree that the Preds "Regular Season Conference Champions" from last season was pretty lame. But that should be of little to no interest for other teams and fans. Preds can do as they please with their space. Not sure why it bothers some so much.

When you win a bunch of Cups as the Blackhawks have in the recent past, the lesser banners will be put in storage to make room for the ones that count. That's great and hats off to your team. But don't forget that until your Cup in 2010 it had been 49-years since the 'Hawks last won a cup - 1969. And before that you had to go back 23 years to 1938 for what was at the time only your second Cup. You know that time, back when the NHL consisted of a whopping six teams, four of which went to the playoffs each year. Oh yeah, and no salary cap restrictions.

These attempted straw man putdowns over banners hanging in Nashville is rather lame.
- blueline

A division banner is to be celebrated - Hawks proudly display theirs going back to the old “Norris” division days. However, what opened your team up for ridicule was hanging a conference championship banner for its regular season performance. It’s a banner that it reserved for winning the conference during the playoffs. Hence why fans are jumping on you guys for any banner-related items.

Trashville... Trashville...
Karma....
Where's Diaper Rash... Come out... Come out... You Hillrod.


Trashville Chokes

I’ve been to over half of the NHL arenas to see a game - my bucket list is to visit them all before I’m done. Never really had any problems anywhere we went, including traditionally “tough” venues like Boston and Philadelphia. And to be fair, in the four times I’ve been to Bridgestone I’ve never had a bad run-in with any fan or anything close to it. But in terms of the vibe?... its the least attractive place to see a game because of the crowd. Offsides by 10ft?... “Ref you suck” chant. Preds finally score a goal but still down in the game “(Inset Goalie Name) you suck”chant. It’s bad combination of passion and ignorance. I know I’m not the only one who sees it like this - because fans from other teams note the same things.

There’s a lot to like about the Nashville Predators, but their juvenile fanbase overshadows all of it.
- Chief4Feathers

I respectfully disagree with your "ignorance" reference to Pred fans. It's a bad generalization because for the most part they are quite savvy. Every team in every sport has bandwagon fans which is ultimately a good thing as some will grow into the sport and become good and learned fans. Blackhawks have had their share of bandwagon fans since 2010 as you and the rest of us know quite well. You've had to deal with them in your arena. (By the way, the shenanigans of a quite a number of Blackhawk fans visiting Bridgestone en masse via the then cheap Southwest flights between Chi & Nsh were why the ticket restrictions were put into place.)

Regarding the "You suck" chants, I hate them. If I could wave a wand and get rid of them instantly I would. It's stupid - Preds score and we are yelling "You Suck". I realize that it's directed at the other team and their goalie but it doesn't feel or sound that way. It's odd and out of place and out of sync. And yeah, it's doubly bad when the Preds are down several goals and getting manhandled by the visiting team and yet the fans continue to yell the same lame chant. However, I imagine it will remain. It's what we have had for many years and any replacement will have to come out of the Section 303 fans, the place where the "you suck" all began.

A division banner is to be celebrated - Hawks proudly display theirs going back to the old “Norris” division days. However, what opened your team up for ridicule was hanging a conference championship banner for its regular season performance. It’s a banner that it reserved for winning the conference during the playoffs. Hence why fans are jumping on you guys for any banner-related items.
- Chief4Feathers

As I stated in my post that you quoted. Maybe you overlooked that sentence so you get a pass.

A division banner is to be celebrated - Hawks proudly display theirs going back to the old “Norris” division days. However, what opened your team up for ridicule was hanging a conference championship banner for its regular season performance. It’s a banner that it reserved for winning the conference during the playoffs. Hence why fans are jumping on you guys for any banner-related items.
- Chief4Feathers

And further to your point, the Blackhawk fan I responded to (scottak) was criticizing the division banner specifically. I wouln't have said anything had he criticized the artificial regular season conference banner that the Preds brought out. Maybe he doesn't realize that division banners for the regular season are a real thing.

So, the banner raising next fall will be for the 'Central Division Regular Season Champions'?
- scottak

Nashville is awesome. Been there 3 times, saw 2 games. The fans are great, they love hockey. I will say this, they cheer or boo for minor things that most fans wouldn’t. Eg. icing. The guys making fun of smashing cars with opponents logos on them, everybody does it. It’s usually a radio station doing it for charity. The vibe is great though, and I was at reg season games. Playoffs must be intense. You guys have a great team, I’m looking forward to going there again, nobody can knock that city as far as I’m concerned. I went the first time because friends told me how great it is. I went back because it is.Good luck next year.

Paul McCann: Crushed
- pmccann

Based on the comments I have read nobody seems really crushed at all.

I respectfully disagree with your "ignorance" reference to Pred fans. It's a bad generalization because for the most part they are quite savvy. Every team in every sport has bandwagon fans which is ultimately a good thing as some will grow into the sport and become good and learned fans. Blackhawks have had their share of bandwagon fans since 2010 as you and the rest of us know quite well. You've had to deal with them in your arena. (By the way, the shenanigans of a quite a number of Blackhawk fans visiting Bridgestone en masse via the then cheap Southwest flights between Chi & Nsh were why the ticket restrictions were put into place.)

Regarding the "You suck" chants, I hate them. If I could wave a wand and get rid of them instantly I would. It's stupid - Preds score and we are yelling "You Suck". I realize that it's directed at the other team and their goalie but it doesn't feel or sound that way. It's odd and out of place and out of sync. And yeah, it's doubly bad when the Preds are down several goals and getting manhandled by the visiting team and yet the fans continue to yell the same lame chant. However, I imagine it will remain. It's what we have had for many years and any replacement will have to come out of the Section 303 fans, the place where the "you suck" all began.
- blueline

I appreciate you sharing this perspective - just hearing one fan admit to this is helpful.

For what it’s worth - I’m done with the Hawks goal song (Chelsea Dagger) - it’s time for something different.