Closeout day at Bridgestone Arena, lockers to get cleaned out, final meetings to take place, final media availabilities before the team scatters. A time to reflect, and a time to look forward. A lot of free agents to make decisions about… I look at those in four categories. Older veterans, Mid-Level Contributors, Younger RFA’s and must-sign’s.
In the older veteran category there is Steve Sullivan. Multiple Injuries in this past season do not exactly make him a hot commodity on the UFA market. You can’t question his heart, but his body has taken a boatload of abuse. I can see him being re-signed at a reduced figure, depending on the severity of the injury he sustained in the playoffs. Sullivan is a solid citizen and represents the team well. While not a free agent, I do wonder if the team is going to try and move JP Dumont. His perma-scratch status at the end of the season and his terminal place in Barry Trotz’s doghouse combined with his $4 million salary makes him a likely candidate for movement, if JP waives his NMC.
The mid-level contributors is where most of the tough decisions lie, especially considering the big contracts that are to come for Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. You could make an argument that losing Marcel Goc for the playoffs damaged this team’s opportunity for further advancement, having his steady influence and strong puck skills on the ice in round two could’ve been significant. Goc is a UFA and I would like to see him re-signed. The other player I place in this category is Sergei Kostitsyn, and frankly is the toughest call. Kostitsyn got off to a rocky start with the Predators, not wanting to buy into Barry Trotz’s system, word around the team back in early November is that he was close to being released. He then seemed to figure things out and was a key offensive contributor, leading the team in goals scored. If I am SK74’s agent, I’m increasing the price… if I am David Poile, I’m walking from any crazy demands. The Predator’s depth on the blueline may not leave room for Shane O’Brien to return. The UFA did a solid job in Nashville and will be able to find a good contract elsewhere. The complicating factor here is Francis Bouillon, if his long term recovery prospects are not good, you may see the Preds re-sign O’Brien. The last one I put in this category is also the most difficult one to figure out. Joel Ward. A poor regular season did not help the pending UFA’s asking price… then came the playoffs. I’d like to see Ward back with the team, I’m afraid that his more than point per game performance in the playoffs may make his salary demands a bit too high.
Younger RFA’s include Matt Halischuk, Cal O’Reilly, and Nick Spaling. All did yeoman’s work filling in for injuries to Matthew Lombardi and Marcel Goc. O’Reilly may get caught in a logjam developing at center. His status may depend on Lombardi’s long term prognosis. Halischuk and Spaling are no brainers, re-sign and move on.
And now the big one… Shea Weber. No question that the team wants and needs to re-sign the captain, but, given the depth on the blueline that this organization has stockpiled, what do you do if someone puts out an offer sheet on him? The kind of money that offer sheet would contain would result in four number one draft picks. That is very tempting for a team that needs top line talent, and needs to develop that talent instead of buy it on the open market. I say ignore the temptation and lock up Weber to a long term contract.
I’ll be at the media availability today, Pete Weber and I will have a full breakdown of the day’s activities on tonight’s SlapShot Radio.
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Random Notes
- Nice column from Gail Kerr in today’s Tennessean about the financial impact of the Predator’s playoff run. One small quibble… Kerr lumps one owner’s private tax issue in with “Boots” Delbiaggio’s criminal activity, that’s not accurate, or fair.
- Kerr’s column also documents how Nashville Mayor Karl Dean made good on his wager with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robinson. Soon Mayor Robinson will be dining on a fine Tennessee country ham and enjoying a selection of CD’s from Nashville artists including Jack White, Kings of Leon and Keith Urban.
- The baby Preds are done now as well. The Milwaukee Admirals lost game seven of their West Division Finals series with the Houston Aeros last night at the Bradley Center 4-2. Houston will move on to face the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL’s Western Conference finals.
- The Detroit Red Wings extended their series with the San Jose Sharks to a game seven. The Sharks are gripping a bit.
- Big props to the crowd at the “Joe” last night… great involvement and an excellent rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing”
- Glendale approved another subsidy to keep the Coyotes in Arizona for 2001-2012… now the focus shifts to Atlanta.
- Tonight’s playoff schedule – No Games Scheduled
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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…
On tonight’s show we'll be talking to the always outspoken Jeremy Roenick from Versus and Hockey Night in Canada Radio's Jeff Marek... We'll be getting you ready for the conference finals and putting a bow on the Predator’s season... tonight on SlapShot Radio, 6pm on SportsRadio 560 WNSR.
You can get check out our podcasts at
the SlapShot Radio podcast page.
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