Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 
Forums :: Blog World :: Paul McCann: Game Night in Smashville
Author Message
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators
Location: Nolensville, TN
Joined: 09.15.2005

Dec 10 @ 12:32 PM ET
Paul McCann: Game Night in Smashville
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Dec 10 @ 12:45 PM ET
It’s time for this Nashville team to start realizing it’s potential, to play to their capabilities and start playing the way that most observers expected in this season.

Or...

The team is vastly overrated and are actually playing exactly to their potential.

Or...

The coaching staff doesn't understand the teams capabilities and are completely mishandling everything from lines to the terrible power play.

I'll go for a combination of both. This is the first Preds team I can remember that I have no faith in defensively. They're terrible and Peks can't bail them out as he normally does. I guess they'll just have to outscore teams to win...

Squatchy
Nashville Predators
Location: Clarksville, TN
Joined: 05.09.2018

Dec 10 @ 1:18 PM ET
It’s time for this Nashville team to start realizing it’s potential, to play to their capabilities and start playing the way that most observers expected in this season.

Perhaps it's time to ask if these players are being asked to play up to expectations that weren't realistic for the way this team has been constructed. While I do agree this team should be performing better, at this point of the season, you can usually tell what most teams are. Right now, the Preds are an inconsistent bunch who seemingly have to vote before each game whether or not they want to play offensive or defense. Their play has been better lately, but that play hasn't necessarily resulted in wins. The win over NJ wasn't pretty, but who cares. Right now all that matters is winning games, whatever way you have to win them. Pretty much every game for the next couple of weeks is a must win. That sucks, but it's a position the Preds have put themselves in. The Preds seem to play their best when they keep things simple, focus on D without leaving their goal-tender's out to dry, and let the offense come to them instead of trying to force things.

Stop worrying about whether your a cup contender or not, and focus on winning some games. Making the playoffs should be this team's primary goal and what they're concerned about right now. Worry about windows shutting later. Doesn't mean a thing if you're not inside the house to begin with.
Fangor1
Nashville Predators
Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 11.24.2014

Dec 10 @ 5:02 PM ET
I still think the room full of players who took a "keep the core together" contract is a bit perturbed to see the Captain sweep all the chip from the tabletop.
Squatchy
Nashville Predators
Location: Clarksville, TN
Joined: 05.09.2018

Dec 10 @ 9:02 PM ET
I still think the room full of players who took a "keep the core together" contract is a bit perturbed to see the Captain sweep all the chip from the tabletop.
- Fangor1


Maybe, but we can't fault Josi for his contract. Remember, he's been playing at an incredible discount for years now, so I can't blame him for asking to get paid what he's earned. Besides, if he'd made it to the open market, some team would've been crazy enough to throw 10.5 or 11 mil at him.
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Dec 11 @ 9:29 AM ET
I still think the room full of players who took a "keep the core together" contract is a bit perturbed to see the Captain sweep all the chip from the tabletop.
- Fangor1


That doesn't explain the last two years of tanking at the end of the season and playoffs. Their success could be a bell curve. Upward trajectory and peak (cup run, President's Trophy) then steady decline (second round loss, barely winning division, first round loss, now struggling for playoff contention).

There's lots of variables, like injuries, roster, etc., but the pattern is pretty clear.

This was in play long before Josi's money became an issue.