Getting angry won't be difficult for the crowd that hangs out here. Most of this clan has the ability to get mad about the good stuff.

It's not their fault, it's the coach's fault. Hynes was terrible in NJ and he's terrible in Nashville. Idk why on the planet earth they brought him in for the playoff run/disaster.. a guy who led the Devils to the dumpster over and over. Yes, I'm still bitter him letting the Yotes win that series bumped the Devils pick from AZ from 10th (or 11th?) down to freaking 18th. Any other coach would've won that series. The Preds looked just like the Devils on the ice.. players not knowing how to hockey, making stupid decisions and a dumb system. Hynes is at it again. What a dumb GM to bring in a terrible coach with NO track record of success to a veteran team that should've been competitive in the playoffs.
- MartysBetter88

I heard David Poile had some previous connection with John Hynes. Honestly don't recall the exact relationship and it doesn't matter. But for us Devils fans it was a laughable decision to hire Hynes. It's just unfortunate for the Preds and their fans.

Also, just so folks don't think this is just ex-coach hatred, there are a bunch of rookies in NJ who have been killing it under Lindy Ruff who never looked like they could play in this league. Ty Smith, Mike McLeod and Nathan Bastian struggled under Hynes and have thrived once we stopped playing that system.

The one good season under Hynes was more a case of Taylor Hall having a career year then anything else. The team started red hot and backed its way into the playoffs.

I hear ya, teams that hang those banners are stupid and their fans are dumb as a butt.


- Bellicose

Regular season isnt a thing.

The Nashville Knights folded in 1996. Ryan Sittler played for the Charlotte Checkers in the '98-'99 season. He was the 14th leading scorer on the team.
- FoppaForever

Haha. So let's recap.

Ek has a vivid memory about being at the final game in Nashville Knight history in 1996 against the Charlotte Checkers, and their young leading scorer Ryan Sittler.

But Nashville didn't play Charlotte at all during that season. And if they did, Sittler didn't join the Checkers until 2 years after the Knights folded. And when he did, he was 14th in team scoring. Cool story though.

you're a useless comment. his comment is pure gold and always will be.
- MartysBetter88

I'm guessing it's two sides of dead air

Recording an album (e4)

The most fascinating part of this article is that EK used to be a musician!

I'm guessing it's two sides of dead air
- mgriffen

probably

Haha. So let's recap.

Ek has a vivid memory about being at the final game in Nashville Knight history in 1996 against the Charlotte Checkers, and their young leading scorer Ryan Sittler.

But Nashville didn't play Charlotte at all during that season. And if they did, Sittler didn't join the Checkers until 2 years after the Knights folded. And when he did, he was 14th in team scoring. Cool story though.
- Kooleus

I really appreciate you taking time to investigate all of EK's statements.

The most fascinating part of this article is that EK used to be a musician!
- TheUltimateJet

Yeah, I love how he casually mentions that

"Your local media appears too close to the situation or too afraid to be real or something, but I am starting to hear the murmurs from players and some key fans in Preds Nation."

Preds Nation is upset. The problem lies with the organization. While GMDP has made some decent moves, the style of play, the coaching, the organizational philosophy, all of it needs a major overhaul. GMDP needs to be moved out of hockey operations and into a nice VP position so he can fade into the sunset.

The Preds control media access to players and coaches, the questions to be asked, and the quotes that will be allowed to be published. Take a look at the official Preds team media reporting on their website -- it is nauseating. Nothing critical is allowed to be said about the team. No really tough questions are allowed to be asked. If someone does, their access is cut off. Preds local media appear not to have the guts to rock the boat, but someone with access needs to provoke some Tortorella, Mike Keenan level of agitation with GMDP and milquetoast coach John Hynes.

GMDP has put together a small team with a bunch of "Awww shucks, golly gee," nice guys. The organization blows sunshine and roses at the fans despite the fact that the Preds have scored maybe 80 ppg in the last 3 seasons combined! Youth movement? Let's pickup a bunch of bottom 6 players and sit our NHL ready youth. The organization doesn't give a flip about the fans or about building a championship team. They only care about putting together a great in-game experience so people will visit NSH for a game. The organization does not really care about the product on the ice.

Regular season isnt a thing.
- Gerk

You got me, doesn't say regular season on that one. One could argue that if a regular season champs banner is pointless then all regulars season banners (president's trophy, division) are equally pointless as there is only one prize that matters.

Although I am a Preds fan I relocated from the north and have loved hockey for as long as I can remember. I also remember other teams hanging regular season champs banners and not hearing a peep about it being stupid until the Preds did it.

Seems....sheepish group think kind of stuff where no one says a word about other teams doing the exact same thing but we get all the flack for it. It's a trigger for me. Sorry for assuming the Blues did this as well.





There are others, I just don't have the energy to post them all.

I really appreciate you taking time to investigate all of EK's statements.
- TheUltimateJet

I didn't research anything. Another reader did. I just find it amusing. This would be the equivalent of me saying that I was at the final Winnipeg Jets game in 1996. But instead of saying it was the Red Wings as the opponent I say it was against the Oilers, and their young leading scorer named Gary Valk. Wouldn't you chuckle that all of my details are wrong?

I didn't research anything. Another reader did. I just find it amusing. This would be the equivalent of me saying that I was at the final Winnipeg Jets game in 1996. But instead of saying it was the Red Wings as the opponent I say it was against the Oilers, and their young leading scorer named Gary Valk. Wouldn't you chuckle that all of my details are wrong?
- Kooleus

yeah but we expect more from you

The Preds have gone downhill since the Cup Finals. Poile added players right before season started as if he did not expect to play this season. He got it right they are not playing in any part of the game. The PP has always been average or below(new PP coach has done nothing since arriving) but the PK has been fairly good and now it looks awful. I have been season ticket holder for over 15 years and I let them go this year because I just don't see this team going anywhere but back home. I still watch them on TV and can hope they improve for some excitement but have not gotten as of yet. Hate to down them because they are my team and will still be win, loose, or draw. Play the younguns. GO PREDS!

The Preds have gone downhill since the Cup Finals. Poile added players right before season started as if he did not expect to play this season. He got it right they are not playing in any part of the game. The PP has always been average or below(new PP coach has done nothing since arriving) but the PK has been fairly good and now it looks awful. I have been season ticket holder for over 15 years and I let them go this year because I just don't see this team going anywhere but back home. I still watch them on TV and can hope they improve for some excitement but have not gotten as of yet. Hate to down them because they are my team and will still be win, loose, or draw. Play the younguns. GO PREDS!
- TandyC

Is anyone a season ticket holder this season?

Remember when preds chose to trade Jones for Johansen. ah Good times.

Matt Duchene is an nice guy but a cancer to any nhl team. Every team he goes to he somehow makes them a horrible team - if it's not already

I heard David Poile had some previous connection with John Hynes. Honestly don't recall the exact relationship and it doesn't matter. But for us Devils fans it was a laughable decision to hire Hynes. It's just unfortunate for the Preds and their fans.

- Queenie_5_hole

The past relationship was basically the only reason for the hire. Obviously not the most intelligent way to handle your 'coaching search', and Poile deserves all the criticism he's received for the hire.

The Nashville Knights folded in 1996. Ryan Sittler played for the Charlotte Checkers in the '98-'99 season. He was the 14th leading scorer on the team.
- FoppaForever

Ouch, EK rebuttal?

All the NHL needs is non grunted contracts just like the NFL. Problem solved

Matt Duchene is an nice guy but a cancer to any nhl team. Every team he goes to he somehow makes them a horrible team - if it's not already
- AlfieisKing

Duchene just collects his pay checks without any hard lifting. Blanking shame.

Haha. So let's recap.

Ek has a vivid memory about being at the final game in Nashville Knight history in 1996 against the Charlotte Checkers, and their young leading scorer Ryan Sittler.

But Nashville didn't play Charlotte at all during that season. And if they did, Sittler didn't join the Checkers until 2 years after the Knights folded. And when he did, he was 14th in team scoring. Cool story though.
- Kooleus

Classic and unsurprising at this point.

All the NHL needs is non grunted contracts just like the NFL. Problem solved
- Jkuzzi

invert that. the NFL needs guaranteed contracts like the NHL.

also, review your work

The other funny thing about the article...after insulting Canadians for not knowing anything about Nashville, the guy who suggests that Ek and his friends check out the Nashville Knights was a Canadian working on their album. If you guys were such huge hockey fans, wouldn't you research what the local hockey scene looks like in the first place. Oh look, Nashville has an ECHL franchise, we should go check them out.