Paul McCann: Lion-like Month?

First!!!!

I hope it doesn't take a few games for the team to gel properly. They need to hit the ice at full stride on Saturday. Can't allow Chicago to get close again.

I hope it doesn't take a few games for the team to gel properly. They need to hit the ice at full stride on Saturday. Can't allow Chicago to get close again.
- Predaceous

Agreed. Leave the top two lines in tact for now, place new buys in 3 or 4 until they get used to the system. Too much shuffling never seams to work.

"TSN has done a simply amazing profile of Jordin Tootoo..."

That was amazing. Thank you, Paul.

Good luck, Geoffrion!!

Will the drama in the Buckeye state never cease? Nash is "the most wanted man" in the NHL and will comfortably move on to greener pasture$. Howson, on the other hand is a joke who'll be selling newspapers on the street corner come May.
As for the Preds, they need to look at the remainder of the regular season as a challenge to catch both DET and STL in the standings. Only 6 points out. If they are a "legitimate contender" for the Cup, they need to start winning it now!

Will the drama in the Buckeye state never cease? Nash is "the most wanted man" in the NHL and will comfortably move on to greener pasture$. Howson, on the other hand is a joke who'll be selling newspapers on the street corner come May.
As for the Preds, they need to look at the remainder of the regular season as a challenge to catch both DET and STL in the standings. Only 6 points out. If they are a "legitimate contender" for the Cup, they need to start winning it now!
- Hockey_is_life

This team's history indicates that the team will not catch Detroit. I'd say they might catch St. Louis, but St. Louis doesn't have the most difficult of schedules going forward. They play Columbus 3 times and a Chicago team that's lost its identity three times. I think the Preds need to continue to play hard just to make sure they stay in 5th.

Odds keep increasing that we will face Detroit in the first round ... They are the only team I fear in the first round (at least as of this writing). Hopefully the boys gel quickly and we can continue the run.

And, good luck in Montreal tonight Boomer.

This team's history indicates that the team will not catch Detroit. I'd say they might catch St. Louis, but St. Louis doesn't have the most difficult of schedules going forward. They play Columbus 3 times and a Chicago team that's lost its identity three times. I think the Preds need to continue to play hard just to make sure they stay in 5th.
- Predaceous

History is just that, it's in the past. This is a different Preds team that can only look forward, and must be motivated. If they harbor any desire of beating DET and STL in the playoffs, they must accept the challenge to beat them in the regular season. Playing hard just to make sure you stay in 5th is a sellout. You can never achieve your goal by settling for anything.

History is just that, it's in the past. This is a different Preds team that can only look forward, and must be motivated. If they harbor any desire of beating DET and STL in the playoffs, they must accept the challenge to beat them in the regular season. Playing hard just to make sure you stay in 5th is a sellout. You can never achieve your goal by settling for anything.
- Hockey_is_life

This Preds team has done exactly the same thing other Preds teams have done when they've gotten within arms length of Detroit... they've lost. The only thing I see changing is possibly their fortunes if they play Detroit in the playoffs. I feel kind good about facing them oddly enough. They've won a lot of their games in shootouts or by the skin of their teeth this year. I think the Preds are more prepared to face them than ever before. Pekka > Howard.

Btw, I'm not saying their goal should be 5th. I'm saying that's the reality of the situation. No matter how hard they play that's probably where they'll end up. They need to make sure Chicago doesn't catch them.

I think other teams are saying the same thing

"we don't want to face Nashville in the playoffs"

that TSN video is really good. everyone needs to watch it

This is the first trade deadline in YEARS that I can remember Preds fans being relatively happy with. I know I haven't been very happy the last few years, even though Poile's decision to stand pat and bring up Blum and Geoffrion last year worked out well for us in the end.

I feel good about the Preds chances to advance this year no matter who they play. I think they match up well with Detroit, St. Louis and Vancouver, especially after the deadline acquisitions.

I hope it doesn't take a few games for the team to gel properly. They need to hit the ice at full stride on Saturday. Can't allow Chicago to get close again.
- Predaceous

Trotz is having a mini training camp today and tomorrow so the boys will dead legs on Saturday.

Trotz is having a mini training camp today and tomorrow so the boys will dead legs on Saturday.
- slash&smash

That's our Trotz.

That's our Trotz.
- Predaceous

Just curious if Klein and Gausted skated today?

Suter has been one of my favorites since day one, but he has been playing like sh!t lately. He forgot how to skate...forgot how to play the body...forgot how to play defense etc All of a sudden, he is an Ovechkin trying to be a scorer. He used to be the one that set up the offense. I hope this change is not for the contract......scoring equals dollars.

Suter has been one of my favorites since day one, but he has been playing like sh!t lately. He forgot how to skate...forgot how to play the body...forgot how to play defense etc All of a sudden, he is an Ovechkin trying to be a scorer. He used to be the one that set up the offense. I hope this change is not for the contract......scoring equals dollars.
- Predrod

Maybe he's just distracted for some reason.

Maybe he's just distracted for some reason.
- Whyme78

Suter can spin it all he wants but all of this pressure he is carrying has been a huge distraction and now it is affecting him on the ice. Sign a one or two year deal if you really want to stay and let DP finish putting the pieces together.

This is the first trade deadline in YEARS that I can remember Preds fans being relatively happy with. I know I haven't been very happy the last few years, even though Poile's decision to stand pat and bring up Blum and Geoffrion last year worked out well for us in the end.

I feel good about the Preds chances to advance this year no matter who they play. I think they match up well with Detroit, St. Louis and Vancouver, especially after the deadline acquisitions.
- Predaceous

Well I am one of the few who are not that thrilled. Gill so far I think is doing what he was brought here to do. I just don't see all of the fuss around AK. He's had a sub-par year up to this point...lot's of "ifs" being thrown about in regards to his potential here to help the team make and advance in the playoffs.

And bringing in Smithson 2.0 for a first in my opinion was too much.

I do hope these guys are integral to a run at the Cup but I am on the 'glass half-empty' side concerning these moves.

Suter can spin it all he wants but all of this pressure he is carrying has been a huge distraction and now it is affecting him on the ice. Sign a one or two year deal if you really want to stay and let DP finish putting the pieces together.
- slash&smash

Good point about signing a one-year deal. Give Poile the offseason to bring in some high-caliber offense. The worst for Suter would be going UFA with Weber - both competing at the same time for free-agent money may not be what he wants to do.

But if he is serious about what he is looking for to stay here, he knows it's going to take Poile this offseason to acheive that be it Rads or signing of a Parise. We shall see.

The piece on Jordin Tootoo is must-watch video.

Just curious if Klein and Gausted skated today?
- slash&smash

How do you know Trotz had a "mini training camp" today and don't know if Klein or Gausted skated?

Well I am one of the few who are not that thrilled. Gill so far I think is doing what he was brought here to do. I just don't see all of the fuss around AK. He's had a sub-par year up to this point...lot's of "ifs" being thrown about in regards to his potential here to help the team make and advance in the playoffs.

And bringing in Smithson 2.0 for a first in my opinion was too much.

I do hope these guys are integral to a run at the Cup but I am on the 'glass half-empty' side concerning these moves.
- Predville

Everyone on Montreal has had a subpar year. I think a change of venue will do him good. He's a solid player. You're always going to have 'ifs' until someone can accurately predict the future.

As for the first, it's going to be a later pick. Depending on how deep the Preds go in the playoffs it's probably no better than a 2nd in a draft that's not predicted to be that deep. I'd rather have Gaustad and see where that takes us. We have plenty of good prospects in Milwaukee. It's not like we need that pick to prevent our talent from drying up.

How do you know Trotz had a "mini training camp" today and don't know if Klein or Gausted skated?
- Scottrod83

I think that much was in the paper.

EDIT: Josh Cooper tweeted the Klein practiced today.

Everyone on Montreal has had a subpar year. I think a change of venue will do him good. He's a solid player. You're always going to have 'ifs' until someone can accurately predict the future.

As for the first, it's going to be a later pick. Depending on how deep the Preds go in the playoffs it's probably no better than a 2nd in a draft that's not predicted to be that deep. I'd rather have Gaustad and see where that takes us. We have plenty of good prospects in Milwaukee. It's not like we need that pick to prevent our talent from drying up.
- Predaceous

I really don't know what is happening in Montreal but it seems to me that, that team is in such disarray that they don't know what they have. Half the team seems to be in the doghouse.