If I were to compare today to a holiday, I would choose the day before Thanksgiving. It is the day before the “holidays” officially starts for hockey fans! So, on the eve of the opening of Preds training camp, here are five players that I will be watching closely during the first few days of camp, one free agent, one 2010 draft pick and three members of the 2009 draft class.

1. Niclas Bergfors – The 24 year old signed as a free agent this past offseason. The former first round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils (2005 draft) has bounced around a bit and has never quite lived up to the first round pick expectations (sound familiar?) Bergfors has a ton of offensive upside potential. The Swedish RW will have every opportuinity to make an impact on this team, and it starts in camp.

2. Gabriel Bourque – The 20 year old left wing had a solid first season in Milwaukee last year, he has shown well in rookie camp. Bourque was a fifth round pick of Nashville in the 2009 draft and has some international experience, tallying 9 points (3g – 6a) in the 09-10 World Juniors for Team Canada. He is slated to begin the season with the Ad’s but will have an opportunity to make the big club.

3. Taylor Beck – Another 2009 draft, 20 year old left winger… he completed his junior career with back-to-back 90+ point campaigns for the Guelph Storm. He was able to turn come to Milwaukee for a few games after the Storm was eliminated from their playoffs and has some seasoning to do, however, he showed that he has some offensive pop… if he shows the same in camp, he could make it very difficult to be sent back to Milwaukee. If he is sent, I would expect him to be one of the first call ups.

4. Craig Smith – The third member of the 2009 draft class that bears considerable attention. Smith surprised a lot of observers with a head-turning performance in the 2011 Worlds, leading Team USA in goals and was second on the team in points. The 22 year old center was planning on returning for his junior year at the University of Wisconsin after posting just over a point a game in his sophomore season. Those plans changed after the Worlds. He then sent a buzz through Pred Nation with his six goal performance at the Florida rookie tournament earlier this week, leading the baby Preds to back-to-back victories. I’m trying to take a “wait-and-see” attitude, but Smith may be the offensive jolt this team is looking for.

5. Austin Watson – Nashville’s first pick in the 2010 draft (18 overall) finally showed the offensive talent his scouting report touted last season with Peterborough in the OHL. Watson posted a point per game with 34 goals and 34 assists for the Petes. He also got a little time with the Admirals at the end of last season. The Ann Arbor native had a solid rookie camp in July and will probably start the year in Milwaukee, but he bears watching as one of those “bubbling under” players that will get a chance to make this squad.

Training camp starts tomorrow as the day will be spent in on and off ice testing, physicals and meetings. The first on ice session is Saturday morning at 9:30am.

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Random Notes

- The Predators TV schedule was quietly posted yesterday on their website. The most exciting news… It appears that every road game will be televised on either FS Tennessee or SportsSouth. Only 12 home games will not be televised…

- Season Tickets were delivered yesterday by different members of the team… nice story on predators.com about Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber delivering tickets to a surprised season ticket holder.

- Thanks for all of the comments, Facebook posts and tweets regarding the so-called “investigative report.” I would much rather talk hockey, but when someone is reporting assumptions as fact it just crawls all over me…

- Interesting situation in Columbus as efforts continue to negotiate an arena deal that works better for the Blue Jackets. The team claims $10-$12 million a year in losses on their lease deal with Nationwide Insurance… the current owner of their home rink. The deal being worked would involve tax revenue from a casino to fund the public purchase of Nationwide Arena. This bears close watching as threats are being made to move the team if this can’t be worked out.

- Seeing RFA’s finally get signed, Marchand in Boston, Bogosian in Winnipeg, Doughty… err… never mind.

- First the Devils… now the Stars. The Dallas Stars are joining the rumor mill as a team being mentioned as a potential bankruptcy candidate.

- Buckle up for a series on sale announcements as agreements may be near in Dallas, St. Louis and Phoenix … yes… Phoenix. Our long national nightmare may be over…

- Please, if you haven’t had the chance… drop a small donation to the Andie and Alex Belak Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to Woodmont Christian Church/Belak and sent to 3601 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215.

- Less than 24 hours till training camp opens.

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!

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