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.
- doon

Thanks for posting something positive. It's a good town and the atmosphere at Bridgestone is generally one that's quite fun for all.

Based on the comments I have read nobody seems really crushed at all.
- dt99999

Nashville

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

Yeah this is actually a fair criticism. The third banner was stupid, most fans know it was stupid, and we still scratch our heads as to why it's up there. I like to pretend it was a not so subtle attempt to troll the Jets, but I don't think management that's brazen. Can't do nothing about it though, so we owned it, and honestly it's kind of funny how some people seem legitimately annoyed by it. Nashville's and entertainment city, so like most businesses here, the team management tends to go a little overboard with the pageantry and in game experience... I'd be a lot more happy just seeing the team win. Oh, and I was referring more to comments on the car than I was the Springer show. Not really relevant to my point.

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

We heard it for years (mainly from Pens fans re: President's Trophy banners) until finally winning last season (now it's some version of "We've got five, you've got one"). Nothing wrong with celebrating different levels of success - it sucks to be on the outside looking in relative to winning a Cup, but it's not the only thing to be happy about/proud of as a fan.

Thanks for posting something positive. It's a good town and the atmosphere at Bridgestone is generally one that's quite fun for all.
- blueline

Have you ever been to American Airlines Arena at Dallas? In terms of vibe immediately surrounding/supported by the arena itself - it’s one of the best. Giant outdoor beer garden - very nice.

Based on the comments I have read nobody seems really crushed at all.
- dt99999

Things never quite clicked for the Preds this season, at least not as most of us felt they were going to, so going into the post-season, outlooks for many were a bit subdued.

Have you ever been to American Airlines Arena at Dallas? In terms of vibe immediately surrounding/supported by the arena itself - it’s one of the best. Giant outdoor beer garden - very nice.
- Chief4Feathers

A friend that sits by me at Preds games went there for Game 3 and had a fantastic time. He said the arena, the fans and the atmosphere were outstanding.

Based on the comments I have read nobody seems really crushed at all.
- dt99999

Disappointed, but not crushed. We expected this... We've known something was wrong with this team since January, and we likely weren't a contender for the cup. We were hoping for better, but didn't get it. Nobody here saying anything negative about the team, isn't really saying anything we didn't already know.

Yeah this is actually a fair criticism. The third banner was stupid, most fans know it was stupid, and we still scratch our heads as to why it's up there. I like to pretend it was a not so subtle attempt to troll the Jets, but I don't think management that's brazen. Can't do nothing about it though, so we owned it, and honestly it's kind of funny how some people seem legitimately annoyed by it. Nashville's and entertainment city, so like most businesses here, the team management tends to go a little overboard with the pageantry and in game experience... I'd be a lot more happy just seeing the team win. Oh, and I was referring more to comments on the car than I was the Springer show. Not really relevant to my point.
- Squatchy

You have to think Poile and the other “hockey” people in the front office counseled against that banner - and clearly the marketing wonks won the debate. The players must have felt like tools during that ceremony.

A friend that sits by me at Preds games went there for Game 3 and had a fantastic time. He said the arena, the fans and the atmosphere were outstanding.
- blueline

I have tickets for the Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl on Jan 1st but in all honesty would prefer the game to be in their arena. I know, it wouldn't be the Winter Classic if not held outside.

Dallas was better.
That is all

Dallas was better.
That is all
- RASSEGA

That's for sure. Dallas looked and acted unstoppable. All business. The next series with the Blues should be a good one. Will be interesting to see if the Stars carry that same level of play to Round 2

I think we would all be jerks if we had to live in Chicago- it is a hole. A good visit for a weekend but always so glad to get out of there. Dirty city, dirty airports, dirty people. Hell even their blogger goes by an assumed name and lives in another Country

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.
- Chief4Feathers

Changes to routines like the ones were talking about are generally good. Actually, they are often a necessary reset - for many reasons. I know I'm ready for that here. However, not holding my breath.

I think we would all be jerks if we had to live in Chicago- it is a hole. A good visit for a weekend but always so glad to get out of there. Dirty city, dirty airports, dirty people. Hell even their blogger goes by an assumed name and lives in another Country
- predsfan97

It’s true, Chicagoans don’t shower as a general rule. We find keeping a natural layer of grease and oil on our bodies protects us from the harsh winters.

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 couldn't agree more. Back in the day every time the Hawks played Detroit you knew that you would be out numbered 10-1 in your own rink and there was nothing you could say to taunt them because they wer on top. I still enjoyed it though because most fans were very friendly and you learned more about their team and got an outsiders perspective of your own team.

I think we would all be jerks if we had to live in Chicago- it is a hole. A good visit for a weekend but always so glad to get out of there. Dirty city, dirty airports, dirty people. Hell even their blogger goes by an assumed name and lives in another Country
- predsfan97

I live an hour south of the city but my dad has season tickets so I do go to plenty of games a year. Your comments about the city being dirty is spot on..I can not get in and out of the city quick enough and every time we are driving to the game I make comments about how it seems to get worse by the day or how poopty this must look to tourists. I used to take my family to the city 5 - 10 times a year for shopping, food or shows but a couple years ago while we were trying to get into the water tower a flash mob was forming..That was it for me.

Based on the comments I have read nobody seems really crushed at all.
- dt99999

Relieved we weren't swept. Anyone who has paid attention to this team knows that they weren't very good. We had the benefit of a great start, Winnipeg choking and the Blues bad start to propel us in the division mix. We won the division by accident.

Not Paul though, if you read his blogs, everything was fine, we were all overreacting and nothing but a bunch of "sky is falling" whiners.

I think we need another blogger. Anyone up for the job?

Have you ever been to American Airlines Arena at Dallas? In terms of vibe immediately surrounding/supported by the arena itself - it’s one of the best. Giant outdoor beer garden - very nice.
- Chief4Feathers

Went there back in 2007 and enjoyed a game between the Stars and Canadians. Guy Carbonneau was the coach for Montreal and the fans gave him a warm welcome (return). Great venue.......great city.

Dallas was better.
That is all
- RASSEGA

Yep. Not much else to say but good luck to them. If they had an active blog i would go over and congratulate them.

Subban for Nylander straight up? Or Kadri and something else for Subban?

Relieved we weren't swept. Anyone who has paid attention to this team knows that they weren't very good. We had the benefit of a great start, Winnipeg choking and the Blues bad start to propel us in the division mix. We won the division by accident.

Not Paul though, if you read his blogs, everything was fine, we were all overreacting and nothing but a bunch of "sky is falling" whiners.

I think we need another blogger. Anyone up for the job?
- FoxMulder

I love Paul as a PA announcer, but as a blogger... Meh, I'd prefer an actual sports journalist who can criticize the organization without having to worry about losing his day job. Problem is, I don't think those guys are exactly lining up to join Hockeybuzz, so we probably just need to be thankful we've got one. Carolina and Dallas don't, and I'm not completely sure, but I think one or two other teams don't have a full time blogger either.

I love Paul as a PA announcer, but as a blogger... Meh, I'd prefer an actual sports journalist who can criticize the organization without having to worry about losing his day job. Problem is, I don't think those guys are exactly lining up to join Hockeybuzz, so we probably just need to be thankful we've got one. Carolina and Dallas don't, and I'm not completely sure, but I think one or two other teams don't have a full time blogger either.
- Squatchy

If I could make the time, I'd do it.

Subban for Nylander straight up? Or Kadri and something else for Subban?
- CardiffGiant

Have a feeling Poile will be listening to any kind of offer he gets for both Subban and Ellis this summer. Subban to Toronto would actually make sense if they were actually interested. His hometown, Toronto needs defense... Preds need top 6 forwards and Toronto has a glut of offensive talent. Subban's contract might be a deal breaker, but the destination makes sense.

I'm also not a fan of the you suck chants or even the fang fingers for that matter. The smashing of the car I don't mind because it is all for charity.
I've been to Dallas many times for games because I have family out there and it has always been a fun time. They even put me on the jumbotron once as the oblivious fan eating a slice of pizza and when they went to a live shot I pointed to my St Louis Cardinals cap and got a thunderous boo chant because it was the same year they beat the Texas Rangers in World Series. As i was leaving the arena fans were coming up and giving high fives and saying your the guy from the jumbotron. We all had a good laugh. The only issue I ever had visiting another arena was outside the Staples center when a fan was vocally threatening but we just ignored him.