Clay Brewer: Preds Face Important Summer

I thought Nashville had a great TDL. Played pretty well after it.

The last two months of the season were highly encouraging. No pressure and little expectations is the perfect time to get your young players experience and see what they can do. My one concern is that I'm not sure if we have any serious first line talent in that young group, but we definitely have some promising talent there.

Now on to the elephant in the room... Hynes is likely to be retained based on the late season push with, what was essentially, an AHL roster. He's going to get his fair share of the credit, as he probably should, but I have to wonder if the kids were playing well because they were buying into the system or because they were working their tails off to prove they belonged in the NHL and wanted to show exactly what they could do. I feel like it was the latter. I worry that when next year rolls around, it'll be right back to the status quo, where guys like Luke, Tomo, and Novak will get relegated to playing fourth line minutes if they're playing or on the team at all, while Hynes tends to favor the Cole Smiths and Sherwoods of the world.

Trotz wants to focus on bringing more speed and skill to the team, which is great, but Hynes doesn't value either of those traits. He prefers size and grit, so Trotz hasn't even taken over the job yet, and it seems like the GM and the coach are already at odds about at least one thing. I've never cared for Hynes, but putting my personal feelings aside, I still don't think he's the right coach for this team moving forward. I just don't trust him with the young guys... I feel like he's more likely to stifle their development, and is very quick to turn on players that don't fit his personal tastes. Tolvy did everything Hynes asked him too, and his reward was getting benched and placed on waivers, where he's now in a place and under a coach whose playing Tolvy to his strengths and not forcing him to be something he's not. As you said, Novak should've been with this team from the start... But he's not a John Hynes style of player so he wasn't... Even when he was called up and got off to a good start, he still got healthy scratched a couple of times, but started to play so well that Hynes had almost no choice but to keep playing him... How many 2 to 1 finale scores do you need to see to figure out that this system has it's ceiling and smacked it's head into it a long time ago.

The last two months of the season were highly encouraging. No pressure and little expectations is the perfect time to get your young players experience and see what they can do. My one concern is that I'm not sure if we have any serious first line talent in that young group, but we definitely have some promising talent there.

Now on to the elephant in the room... Hynes is likely to be retained based on the late season push with, what was essentially, an AHL roster. He's going to get his fair share of the credit, as he probably should, but I have to wonder if the kids were playing well because they were buying into the system or because they were working their tails off to prove they belonged in the NHL and wanted to show exactly what they could do. I feel like it was the latter. I worry that when next year rolls around, it'll be right back to the status quo, where guys like Luke, Tomo, and Novak will get relegated to playing fourth line minutes if they're playing or on the team at all, while Hynes tends to favor the Cole Smiths and Sherwoods of the world.

Trotz wants to focus on bringing more speed and skill to the team, which is great, but Hynes doesn't value either of those traits. He prefers size and grit, so Trotz hasn't even taken over the job yet, and it seems like the GM and the coach are already at odds about at least one thing. I've never cared for Hynes, but putting my personal feelings aside, I still don't think he's the right coach for this team moving forward. I just don't trust him with the young guys... I feel like he's more likely to stifle their development, and is very quick to turn on players that don't fit his personal tastes. Tolvy did everything Hynes asked him too, and his reward was getting benched and placed on waivers, where he's now in a place and under a coach whose playing Tolvy to his strengths and not forcing him to be something he's not. As you said, Novak should've been with this team from the start... But he's not a John Hynes style of player so he wasn't... Even when he was called up and got off to a good start, he still got healthy scratched a couple of times, but started to play so well that Hynes had almost no choice but to keep playing him... How many 2 to 1 finale scores do you need to see to figure out that this system has it's ceiling and smacked it's head into it a long time ago.
- Squatchy

It really is a difficult internal situation to gauge without being in the room where it happens. I'm super curious what happens post playoffs with this team and the draft becomes the topic of discussion.

I thought Nashville had a great TDL. Played pretty well after it.
- jfkst1

It was definitely surprising considering traditional Preds form that time of year.

Hope Granlund ends up working out for you guys. It was an odd move for Pitt to take full salary, etc., especially his form as of late. But he works hard and is a great dude. Fingers crossed he's able to find his game again.

Great write-up Clay! Thank you for taking the time to put all of that together.

Whatever occurs this summer, it will be a more interesting off-season than what we've experienced in the recent past.

Great write-up Clay! Thank you for taking the time to put all of that together.

Whatever occurs this summer, it will be a more interesting off-season than what we've experienced in the recent past.
- blueline

I'm very optimistic for the long term of the franchise now. The playoffs have also been incredible this year, so it definitely has me itching for the Preds to get back to late April and May hockey sooner rather than later. I know the team is frustrated not being a part of the action right now.

I enjoyed your blog Clay and appreciate the effort putting it together. My biggest question is where do Evangelista, Novak, Tomasino and Glass fit in with a healthy Forsberg, Johansen, Duchene up front. Novak should fit into the top six somehow, Evangelista and Tomasino are so young but make a real big push if not next year but the year after. Glass had a much better season but I still see him as a high risk injury type of player. Just my opinon but he needs to really add more strength. The skill is there but just not tough enough yet and not sure he will get there. Looking forward to a healthy group next year and more fun Preds hockey....... One more year in ahl for Askarov and then we will have the best tandem in hockey.

Hynes has got to go.. I have a feeling when the regulars come back you will see the same problems continue. I think Hynes lost the locker room

It was definitely surprising considering traditional Preds form that time of year.

Hope Granlund ends up working out for you guys. It was an odd move for Pitt to take full salary, etc., especially his form as of late. But he works hard and is a great dude. Fingers crossed he's able to find his game again.
- Clay Brewer

Granlund was the exclamation point on Hextall's time in Pittsburgh. 99% hated the move when it happened and now 100% hate the move. Granlund got used as a defensive specialist which only added to the frustration of the trade as Hextall claimed he was added as a secondary scoring boost. But he was pathetically useless overall. Only an unfit GM would have thought that an acceptable trade. Now everyone is praying Grandlund can be moved without much pain. Buyouts are already being suggested. Horrible horrible trade. Hextard never should have been a GM and no competent ownership group would ever hire him again.