Paul McCann: Sustaining the Turnaround? and Sunday Shots

Hi Paul, I'm glad you just blogged, this is a copy of what I (ironically posted in the Flyers site, that has a lot to do with the Predators, look forward to your thoughts.


Possible trade target, looking at Nashvilles blue line, (here we go again, right?) no not Weber, but looking at there current blue line, they have about $16 mill tied up long term to the top 4 of, Weber, Josi, Seth Jones & Klein.

Mattias Ekholm is only 23, has a good shot & mobile with good size, 6'4", his play is on "raw" side in his own zone, (but hey, we're paying a senior citizen UFA for the same thing), but he seems to have a promising upside.
In 2 years they have to reup Jones, wondering what some may think as a possible trade target for us, we do have, when you look at our forwards, an overage of offensive types that the Preds are in obvious need of, (we also have Laughton coming in another year or 2 as well).
Just throwing out a line to see what some may think, we obviously need to restructure our "D".

Victor Bartley brought the crowd to their feet last night with a board rocking hit in the third period on Sharks forward Tommy Wingles, who may still be looking for the number of the truck that hit him.
- pmccann

There's been waaayyyyy too little of this since Tootoo left. Our team doesn't seem to hit hard anymore. They nudge, they jostle, they push, but they rarely hit the way they used to. I think that fact had a lot to do with how the fans reacted.

It's good to see the Preds playing a more energetic, up-tempo game. Hopefully this is a sign that Trotz is changing things up a bit. They still played typical Preds hockey with a third period lead though. By that I mean allowing the other team to be on the attack, being content to just dump the puck out of the zone and make a line change. Hockey's version of a prevent-defense. Any offense is a pure breakdown by the other team because the Preds stop attacking in the third when they have a lead unless the opportunity is gift-wrapped for them.

I'm happy to see the team start winning again, but it doesn't change my mind that I don't think Trotz has what it takes to get this team past the second round of the playoffs.

D

Hi Paul, I'm glad you just blogged, this is a copy of what I (ironically posted in the Flyers site, that has a lot to do with the Predators, look forward to your thoughts.


Possible trade target, looking at Nashvilles blue line, (here we go again, right?) no not Weber, but looking at there current blue line, they have about $16 mill tied up long term to the top 4 of, Weber, Josi, Seth Jones & Klein.

Mattias Ekholm is only 23, has a good shot & mobile with good size, 6'4", his play is on "raw" side in his own zone, (but hey, we're paying a senior citizen UFA for the same thing), but he seems to have a promising upside.
In 2 years they have to reup Jones, wondering what some may think as a possible trade target for us, we do have, when you look at our forwards, an overage of offensive types that the Preds are in obvious need of, (we also have Laughton coming in another year or 2 as well).
Just throwing out a line to see what some may think, we obviously need to restructure our "D".
- puckhead17

I doubt it'll happen that way. Nashville doesn't need another 2nd or 3rd line type of forward. We need some real firepower. On top of that, the Josi and Klein contracts are a steal, the salary cap is going up, and our owners aren't struggling as they've often been portrayed.

Any trade by Nashville involving a d-man, whether it's Ellis, Ekholm, Bartley or Piskula, would probably involve a package of players to bring in a proven goal scorer.

I'm trying to remember when the last time was that Nashville even traded a defenseman outside of Timonen. And that trade was forced by Leipold's fire sale. Otherwise he'd probably still be a Predator today.

There's been waaayyyyy too little of this since Tootoo left. Our team doesn't seem to hit hard anymore. They nudge, they jostle, they push, but they rarely hit the way they used to. I think that fact had a lot to do with how the fans reacted.
- Predaceous

totally agree. Though one surprising exception, at least recently, has been Fisher. I've noticed him rocking someone to the ice about once a game. He had one that went unnoticed by Pete and Terry last night, too. His best was against Toronto when Phneuf had him lined up at the Preds blueline. Fish saw it coming, braced himself and laid Dianne out on his arse. It was beautiful.

I hope the urge to play physical spreads like a virus throughout the team. They sorely need that sort of presence to reinforce the hard to play against aura they want to project.

totally agree. Though one surprising exception, at least recently, has been Fisher. I've noticed him rocking someone to the ice about once a game. He had one that went unnoticed by Pete and Terry last night, too. His best was against Toronto when Phneuf had him lined up at the Preds blueline. Fish saw it coming, braced himself and laid Dianne out on his arse. It was beautiful.

I hope the urge to play physical spreads like a virus throughout the team. They sorely need that sort of presence to reinforce the hard to play against aura they want to project.
- figurefive

I'm surprised they haven't been doing it from the start. Like you said, they want to be hard to play against. All I see is Rich Clune starting stupid, senseless fights three minutes into games. That's not hard to play against. That's a clown show, and I'm tired of watching it. Trotz's 'entertainment tax' sucks. I don't want to see meaningless fights. I want to see good hockey.

D

There's been waaayyyyy too little of this since Tootoo left. Our team doesn't seem to hit hard anymore. They nudge, they jostle, they push, but they rarely hit the way they used to. I think that fact had a lot to do with how the fans reacted.

It's good to see the Preds playing a more energetic, up-tempo game. Hopefully this is a sign that Trotz is changing things up a bit. They still played typical Preds hockey with a third period lead though. By that I mean allowing the other team to be on the attack, being content to just dump the puck out of the zone and make a line change. Hockey's version of a prevent-defense. Any offense is a pure breakdown by the other team because the Preds stop attacking in the third when they have a lead unless the opportunity is gift-wrapped for them.

I'm happy to see the team start winning again, but it doesn't change my mind that I don't think Trotz has what it takes to get this team past the second round of the playoffs.

D
- Predaceous

With all the boarding calls, they may be a little hesitant with that big hit, especially by the boards. Hard for me to tell a legit hit and boarding sometimes.

I doubt it'll happen that way. Nashville doesn't need another 2nd or 3rd line type of forward. We need some real firepower. On top of that, the Josi and Klein contracts are a steal, the salary cap is going up, and our owners aren't struggling as they've often been portrayed.

Any trade by Nashville involving a d-man, whether it's Ellis, Ekholm, Bartley or Piskula, would probably involve a package of players to bring in a proven goal scorer.

I'm trying to remember when the last time was that Nashville even traded a defenseman outside of Timonen. And that trade was forced by Leipold's fire sale. Otherwise he'd probably still be a Predator today.
- Predaceous

Timmonen signed as a UFA

the Flyers have a few young potential 2nd line centers, Fisher is getting older & Legwand may move on, I see a scoring center as a potential problem

Timmonen signed as a UFA

the Flyers have a few young potential 2nd line centers, Fisher is getting older & Legwand may move on, I see a scoring center as a potential problem
- puckhead17

Timonen and Hartnell both had their rights traded to the Flyers who signed them before they ever became UFA. Again, we don't need second liners. We need a legit scorer. Someone who can boost the talent around him. The Preds already have the potential 1st and 2nd liners in Wilson, Smith, Bourque and Forsberg. They need someone who's a real threat to other teams and will boost their game the way Kariya did for Legwand years ago.

Timonen and Hartnell both had their rights traded to the Flyers who signed them before they ever became UFA. Again, we don't need second liners. We need a legit scorer. Someone who can boost the talent around him. The Preds already have the potential 1st and 2nd liners in Wilson, Smith, Bourque and Forsberg. They need someone who's a real threat to other teams and will boost their game the way Kariya did for Legwand years ago.
- Predaceous

that's right, forgot about the rights being traded.

we're not talking trading a top D man, Ekholm isn't established, who would hand over a current 60 point player for potential?

it was just a thought, we have forwards but crappy D, & you really can't tell the Pred's 1st line from their 3rd.
Even Stalberg is finding it tough in the tight D system.
I know it works for them, but they rely too much on Pekke & Shea too much.

that's right, forgot about the rights being traded.

we're not talking trading a top D man, Ekholm isn't established, who would hand over a current 60 point player for potential?

it was just a thought, we have forwards but crappy D, & you really can't tell the Pred's 1st line from their 3rd.
Even Stalberg is finding it tough in the tight D system.
I know it works for them, but they rely too much on Pekke & Shea too much.
- puckhead17

You are right. Someone here once said Trotz seemingly would rather lose 1-0 than win 6-5.

that's right, forgot about the rights being traded.

we're not talking trading a top D man, Ekholm isn't established, who would hand over a current 60 point player for potential?

it was just a thought, we have forwards but crappy D, & you really can't tell the Pred's 1st line from their 3rd.
Even Stalberg is finding it tough in the tight D system.
I know it works for them, but they rely too much on Pekke & Shea too much.
- puckhead17

Which is why I said he'd more likely be included as part of a package.

We hate Trotz's system. It's boring and frustrating. The only thing that makes it tolerable is winning, but we're not doing that consistently. Not only is Trotz's system boring for the fans, but I think it's a heavy contributor in why no top line free-agent forward wants to come here.

You are right. Someone here once said Trotz seemingly would rather lose 1-0 than win 6-5.
- predswilrule

It was Dirk at OtF, and he said Trotz gives off that impression, not that he would actually rather lose 1-0 than win 6-5. Still, the point is understood, and it's the main aspect of Trotz I'd like to change.

Which is why I said he'd more likely be included as part of a package.

We hate Trotz's system. It's boring and frustrating. The only thing that makes it tolerable is winning, but we're not doing that consistently. Not only is Trotz's system boring for the fans, but I think it's a heavy contributor in why no top line free-agent forward wants to come here.
- Predaceous

Since it is obvious that we can't develop offensive talent within our system, and since it is nearly impossible to get a forward via free agency, we need to do it via trade. I think Ryan Ellis is thought of highly in Canadian markets. He has been alright, but nothing special for the Preds. He would be a good candidate for getting an established scorer from another team. Unfortunately, any trade we do will be to get more "grit".

Paul McCann: Sustaining the Turnaround? and Sunday Shots
- pmccann

It is too much to hope for to beat Chicago again here.....right?

I'm surprised they haven't been doing it from the start. Like you said, they want to be hard to play against. All I see is Rich Clune starting stupid, senseless fights three minutes into games. That's not hard to play against. That's a clown show, and I'm tired of watching it. Trotz's 'entertainment tax' sucks. I don't want to see meaningless fights. I want to see good hockey.

D
- Predaceous

SJ scored something like 42 first period goals in 33 games. I think doing anything to get them off their game in the first period is smart. Did Clunes fight do that? Who knows...but they didn't score a goal in the first.

SJ scored something like 42 first period goals in 33 games. I think doing anything to get them off their game in the first period is smart. Did Clunes fight do that? Who knows...but they didn't score a goal in the first.
- buelleo

I didn't have a problem with that fight, but I definitely see Predaceous' point. Clune risks turning into Sean Avery from his L.A. Kings days. I watched an entire season where it seemed like they played the same exact game every single night:

Opponent gets two goal lead
Avery starts a fight
Avery gets pummeled
Kings lose by 4

I think a good body rocking check is a lot more effective at changing momentum, but they are harder to come by and the opportunity doesn't always present itself with the right timing.

Best example of this I can remember is one of the first Preds games I ever attended before actually moving to Nashville. I was visiting my wife's family for the holidays, and the FiL took us to Kings @ Preds. The game was pretty ho hum for a bit. Then, out of nowhere, a little ball of fire streaks onto the ice from a line change and completely blows up one of the Kings defenders behind the Kings net. He wasn't done, though, and immediately set his sights on the next guy with the puck and blew him up, too. Both were perfectly clean hits, and both completely laid out their targets. The change in atmosphere in the arena was palpable and within the next two shifts the Preds scored. The arena, still buzzing from the hits, absolutely erupted. That was my intro to Tootoo. When he was on his game he was among the best at that type of momentum changing play.

I didn't have a problem with that fight, but I definitely see Predaceous' point. Clune risks turning into Sean Avery from his L.A. Kings days. I watched an entire season where it seemed like they played the same exact game every single night:

Opponent gets two goal lead
Avery starts a fight
Avery gets pummeled
Kings lose by 4

I think a good body rocking check is a lot more effective at changing momentum, but they are harder to come by and the opportunity doesn't always present itself with the right timing.

Best example of this I can remember is one of the first Preds games I ever attended before actually moving to Nashville. I was visiting my wife's family for the holidays, and the FiL took us to Kings @ Preds. The game was pretty ho hum for a bit. Then, out of nowhere, a little ball of fire streaks onto the ice from a line change and completely blows up one of the Kings defenders behind the Kings net. He wasn't done, though, and immediately set his sights on the next guy with the puck and blew him up, too. Both were perfectly clean hits, and both completely laid out their targets. The change in atmosphere in the arena was palpable and within the next two shifts the Preds scored. The arena, still buzzing from the hits, absolutely erupted. That was my intro to Tootoo. When he was on his game he was among the best at that type of momentum changing play.
- figurefive

Clune is not the reason for the Preds downside issues nor is Tootoo the cure for the Preds.

Move on from Tootoo......

Clune is not the reason for the Preds downside issues nor is Tootoo the cure for the Preds.

Move on from Tootoo......
- buelleo

Agree on both counts. Simply pointing out that having someone who can and actually does throw a punishing check on a regular basis would really benefit this team and it's something they've lacked for a while. They've got guys who do it on occasion, but I don't think you could say there's anyone who actively seeks out those opportunities. It's more like they take them when they're available.