Looking at the Central
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 12:00 PM CST
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Ten days into February, the Central Division remains locked in a battle with the East's Atlantic Division for the toughest in hockey. Both divisions currently have four playoff teams (and one bottom-dweller). If the season ended today, The only reason the central would have teams in the 4-5-6 seeding is because of the rule that gives a top-three seed to division winners. This race is getting tighter than yours and my sphincter when we see Sam Gagner skating in on our third-string goalie on a 2-on-0 rush.
I know where I stand as far as this race goes and my confidence in Detroit to end the season at the top of the Central. Detroit is the most-complete team in the division right now. Top-to-bottom depth on offense and defense should be the difference-maker (provided the injury situation doesn't change that). I know that not all Wings fans share my confidence and far be it from me to speak for you. But we all know where we stand with this team by now.
But what about the other fanbases? Where do they stand as far as their confidence to win the Central? Are they as concerned with grabbing a home-seed as we are? Take the jump and I'll try to coalesce the thoughts (or in one fanbase's case, translate the grunts and snorts into language).
I want to start by saying that it's dangerous and impossible to gather the entirety of a fanbase's feelings or even get a perfect grasp on how big a majority is. I'm not going for scientific accuracy here.
Chicago Blackhawks: (29-18-7 65 Points : 4th in the Central)
The Hawks came out of the All-Star break stumbling. They've lost six straight games and will face off against the San Jose Sharks tonight in game 5 of their current 9-game road trip, where they'll still have to face the Preds and Rangers before it's all through. The Hawks' +8 goal differential is fourth-best in the division and is a big departure from +62 in their cup year and even +33 last season. They've scored the 2nd-most goals of all Central teams, but have allowed 19 more than their next-closest competitor.
What their blog is saying: From the sounds over at Second City Hockey, the Blackhawks have two million coaches, and an equal number of GMs who are just as clueless as their actual coach and GM. SamFels wrote on Monday that he's excited about the next two weeks (when the Hawks' losing streak was at 5 games). The reasoning was solid: You find out what kind of team you have in how they respond to adversity. The Hawks got better results than their team looked to deserve early and are now getting worse results than they deserve. Still, there's plenty of concern about whether the coach and GM are on the same page or are even competent.
Their outlook (my take): Chicago has the capability to put together a top-six set of forwards that can skate with any other team's big guns and should be expected to beat them over a long series. They have holes at the bottom of their D, but no team with Keith and Seabrook should be considered weak in that department. Goaltending is not cutting it. I don't know if Corey Crawford can snap out of the suck, but he might be their key. Chicago is good to go talent-wise, but they need whatever it's going to take the make that talent work. If that happens, they're back in cup contention immediately.
Nashville Predators (32-18-5 69 Points : 3rd in Central)
Nashville stumbled a bit out of the gate, but quickly righted the ship and have flown under the radar most of the season. They've had two streaks of four straight losses, but are 12-4-1 since the turn of the year and actually might be considering buying assets at the deadline. The Preds are allowing slightly more goals than they're used to, but they're also scoring more. The Preds are 12th in G/G and GA/G with 2.76 and 2.58 respectively.
What their blog is saying: It's a little harder to gauge the feelings of Preds fans here, but there's something very telling about the fact that they're running a series about potential trade acquisitions. The always-professional On The Forecheck does a great deal of reporting without quite as much editorializing as others. Still, there are some things to be gathered by what's said there and a wealth of information about how excited Preds fans are in this race in the comments over there. I get the feeling that the overall atmosphere is one where Preds fans are more than happy to let other teams get all the praise, but they at least deserve some attention other than the usual media-type mentioning them for no other reason than to speculate as to when one of their defensemen gets moved.
Their outlook (my take): Whether the Predators' season will be successful is going to be dependent on their definition of success here. Like it or not, the game of hockey here is tied very much to the business of hockey and the Predators are much closer to being in a position where it would behoove them to "go for it" than they have been since the lockout. If management wants to play it a bit safe, they're in a great spot with their current roster to fight for a 2nd-round berth again. I don't think the talent is there to get them beyond that. A management gamble here to buy assets likely makes the 2nd round much more likely, but I'm not sure that this team is only a piece or two from competing for the Stanley Cup.
St. Louis Blues (32-14-7 71 Points : 2nd in Central
The Blues were so bad and disorganized to start the season that they finally fired their coach. In his place stepped franchise savior and menace to buffet lines everywhere Ken Hitchcoch. Hitch immediately installed a new attitude-set in the locker room and got some underperforming loafs to buy into the concept that they can compete. St. Louis has allowed only 109 goals this season and sits atop the league in GA/G average. The offensive side for them has yet to come around, as the Blues have only 8 more goals on the season than the 36-point Blue Jackets. They're simply playing a different brand of hockey than everybody else in the division and it's working for them.
What their blog is saying: St. Louis Game Time is ready to believe in the power of the Blues. Today they're ready to make a statement: "Why not the St. Louis Blues?" Brad Lee asks, in which he wistfully opines that all they need to do is rely on the power of positive thinking. Of course, they're painfully aware that the offense hasn't come around yet, but generally feel that their team is short a playmaker rather than a goal-scorer. Resident straight-thinker and Wings-hater Gallagher thinks a bit more realistically than most when it comes time to throwing around trade proposals, correctly pointing out that it's not likely other teams are going to take players the fans are ready to give away for nothing and return them a surefire offensive weapon. Either way, the general feeling I get from over there (other than "yuck") is kind of like Preds fans with attention-whore's disease: They're sick and tired of not being praised as one of the big boys because of a few months worth of regular-season success.
Their outlook (my take): It's obvious to say that the Blues' offense is underperforming. They actually do have the talent to put up more goals, but not as many as they seem to think. St. Louis is getting absolutely incredible goaltending and their whole-team defense is benefiting from being Ken Hitchcock-led. Basically, just like their fans are like Predators fans on mescaline, their team is like the Predators on meth. The Blues could absolutely sneak up and bite a contender who doesn't take them as seriously as they deserve at this point. There's no reason to expect St. Louis to fall any farther than 5th in the conference. Still, I feel that the team making a deadline move is the potential difference between a 2nd round exit and a conference finals exit. That would be incredible for a team like this, but cup dreams are a little premature for a team I think is putting out a playoff-energy level so early in the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Off the table (sorry fellas)
Where I think they'll finish
- Detroit
- St. Louis
- Chicago
- Nashville
Bonus prediction: Chicago screws up everything nice I just said about them and knocks the Blues out of the first round.
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My take
I really think the Blues are going to finish 2nd in the Central, because that team plays with a chip on their shoulder that motivates them in every single game. The system that Hitchcock employs fits in perfectly with the roster they have, and I think any slight regression in goaltending is going to be offset by an increase in scoring (which could come when Steen and Macdonald get healthy). That’s a team I’d like to avoid in the first round of the playoffs.
The Preds are a team that is underrated from a talent perspective, and they have better goaltending and defense than St Louis, but I look at Nashville’s forwards and am very “meh” about them. I think Nashville relies far too heavily on Pekka Rinne to keep them in games, and that even a slight drop in play from him screws the Preds. Their schedule is also brutal the rest of the way, which I think hurts them.
Chicago’s bottom-defense and goaltending are a mess. They can score with anyone, but when there’s the possibility they can give up 4 goals to anyone on any given night, they’re screwed. In a lot of ways, they remind me of the 2009-10 Red Wings; tons of talent, but ultimately flawed.
A take from a Blues fan...
I think your analysis and the analysis of the article is pretty spot on (other than comments about the SLGT blog itself). Just one man’s opinion, but I think most people over there are realistic enough to believe in their heart of hearts that the Blues will finish 2nd behind Detroit. Although I think it will be closer than you guys may think and might come down to that final game between our two clubs.
While our goaltending has been outstanding (and with it, the defense), nobody on the Blues is really playing above their pay grade. There is really no reason to believe that they cannot sustain the pace they are on, if not have a slight uptick if they ever find some sort of scoring touch.
As far as the playoffs go, I don’t think this is the year for us to get a Cup. My hope is to get at least one series victory and gain deeper postseason experience. The ownership situation with us is just too uncertain to be adding payroll. Plus we have some core guys due for raises next year. Once the ownership is sorted out and we give out the raises, then we can make some moves and add payroll. Plus we will have some good playoff experience with this core of players. Next year is the year I expect us to seriously start contending for a Cup (and for at least the better part of a decade thereafter at least).
As far as the other teams… Detroit has the experience, talent, (who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?!) and poise to contend. Nashville gives us fits and I hope we don’t play them in the playoffs. However, if they play outside the Central, they might be screwed. Chicago is just in freefall mode and I think they might just be battling for a playoff spot at the end of the year, but will ultimately make it. Columbus is… in Ohio.
One final note: while the Note have a majority of their games on the road the final 30 games, if you look at the schedule, it isn’t really as bad as it seems. We play a LOT of non playoff teams at their place. Plus we have been playing better on the road as of late. The good teams we play the final 30 games are mostly at home. And we get 4 of the final 30 against the Jackets and only 3 (2 at home) against the Wings/Preds who have been our toughest opponents this year by far. In conclusion, don’t expect the Blues to suffer a major lapse just because of what you have heard about our road woes and how many road games we play from here on out.
I’ll hang up and listen.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
In a lot of ways, they remind me of the 2009-10 Red Wings; tons of talent, but ultimately flawed.
I was thinking 08-09 Wings, but you’re on to something either way. You can only score your way out of trouble for so long in this NHL.
The Aristocratic Deciding Foolish No. 1 Guy
twitter: @wizardofcorsica
by Wizard of Corsica on Feb 10, 2012 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
Good defense is a lot more reliable
than a good offense. As the old cliche goes, you build Cup winners from the goalie forward.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions
Off topic
But “TheFlyingCavallinis” is an awesome screen name. Brings back some great memories of three and a half hour Norris Division battles.
Ha
Cheers. I was about 4-5 in the late 80’s when I became a Blues fan. Therefore, some guys that still have a soft spot in my hockey heart are the Cavallinis (I thought Paul was the toughest guy in the world when I heard he had his finger chopped off from a shot, but continued to play that game), Reindeau, Bassen, Hullie, Oates, etc.
Something that may (read will) only interest me… my mom is the person who really got me into hockey. She didn’t really follow sports, but would watch Blues games. I had a hockey goal downstairs and would make sticks out of tape and whatever suitable items I could find around the house. Then I would put one of those Kool Aid Kooler drinks on top of the goal since Reindeau and every other goalie did. Then my mom would shoot pucks at me.
Also, a few years later we were walking in the mall and I spotted a guy who looked like Curtis Joseph. I told my mom. Well she isn’t a shy person and just went up and asked him. He laughed and said most people don’t recognize him with his outfit on. We ended up walking and talking with him and his family for the next 30-45 minutes. I was in awe and on cloud nine. He was an awesome guy. I just never had those same kind of memories with other sports, even though I played everything else but have still never played ice hockey. Those were the days.
Now I know you guys over here have different heroes, but I would imagine it is a universal thing across all passionate hockey fans that you have a similar story about what got you hooked on the sport.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 11, 2012 5:42 AM CST up reply actions
Well
you build Cup winners from the goalie forward
Not in Detroit, anyway. Jimmy’s been great, but the team was never designed around him.
Ditto in 2008.
While Hasek was great in 2002, the Red Wings were never built around him.
Ditto in 1998
Ditto in 1997.
by Big Z in Orlando on Feb 13, 2012 12:38 PM CST up reply actions
I think there’s a case to be made for using either team. I used 2009-10 because that was the year after the Wings lost Hossa, Samuelsson, etc, and the depth of talent just wasn’t what it was the year before.
But the 2009 team had a lot of problems keeping the puck out of their net.
They actually improved by losing Samuelsson.
They hit the net more. Losing Hossa and Hudler did hurt though.
Brendan Smith fan
by JeffHancock41 on Feb 10, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
hahaha ehhhh
Yeah, the ’10 Wings are like the ’12 Hawks in that there are growing depth issues. Also injuries.
Oh and the rest of the Central should chip in and send the Hawks’ landlord some flowers too. For all the havoc they wreak on our behalf.
The Aristocratic Deciding Foolish No. 1 Guy
twitter: @wizardofcorsica
by Wizard of Corsica on Feb 10, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions
2009
i remember thinking in the Finals something along the lines of “if the Red Wings win, they’ll have had the lowest PK% of any Champion.” i don’t remember if that was playoffs or regular season, but i think that thought summarizes the sentiment about how often that team was fishing pucks out of their own net.
You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
I know I've probably got this wrong but...
But I’m bummed Chicago has been slumping the way they have. I like the way they play when they’re good and I love hating them when they are actually competing with us. Plus, “little brother” and shit. O6 rivalry. Best of the worst.
St. Louis is not any of those things. Knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers. We already have a team that plays the way they play hockey; they’re called the Bruins. And they’re better at it.
Nashville… uh… zzzzzzz…. *hgnnggk… woah. Nodded off for a second. What were we talking about?
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 1:02 PM CST reply actions
No disrespect, but I would beg to differ.
That the Bruins are better than the Blues. We have more points than they do in a much tougher conference. We are 11-0-2 (!!!) against their conference for God’s sake. We don’t score as much as they do, but I think it’ll come. I know this opinion will get flamed, but after watching the Note for pretty much every game so far and the Bruins as much as I can in highlights and the odd game on tv, I would put the Blues up against the Bru-crew in a seven game series and feel good about our chances.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 1:20 PM CST up reply actions
I agree with Lords of Olympia
I think the comparison is definitely apt though, the Bruins and Blues are built similarly. The primary difference between the two being the Norris-caliber defenseman on the Bruins roster and the deeper forward corps. It’s not exactly a David-vs-Goliath comparison, but the Bruins are a better team.
The thing is that the Blues and Bruins share each others’ weakness right now: both teams are liable to shooting themselves in the foot when it comes time for big matchups, taking dumb penalties at inopportune times to prove “toughness”.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 1:29 PM CST up reply actions
I won't disagree that we need to play better in big games.
And ya, Chara is the best defenseman between the two teams. But our depth at D and forwards is pretty damn good. They may have the higher end talent, but I would put our depth up against anybody’s.
And ya, most reasonable people would give the Bruins the edge since they have obviously won the damn Cup before and have proven they can do it. But since I am a fan of the Blues, I will be slightly unreasonable and say they are evenly matched right now :)
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 1:36 PM CST up reply actions
I've watched both teams quite a bit this year...
…especially the Bruins very, very up close and personal. The Blues aren’t on the Bruins level. Doesn’t mean they couldn’t beat them in a single game, but in a 7 game series, with both teams healthy, Boston wins in, at worst, 6 games.
Brendan Smith fan
by JeffHancock41 on Feb 10, 2012 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
but it doesn't mean...
that they don’t have the goods to get far in the playoffs.
that’s the part i’m most annoyed about.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions
I guess we will find out about this theory in the Cup Finals...
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions
I don't understand...
What does the Wings vs. Rangers have to do with that? :)
Pierre McGuire is a blithering dimwit.
bruins vs. blues
would actually be a blood bath.
dentistry would boon.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:48 PM CST up reply actions
It would be like the days of the Gladiator. Lots of blood... Angry Timmah might show up.
Screw the hockey… that would be boring as hell.
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Hahahahahah
This made me LOL out loud.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:51 PM CST up reply actions
Serious question though...
I don’t get the knuckle-dragging mouth-breather label for our players. I get it for SLGT (don’t agree, but get it). Other than Jackman who on our team has done anything to deserve this label? MAYBE Stewart for that clumsy boarding penalty and run at Stuart. Other than that… We have a bunch of guys who play hard and hit people. Even our “enforcer” Ryan Reaves has skill for a 4th liner and only fights when necessary. You guys don’t think Backes is that good, fine, but he is also not a dirty player. Oshie, Bergie, Perron, Dags, Arnott, Langs, Steen, Carlo, Petro, Shattenkirk, Polak??? These are just hardworking players. Hell, even our grinders Scotty Nichol and BJ Crombeen have never done anything dirty (at least in a Blues uni).
Maybe you guys have a different view since division games tend to be more physical, but I really don’t get the label. In years past, maybe. But this year’s team is not a dirty team and play hockey the right way. If winning games playing tough defense and hitting the opposing team without putting up huge offensive totals is knuckle-dragging and mouth-breathing, color me a mouth-breather.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions
You guys don’t think Backes is that good
You all still believe this? Let’s be clear on this, that entire joke came because that butt-duster n-word-using Donut King idiot called David Backes the most complete player in the game, a concept so laughably stupid that the only recourse is to open and mercilessly mock it, lest the stupid spread to other non-infected parts of the internet. David Backes is a good hockey player, but the idea that he even deserves to be a Selke finalist, let alone the winner is just dumb.
I’d take David Backes in a heartbeat, but when we’re talking about Backes being “not that good”, what we mean is that he’s not as good as Pavel Datsyuk. 99% of the league isn’t as good as Pavel Datsyuk though. That doesn’t mean I think he’s garbage.
As for the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers? Barret Jackman is definitely their king. There’s no MAYBE involved as far as Chris Stewart and his dangerous-playing fight-instigating stupid ass. Ian Cole the headhunter also comes to mind, but he’s not with your squad right now. Your boy Backes does take runs at people and hits them late from time-to-time (especially in high pressure games). Oshie’s a punk, Perron ran our goalie, Arnott’s always been a shit, Polak is an angry pylon, and Sobotka likes to slash people’s ankles behind the play. Ryan Reaves is a waste of a roster spot. There’s a reason he hasn’t played any of the Blues/Wings games this season.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
Ugh
I had a decent sized reply to this but got deleted. Bullet points:
- Agree to disagree on your perception of our guys
- I mistyped when I said you guys don’t think Backes is good. You have explained before the stance over here. I should’ve said “not as good as Blues fans think he is.”
- Stewie’s two transgressions were bad, but I have seen NOTHING else out of him close to that.
- In the end, who cares what you guys think about our players or what we think about your players. We won’t change each others’ minds. I was just curious why you put that label on guys that I think are just hard workers with very little dirty play.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
Stewie’s two transgressions were bad, but I have seen NOTHING else out of him close to that.
I’ve had similar conversations with Crosby fans. It’s nice that the guy is apparently a perfect angel against the other 28 teams in the league against whom he plays. If he saves up all his shit play for the Red Wings, then Red Wings fans are going to see him as a knuckle-dragging shit.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions
Hey I get it from your perspective
And I even said those were bad/dirty plays above. But this just isn’t something that is a constant with him. All I was trying to say.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:52 PM CST up reply actions
David Backes is American Shane Doan; he’s very talented, he’s a good leader, but he plays extremely stupid at times and has yet to learn how to rein in the emotion and play with controlled anger and aggression.
As JJ said, we think Backes is a very good player, and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. He’s just not in the elite that some Blues fans think he is.
I’m still waiting for Ken Holland to trade Z, Pavs, and a dozen jelly-filled donuts for Backes.
Winging It In Motown, Over the Monster, Liberty Ballers, and Buffalo Rumblings!
You would take that trade because of the jelly-filled donuts.
Hitchcock’s eyes are lighting up just at the mention of it. Z and Pavs are just throw-ins.
Winging It In Motown, Over the Monster, Liberty Ballers, and Buffalo Rumblings!
Z and Pavs would fit in on the Blues though...
as they are both headhunters as well, if Ian Cole is considered one. Just keep the donuts away from Hitch. He has been slimming down quite nicely.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
Ian Cole has a suspension to his name (a deserved one).
Must be that favoritism again that Datsyuk and Zetterberg have never been called for illegal contact to the head, right?
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 2:42 PM CST up reply actions
lol.
i’m liking shanahan less and less for this.
what am i supposed to do with my tin foil when everything comes up roses for us?
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:44 PM CST up reply actions
You can still keep getting angry that Tomas Holmstrom gets pushed into goalies, tries everything he can to avoid them, and goes to the box for it anyway.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 2:44 PM CST up reply actions
just not the same as the grandiosity of a league-wide conspiracy
i even learned how to origami a tin foil fedora.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:46 PM CST up reply actions
Lighten up, Francis.
Just a jab I knew would get to you.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:54 PM CST up reply actions
Oh come on now...
ONE snide comment during a calm discussion is not trolling in my book. Kick me out if you must, but it was just a joke.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 3:00 PM CST up reply actions
That "snide comment" would get one of us banned at SLGT
But we’ve got much thicker skin than people give us credit for.
But be warned; intentionally antagonizing Wing fans will get you banned, whether in jest or not. You’re in our house, remember?
Don’t take this to mean you’re not allowed to advance a dissenting opinion. It also means you’re not allowed to make jokes.
Think about it this way: if you make a comment, try and imagine how you would react on SLGT if a Wing fan made the same comment about the Blues. If you would be mad, think twice about posting it.
Gotcha.
Now it’s almost 5 (maybe it already is in Detroit. Who can keep up with these infernal time zones?!?!). Let’s all have a beer and be merry.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 4:33 PM CST up reply actions
i sense a widening gyre of trolling brewing
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Hahaha
Lighten up, bulb.
Just a counter-punch.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 3:11 PM CST up reply actions
honestly, the backes thing
more just a way of making fun of st. louis fans.
backes is actually a talented player. i’ll admit it.
as for the oafish quality of blues players, i use it more as a way of distinguishing their rather physical style of play, along with their size. seriously, your team has maybe one guy who wasn’t repurposed from what ever laboratory in which they grow NFL linesmen. they’re all huge.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions
Gotcha
I agree that they aren’t the most graceful team. I just took the label as meaning dirty play. But whatever, I was just curious.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
nah. when i mean "dirty," i'll say "dirty"
…or some archaic racial epitaph related to cheating.
and then i’ll get hit with the banhammer.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions
And now for something completely different...
Chicago got so hyped up about their rookie goaltender (Crawford last year) that they were ecstatic at losing Cup-winner Niemi. Now, they are looking at how to bring Huet back from Siberia. The thing with rookie goalies is the same as rookie pitchers, it takes a few looks for players to see their weaknesses, then it’s game over. [Remember Steve Mason in Columbus his rookie year?. I think he’s rocking a 3.5 GAA today.] Once Chicago refocuses on playing defense, they should help the sieve out a bit.
Bingo! How fun! But, I digress. Where were we? HL
and crawford really looked brilliant last year.
if the hawks had won that series against the canucks, crawford could have carried that team the rest of the way.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:45 PM CST up reply actions
Ya, there goalie situation is...
not good.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions
AHHHHHHHHHHhhh
Their. Their, their, their, their, their, their.
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions
I will take this from you, Colonel Hans Landa.
Au revoir, Shoshannaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!
by TheFlyingCavallinis on Feb 10, 2012 4:35 PM CST up reply actions
Speaking from Nashville
I’d say the general thinking around town is that this team is capable of a deep run if David Poile can add a thumper on the blueline to play 3rd pair & PK, and a Top 6 forward up front.
I’m a bit skeptical, given what it would take to acquire such assets. The D I think could be had, but adding a real difference-making forward is difficult, and I’m not sold on this team being in the position to make a “go for it” type of deal like they did with Forsberg in 2007.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
The problem with what you want to add..
Is that every other team wants to do the same thing, Detroit included.
Pierre McGuire is a blithering dimwit.
if last year was any indication
i would be surprised if they didn’t make a good run this year.
it’s looked like ten years of planning by barry trotz has finally come to fruition.
rinne is the scariest player you guys have, in my opinion, and i think he’s hungry to get something finally.
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 2:53 PM CST up reply actions
God Rinne was the only thing that prevented me from falling into a coma in last years Nucks-Preds series
Every time I was about to fall asleep he’d stand on his head and make another absurd save to keep his team in the game
You sound like a manure salesman with a mouthful of samples.
Nucks-Preds was definitely not the most exciting of series, if you aren't closely attached to either team...
Ducks-Preds was pretty phenomenal though. It’s really too bad they only had 1 (I think it was 1… but maybe it was 2) nationally televised game.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Yeah me and a couple other guys here actually watched the series and pretty much spent the entire time making fun of how mind-numbingly boring it was to watch
I loved how every time the Preds got a PP they’d spend 2 minutes watching the Nucks shoot pucks at them
You sound like a manure salesman with a mouthful of samples.
Yeeeeeeeah… haha. Our PP was freaking embarrassingly TERRIBLE last post-season (and regular season… for the last however many years). I can’t remember the exact numbers, and thankfully I don’t think we were the worst (wasn’t Boston’s PP really awful?), but I believe we went something like 2G/26PP.
Yikes. Luckily, we now have Lane Lambert and the 3rd best PP in the league. Hurrah!
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Thanks, Dirk
Always the problem with trading away draft picks (which Nashville doesn’t seem to do, but would probably have to in order to “go for it”), is that other GMs at least have a basic understanding of what their player is going to do to the team’s draft position. Nashville looks like they’ve got a great shot at picking in the 20s again. Their picks aren’t going to be worth as much as they used to.
It would be a gamble to be sure, and the returns wouldn’t be quite as good as they otherwise could be thanks to the CBA taking away so much of the playoff gate for revenue sharing, but it does look like the hockey culture in Nashville is growing strong and an investment now could go a long way toward building the die-hard fanbase back up.
I’m not sure I’d pull the trigger on that if I were Nashville’s ownership/management, but I am glad to see years of running the club right is paying off for them.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
I don't envy Nashville
On the one hand they’ve got arguably the best top D pair/goalie combo in the NHL which keeps them in any game against any opponent. On the other hand, they still have depth issues at forward that they need to resolve in order to take that next step and become a legitimate Cup contender.
The balancing act is maintaining the long-term health of the franchise while proving to the 2 stud defensemen that you’re committed to winning. If Poile can pull that off, give him GM of the year.
i do think that they can take advantage of home ice advantage, too...
they apparently have the bounciest ice in the whole league, randomly chucking otherwise innocuous flat passes into the air and allowing shea weber to regularly harness the “knuckle puck.”
seriously, what is that flubber shit they call ice?
"I'll smile in June."
by Lords of Olympia on Feb 10, 2012 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
Our forward depth is interesting.
I think one of the things that makes Nashville hard to play against (and especially when they’re REALLY on – like the month coming into the All Star Break) is that other teams can’t predict where our scoring is going to come from. We have players on every single line, 1st through 4th, that score. We obviously rely more on our top lines (who doesn’t?), but I think our bottom line-players are a bit underrated.
Now, while I love how we spread out our scoring, the problem is that it isn’t a consistent “spread”, and that’s where the big trade will come in handy. Getting someone who puts up numbers consistently will push us over the annoying wall we can’t quite climb right now. The other problem is that the number of available (and style/needs/system-appropriate) players is VERY thin. I think it’s fair to say that generally, there are quite a few very nervous Pred fans wandering around; the fear isn’t so much that we think Poile WON’T make a trade, but that there ISN’T anyone to trade for. And I don’t think we’re the only fan base with that worry right now. But man… man, I really hope he can pull it off. Like you said, if he can do it, damnit he better win GM of the year.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Great article!
It’s always interesting to see how other fans perceive other fans’ perspectives (…that makes sense, right?). I always like to take little field-trips to the SBN blog of whatever team we’re playing on any given night because I feel like I get a better sense of how the game is going to go. Analysts make true and interesting points and everything, but I typically defer to the opinions the true fans. They’re the ones who watch every game and analyze every line swap, bench, scratch, PP/PK, and performance to exhaustion.
Like you said, they don’t represent EVERYONE, but you can certainly get a feel for the atmosphere. Anyway, this was a great idea for an article, so thanks for doing the work and posting it!
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Thank you!
I’m glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun gathering the info for it.
by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 10, 2012 9:47 PM CST up reply actions
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