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Deadline Day

February 24, 2020, 8:39 AM ET [3 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Trade Deadline Day dawns and Pred Nation is wondering… what happens at 501 Broadway today?

There have been quite a few moves in advance of deadline day, taking a lot of names off the board, including ones that the Preds may have been interested in… but the intrigue as we begin this day is palpable.

Defensemen went fast… Mike Green went to the Oilers last night, Alec Martinez went to Vegas, Morco Scandella went to the Blues, Brendan Dillon went to the Caps, Andy Greene went to the Islanders. So, as I look at the trade board right now… the picking are kinda slim on the blueline… except… Sami Vatanen and… if Toronto is truly looking to move Tyson Barrie, things could get mighty interesting

If you look at forward… you see Chris Kreider leading the pack, the 28 year old left wing has been having a decent year and seems to be the crown jewel of this year’s deadline. Nice player, solid stats… but stupid season is upon us and someone is going to way overpay for this player. Now that Kovalchuk is in Washington after yesterday’s move, other names are jumping up… one that I might see the Preds take a chance on? Detroit’s Andreas Athanasiou… the 25 year old is an RFA at the end of the season and is not exactly having a great year, along with the rest of the Wings.

Three Nashville names are on TSN’s Trade Bait list as of 2/21… Rocco Grimaldi (36) Criag Smith (44) and Mikael Granlund (46.) These are tough calls… but let’s look at it in a little more creative way…

Nashville just added an All-Star caliber defenseman in the return of Ryan Ellis. While the blueline is not exactly deep, you can’t overlook that addition after missing the associate captain for 20 games. If you can add some depth without clearing the cupboard… then do it… a Jeff Petry maybe or a Josh Manson?

Then… when you look at forward, would Chris Kreider or a JG Pageau be better than a Smith or Granlund? A Mike Hoffman? A Jesper Fast? In my mind, the answer is no… but given the picks that the team possesses in the 202 NHL Draft… perhaps there may be some room to play around. I wouldn’t touch the first round pick, but with two seconds and two thirds… there may be some options.

Smashville will be watching closely to see what happens… the deadline is 2pm today and we will have a complete breakdown of deadline day tonight on SlapShot Radio at 7pm on 102.5 the Game.

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Where They Stand – a daily look at where the Predators are in the playoff race.
The Predators got a little help last night Winnipeg lost so as play opens on 2/24/2020, the Nashville Predators are in the 5 spot in the Central and the 10 spot in the Western Conference, two points behind Arizona and Calgary. They have two games in hand over the Flames and four games in hand over the Coyotes. The Preds trail Dallas by ten points for third in the Central and hold a game in hand over the Stars.

Impact games tonight – None.

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Random Notes – Presented by

- The NHL announced that the St. Louis Blues will be playing in Minnesota for the 2021 Winter Classic

- Deadline day could mean a different looking Senators team in Nashville tomorrow night. There appears to be a fire sale a brewing in Canada’s capital.

- It’s a big week in Smashville as the Preds are home on Tuesday (vs. OTT), Thursday (vs. CGY) and Saturday (vs. COL)… two critical playoff position showdowns this week and, frankly… a Tuesday game against a non-playoff team that the team will need to get two points out of.

- The Washington Capitals adding Ilya Kovalchuk could be the move of the deadline, the veteran showed he had something left in the tank with Montreal and now goes to a Cup contender in DC.

- Tonight’s games – 6pm – OTT @ CBJ.

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SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I are on Monday night’s this season. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast … Join us Mondays at 7pm on 102.5 the Game.

Our sponsor list continues to grow. Not only are we welcoming back Drs. Jane Bacon and Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and our good friend Carter Church, Your Murfreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group. And our newest sponsors… Cool Springs Wines and Spirits! The largest spirit store in all of middle Tennessee! And La-Z-Boy Nashville! Three locations, locally owned and operated, check out La-Z-Boy in Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!

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