Now that we're past the initial rush of free agency, the patience of Nashville Predators fans will be tested, as the timeline for making major moves such as a trade, or signing some of the team's Restricted Free Agents, could stretch over the next several weeks, even possibly into September. Our morning hockey notes include more on that subject, along with a radio interview with general manager David Poile from yesterday...
Nashville Predators News
Yesterday, Willy Daunic featured an interview with David Poile on 102.5 The Game's "Sports Revolution", and you can listen to both parts of it here:
David Poile on 1025 2012-07-06 Part 1 (mp3)
David Poile on 1025 2012-07-06 Part 2 (mp3)
Poile’s patience is a virtue as Preds decide what to do with Shea Weber… | Section 303 Jeremy advises that any major move should wait until the future of the captain is decided.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Refutation of Stupid Semin Arguments - Pension Plan Puppets So... is Alexander Semin capable of being a leading offensive force on a good team, or is he an unreliable flake, as Pierre McGuire and others have charged?
The Merry Month of July: Anxiety, Bitterness & NHL Free Agency | Overtime There's a really interesting idea about halfway down here. By talking about a future of playing together during the season, did Ryan Suter & Zach Parise commit tampering?
What Is Acceptable Performance? Playoff Success Throughout NHL History - Predlines Caroline breaks down the relative success of teams from various eras, with plenty of handy graphs.
Just like others before them, Kings will suffer fleeting fame - The Hockey News Ken Campbell with a column on how the good times won't last forever in L.A. Apparently he holds markets up to the absurd standard of Toronto, where the Maple Leafs don't have to lift a finger to sell out every game, even if the team stinks.
Lars Eller Signs for Two More Years - Habs Eyes On The Prize The young center gets $1.3M for a couple seasons in Montreal.
When rumor-mongering, don’t forget about contract clauses — and Marleau says he’s not at that bridge | Working the Corners One handy way to blow off trade rumors? Check Capgeek for no-trade or no-movement clauses, which almost always rule the day. It's a rare case for a guy to waive such a clause and agree to a move.
Anders Lindback will be able to spend as many weekends as he likes at Disney World thanks to his new 2-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That story and a whole lot more make up your afternoon hockey notes...
Nashville Predators News
The Hippodrome: Land of 10,000 Hates | Pith in the Wind J.R. sums up a week full of vitriol for Predators fans.
Two days later: Predators' Poile still upset with Suter decision | The Tennessean After reading the 2nd paragraph here I can't help but think - does Ryan Suter know more about Shea Weber's future intentions than David Poile does?
The Ryan Suter Aftermath | Admirals Roundtable Jason looks at how this summer's moves may bode well for two former Admirals.
Hockey Night in Nashville: Preds can't afford to take risk on Weber Robby outlines a number of reasons why Shea might want to stay.
Predators must make Shea Weber big offer, deal him if he declines – USATODAY.com
Kevin Allen adds his voice to a growing chorus.
Smashville 24/7 - Smashville On The Glass podcast — Elliotte Friedman featured Ryan & Buddy welcome in the 30 Thoughts man.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Tampa Bay Lightning signs goaltender Anders Lindback to a two-year contract - Tampa Bay Times See, Edmonton? This is reasonable.
Roberto Luongo: "...I think it's time to move on" - Nucks Misconduct Confirming what's been speculated about for a while...
Debate: Whither the Wings and Rick Nash? - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun talk about an entire All-Star Team worth of big names who could be on the move.
Millions on NHL: Bouwmeester on the outs? - sportsnet.ca I know he's a guy who can soak up a ton of minutes on the left side, but Jay Bouwmeester doesn't strike me as a guy that would thrill Barry Trotz. He's been described by opponents as "easy to play against", which is pretty much the opposite of The Predator Way.
Rolling newsletter: Should Stars make RFA offer to Shea Weber? | Dallas Stars Blog Why would any team do this, knowing that Weber will be unrestricted in just one year?
Organizational Success Since the Lockout | Overtime By this measure, the Preds are middle-of-the-pack, while the Wild suck eggs. Sounds about right.
Interview With Patrick Burke of the You Can Play Project - Jewels From The Crown Catching up with the leader of the public advocacy campaign.
NHL’s nuclear option for Phoenix Coyotes: Dispersal draft rather than relocation? | Puck Daddy Might the Coyotes simply be put out of their misery?
We stand on the brink of a new era in Nashville Predators hockey.
The Preds are already in a state of transition, as the next generation of young players (Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist, Craig Smith, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis) step into larger roles, and the team settles in for the long term with franchise goaltender Pekka Rinne. On defense, we know that the dynamic duo of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber has been broken up, but the question now is, does Weber want to lead this team into the future, or will he choose his own path out of town as well?
This is shaping up to be the most important off-season since the Great Fire Sale of 2007, and we'll just have to wait and see which direction the team heads in. Do they try and maintain the stud pairing on the blueline by finding Weber a big-name partner on the trade market, or find a star talent to add up front?
Consider the alternatives while reading your morning hockey notes...
Nashville Predators
Does Ryan Suter's exit send a message about Nashville Predators? | The Tennessean David Climer asks an uncomfortable question, which doesn't just apply to Ryan Suter, but the lack of commitment by Shea Weber as well.
Sergei Kostitsyn files for arbitration for second consecutive year - Nashville Predators Examiner Will SK74 hit the jackpot?
Shea Weber declines arbitration with Nashville Predators | The Tennessean ...and Ryan Suter says David Poile must have been mistaken about being misled.
Agent: Shea Weber in state of disbelief - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN I wonder if Shea will use the word "betrayed", as he did with Radulov & AK46. Nah, I'm guessing the disbelief is over how much money he's going to get NOW.
Shea Weber’s long-term future in Nashville likely decided in next two months - Nashville Predators Examiner And you thought LAST summer's #WeberWatch was stressful...
Smashville 24/7 - What Weber’s arbitration decision means I would add a third option to Ryan's analysis here - that Weber wants to wait and see how the situation with Nashville and/or the CBA negotiations look before entering his next contract. Arbitration locks him into a specific timetable.
Suter left and Carle’s no longer available… so who’s left for Nashville? | Section 303 No... not Cam Barker!
What To Do With Shea Weber | Overtime It all sounds so simple...
Ryan leaves, David feels jilted, Fans get angry. - Predlines Dan sums up reaction from all corners.
Trading Shea Weber | Bobby Holik - Holik on Hockey I just don't see the scenario Holik tosses out here happening.
Paul Gaustad: Two for the Price of One…Plus $550,000 | The Predatorial Jeremy's a big fan of the Gaustad contract.
Ryan Suter beats up a kid and Shea Weber bounces... - Tumblr Wah?
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Lowetide.ca | OILERS SIGN DUBNYK, PETRY (GAGNER TO ARBITRATION) Devan Dybnyk gets $3.5M a year? LOL, Edmonton.
Blues Re-Sign David Perron To Four Year Deal - St. Louis Game Time St. Louis locks up one of their key forwards.
What's Next, N.H.L. Bidders? A 20-Year Contract? - NYTimes.com Pointing out the hypocrisy of NHL owners will be a recurring theme this summer.
Glendale taxpayers threaten to torpedo Coyotes sale - The Globe and Mail The bumpy ride through the desert continues...
Red Wings Name Former Edmonton Head Coach Tom Renney Associate Coach - Winging It In Motown You know, that's a pretty savvy pickup there.
Scott Howson vs. the World | Backhand Shelf The World is winning...
You may have noticed, but I haven't written anything here in a long time. There have been varying reasons for this, for one, life just sometimes gets in the way. On other occasions, I just haven't had any inspiration.
To make this all relevant: every once in a while, something happens that drives you to write. Ryan Suter signing for the Minnesota Wild is one of those things.
I'm not mad at Ryan Suter. Given the choice between $90+ million dollars to play hockey in a city you're unfamilar with (Detroit), a city you've played in your entire pro career (Nashville), or the city closest to your home, and where your wife is from, which would you choose? I thought so. I'm certainly disappointed that we'll never see the Weber-to-Suter-switch-places-and back to Weber for a power play goal again, and I have no idea how they'll replace Suter's one man breakout skill, but I'll survive.
No, I'm mad at David Poile. Like, really mad, you guys. Angry enough to destroy all good grammar in the previous sentence. He had to know this was on its way. As Dirk has pointed out, the writing was on the wall for Suter to test the market this summer, and in all likelihood, sign elsewhere. He did, and the Predators are left with absolutely nothing to show for it but broken hearts, and in Poile's case, something that seems an awful lot like sour grapes.
Not only do the Preds have no assets to show for Ryan Suter's departure, but at this point, you would have to say the odds of Shea Weber signing long term are neglible at best. He's lost his running mate, and the most compelling moves Poile has made in an effort to convince his superstars to stay have been trading for Andrei Kostitsyn, luring back a flighty headcase, and overpaying Paul Gaustad. If that doesn't scream Stanley Cup contender to me, then I'm reasonably sure it doesn't to Shea Weber.
The point here is this: the Predators are handcuffed, and David Poile may have thrown away the key. As far as I can see, he has two choices. Poile can get uncharacteristically aggressive on the trade and free agent market, both improving the team and showing Weber that the drive to win the Cup is still there, or he can put up a for sale sign on the gold #6 in an attempt to get a king's ransom for an elite player in his walk year.
I don't know what's going to happen. My hope is that the Predators are able to acquire Matt Carle and a Bobby Ryan/Alex Semin type, thus making them better than when Suter still patrolled the blueline. That, however, is surely a pipe dream. I realize the tone of this rant is largely negative, but there's very little to suggest Nashville will do anything close to resembling a bold move.
Whatever goes down, it's time for David Poile to gird ye olde loins. His job ought to depend on it.
As fans it's natural - or some may even say our duty - to heap praise when something goes right, and cast blame when something goes wrong.
And yesterday, things went terribly, terribly wrong.
I posed this question on twitter yesterday: Who do you blame for Ryan Suter signing with Minnesota and the Predators getting nothing in return? David Poile or Ryan Suter?
The results were mixed. Fans seemed to be split right down the middle on blaming the GM or the player, citing various reasons for each. So, I thought it might be a good idea to look at each side, and then ask you, our OtF readership, to give your thoughts on the matter.
The case for blaming David Poile
The writing has been on the wall since the summer. Nashville couldn't agree on a long-term deal for Shea Weber and were forced into arbitration - a bad omen with Ryan Suter set to enter unrestricted free agency just a year later.
The year dragged on and still a deal wasn't done. We heard the pandering from both sides, Poile saying he's committed to signing Suter to a long-term deal, and Suter saying he loves it in Nashville yadda yadda yadda.
But as the trade deadline approached, Suter said he didn't want to talk about his contract because it would create too much of a distraction. Right. Because him not signing wasn't a distraction at all.
Poile held firm when he certainly could have gotten a boatload of assets for his star defenseman, "going for it" at the trade deadline, and coming up empty when Suter left town and left the Preds empty-handed.
Suter also wanted to see Poile make a commitment to winning, namely bringing in a scoring forward. All he ever got was Mike Fisher, Andrei Kostitsyn and a handful of games from Alex Radulov.
No matter what was said between Suter and Poile, actions speak louder than words, and Suter's actions never indicated he wanted to sign in Nashville long term.
The case for blaming Ryan Suter
Everything Ryan Suter said this last season and into the offseason led Predators fans and their general manager to believe he wanted to stay in Nashville long term.
He talked about how he had made a life with his family here, how the media pressure was tame compared to other markets, and how he'll never have a better defensive partner than Shea Weber.
But it turned out Suter was just that girl who leads you on for months and months, only to shoot you down when you finally want to make a commitment. And on July Fourth, a day where Americans celebrate their loyalty to this great nation, Suter went back on everything he had said and left town.
David Poile said as much on his conference call, indirectly calling Suter a lier even.
Dirk said it best, leading off his Sidney Crosby contract post by saying, "This is what star players do when they believe in their team and their city:" Suter led us to believe all year that he believed in this team and city, but ultimately did the opposite.
***
So where do you find yourself on this issue? Personally, I think Poile is at fault. He should have seen this coming long ago, but instead decided to let it ultimately come to this. Hindsight is 20/20, but Poile gets paid the big bucks to make these kind of decisions and, frankly, he messed this one up by not bringing in that dynamic forward and not trading Suter when he had the chance.
The A's front office realized right away, of course, that they couldn't replace Jason Giambi with another first baseman just like him. There wasn't another first baseman just like him and if there were they couldn't have afforded him and in any case that's not how they thought about the holes they had to fill. "The important thing is not to recreate the individual," Billy Beane would later say. "The important thing is to recreate the aggregate." He couldn't and wouldn't find another Jason Giambi; but he could find the pieces of Giambi he could least afford to be without, and buy them for a tiny fraction of the cost of Giambi himself.
In proving Ryan Suter's value, pundits often cite his 26:30 average time on ice, which was third in the entire NHL. Suter's massive TOI this past season, however, reflects not only the defenseman's incredible talents, but also poor preseason planning from the Predators last year.
The Preds, in an attempt to shed salaries in preparation of signing Shea Weber (woops), had jettisoned their entire third defense pairing from the season before: Shane O'Brien and Cody Franson. O'Brien and Franson, while not relied on in even strength situations, did some heavy lifting on special teams. Franson quarterbacked the second power play unit, while O'Brien played on the top PK pairing with Kevin Klein.
On Opening Night 2011, the Predators' bottom pairing was Teemu Laakso and Jack Hillen, who contributed nothing on special teams (or at even strength, really). This change in roster dynamic necessitated that Ryan Suter and Shea Weber play on the top power play and penalty kill units.
This season, however, the Predators will, by all indications, feature Ryan Ellis and Hal Gill as their third pairing. Ellis and Gill, besides being a hilarious sight gag due to their height discrepancy, are two of best specialists for their respective special teams duties. With his much superior shot, Ellis is already probably a better PP defenseman than Ryan Suter. And Gill, while no #20, is a very good fit for the Preds' passive PK system that relies mostly on shot-blocking and forward clears.
Let's compare their production on special teams last year to Suter's:
Player
P/60
Ellis
4.32
Suter
4.44
Player
GA/60
Gill
4.55
Suter
5.39
Gill was actually a little better on the PK, while Ellis was just as good on the PP, playing with inferior forwards and fewer offensive zone starts.
So, in a way, the Predators have already replaced some of Suter's most critical minutes. This allows David Poile to focus on finding a shut-down even strength defenseman like Matt Carle or Paul Martin, instead of needing another do-it-all guy like Suter. If the Predators can acquire such a player, they may successfully replace Suter, as Billy Beane said, "in the aggregate."
That's it, Ryan Suter's gone, reportedly for 13 years, $98 million:
The Wild has landed its blue-chip defenseman and is working toward landing the big fish, blue-chip forward as well. After an impressive maneuver Tuesday to get itself in front of free-agent Ryan Suter, the Wild has agreed to terms on a 13-year contract with defenseman Ryan Suter, sources say. But the Wild's not done in its attempt to shake a hockey-mad market into a frenzy. According to sources, the Wild was working on agreeing to terms with Minneapolis-born Zach Parise on a 13-year deal. If successful, and it appears as if it will be, Parise and Suter are forming a star-studded tandem that can come to Minnesota and perhaps help alter the fortunes of a franchise that has missed the playoffs four consecutive seasons.
Ryan Suter
#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators
6-1
198
Jan 21, 1985
And it looks like Minnesota indeed pulled off that package deal:
Zach Parise has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 4, 2012
Yes, this sucks, there's no question about it. Losing Suter while getting nothing in return represents a gamble lost by David Poile and the Nashville Predators front office. As I wrote months ago, Suter was obviously bent on testing the market ever since he entered the final year of his contract, and as time ticked away, the Predators' leverage dwindled away to nothing.
For excerpts from David Poile's conference call with the media this afternoon, check out my Twitter feed.
This isn't a mortal blow to the franchise, however. We've seen tough times in the past (I'm talking about REALLY tough times), and the organization rallied to maintain their competitive position in the Western Conference. Thanks to the relatively narrow band between the salary cap and floor (the range goes from $70.2M to $56.2M, a far cry from the $20-80M range we saw prior to the lockout) the Predators will certainly bring in a name player or two over the coming weeks & months.
So it's time to start looking ahead... who can/should the Preds pursue either in free agency or the trade market to position the team for success going forward? Do they go after an all-around defenseman (Matt Carle?), or focus instead on talent up front (Bobby Ryan)?
And congratulations to Minnesota, which just signed the best field goal kicker in the NHL:
Just poking some fun there... seriously, all the best to Ryan Suter going forward. He's earned his way into this position of being able to make the right choice for himself and his family, and I, for one, don't blame him one bit.
For the love of the Predators, and not the defenseman who he drafted here in 2003, then developed patiently over time, David Poile needs to figure out soon whether or not that future takes place in Nashville. If that answer is not forthcoming, then it's time to see what kind of assets can be gained in return, and help keep this team competitive for the years ahead.
--- OTF, Dec 8 2011
There's a reason I used the phrasing "if that answer is not forthcoming", because in situations like this, it's rare for a player to come right out and say "I don't want to be here, so you might as well trade me". Whether Ryan Suter was completely honest with the Predators about his priorities for a new contract or not, his actions clearly indicated a desire to hit the open market (just look at Pekka Rinne for a comparison - he was also due to be a UFA this summer, but signed an extension back in November).
Now you have to consider Shea Weber. He's said lots of pleasant, non-committal things over the last year or so, but when it came time to hammer out a contract last summer he couldn't agree on niggling details like how money or length of contract.
So what's your comfort level with him signing a long-term extension this summer?
The thing is, as critical as I've been of David Poile in this whole scenario, I have no doubt that he'll attack this new challenge of moving forward from the Ryan Suter affair with relish. It's remarkable how different he's appeared this week in his talks with the media - instead of the calm & cool veteran, we've seen a competitor who is obviously disappointed and frustrated with a loss. Remember, he's a former hockey player, and that competitive juice still pumps through his veins.
The "replacement" on the top pair may not be a sexy name (unless you have a Carlo Colaiacovo fetish, that is), and that's entirely OK. As Sam wrote last night, the Preds may not need as much of a special teams star, but rather someone who can simply help Weber take on the toughs. All I know is, we don't need to let a Weber negotiation hold up the proceedings. Along with a veteran defenseman, I'd sure like to see a talent upgrade on the wing (SK74 is not a 1st-line guy).
Ponder what it is that David Poile needs to address first while reading your morning hockey notes...
Nashville Predators News
Nashville Predators turn focus to Shea Weber after Ryan Suter's exit | The Tennessean And I have the sense this won't be easy.
Suter’s departure leaves Nashville with hole in lineup and hurt feelings - Nashville Predators Examiner You know what strikes me as weird? When David Poile says things like Suter played the most PP time in the NHL. He was more like 20th... I know he's trying to make a point, but that's just an odd misstatement.
Smashville 24/7 - Who is to blame: Poile or Suter? This is the question many are considering.
Trotz: "One player’s not going to make our team" - Predators Insider Coach is ready to buckle up and move forward.
Meet Mike Moore | Admirals Roundtable Well, at least Milwaukee landed a good defenseman.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
"We’re not making money & that’s 1 reason we need to fix our system. We need to fix how much we’re spending" - Craig Leipold, April 11, 2012
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 4, 2012
The owners are going to be shoveling a lot of BS about the financial state of the game over the next few months, so Adam Proteau highlighted Leipold yesterday, in light of the big contracts he handed out to Suter & Zach Parise.
@HockeyyInsiderr: Everything Anyone Needs To Know | Edmonton Journal Seriously, people - please don't follow or re-tweet those anonymous hockey rumor guys, you're only rewarding the lowest of the low, and showing yourself to be, well, a hockey moron.
How Efficient is the NHL Goaltending Market? | NHLNumbers.com And remember, the whole $7 million for 7 years thing is just about to get started.
Coyotes Sign Steve Sullivan - Five For Howling The former Pred finds a home in the desert.
Shop like an NHL GM with July's coupon codes | Hockey Gear HQ This month you can save on hockey equipment, NHL fan gear, or memorabilia thanks to these new coupon codes.
Ryan Suter's free agency saga entered some crazy territory yesterday, once we became aware of the private jets flying in and out of Madison, Wisconsin. It looked like the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings were bringing in their heavy hitters to make personal pitches to the defenseman, and by the evening, reports from the local media backed up that speculation.
For some, the fervent discussion online yesterday (particularly on Twitter) was getting ahead of the facts far too quickly. For others, the whole thing felt "stalkerish", following the details of private planes like that.
But you know what? I'm OK with all of this. Yes, I know the professional journalists were driven to distraction trying to follow every story lead, catching up with a developing story while maintaining their standards for quality & verification (which serves an essential purpose for all of us).
The bottom line, however, is that this is a sign of just how much people care about what's going on with this team. Nashville is still growing as a pro sports city, and #SuterWatch will go down as one of the more memorable episodes in this market's history.
Will it come to an end today? That's entirely possible. So don't be ashamed to keep one eye open for news, while enjoying your Independence Day...
Shop like an NHL GM with July's coupon codes | Hockey Gear HQ This month you can save on hockey equipment, NHL fan gear, or memorabilia thanks to these new coupon codes.
Nashville Predators News
Shea Weber's future with Nashville Predators may depend on Ryan Suter | The Tennessean Those anxiety-driven headaches you're experiencing? They won't end with #SuterWatch.
If Ryan Suter leaves, will Shea Weber push for a trade? NHL insider asks | Edmonton Journal See... the vultures are circling already.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Brett MacLean, Coyotes’ AHLer, suffers ‘cardiac emergency’; taken to ICU | Puck Daddy A scary situation for the 23-year-old.
Down Goes Brown: Behind the scenes of the 2012 Free Agent Frenzy "Sunday, 8:48 a.m. – For the fourth straight day, Dennis Wideman wakes up muttering "I had the craziest dream" before realizing he was indeed sleeping on a giant pile of Jay Feaster’s money."
Dallas Stars Sign Jaromir Jagr To One-Year, $4.5 Million Contract - Defending Big D The Stars are serious about this rebuilding thing...
Colorado Avalanche Re-Sign D Erik Johnson - Mile High Hockey A pretty reasonable contract here, although Johnson has yet to fulfill all the hype surrounding him.
Shot quality matters, but how much? | NHLNumbers.com Eric brings some badly-needed nuance and balance to one of the more contentious topics of stats analysis.
Show Him the Money : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com Leave it to Tom to strip away the niceties and get to the heart of the matter.
Continuing their long-standing trend of snapping up collegiate players out of New England, the Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Mike Moore, who appears destined for Milwaukee. Perhaps he'll fill a leadership void created by the departure of Admirals captain Scott Ford.
Quoth the Preds:
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free agent defenseman Mike Moore to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.
Moore, 27 (12/12/84), has spent that past four seasons in the San Jose organization, posting 20 points (4g-16a) and 85 penalty minutes in 62 games with its AHL affiliate, the Worchester Sharks, in 2011-12. In 254 career AHL games, the Calgary, Alta., native has 72 points (14g-58a) and 365 penalty minutes since 2008. The former captain of both Worchester (2010-11) and Princeton University during his senior season (2007-08) has also appeared in six NHL games with the Sharks in 2010-11, notching a goal and seven penalty minutes.
The 6-1, 201-pound blueliner spent four seasons at Princeton from 2004-08, posting 52 points (14g-38a) and 154 penalty minutes in 121 games. In 2007-08, he led the Tigers to a ECAC title, being named First-Team All-America and the conference's Best Defensive Defenseman.
I was shocked, as I assume most of you were, yesterday when Jordin Tootoo signed with the Detroit Red Wings. Ryan Suter, however, went according to plan as his indecision continues to plague the Predators.
When I heard the news about Tootoo signing with Detroit, my gut instinct was disgust. Ten hours later, I still feel disgust as the thought of having to face number 22 six times a year set in. Tootoo will never be a player who scores a ton of goals or is an invaluable cog in a defensive scheme, but what he does he does really well: piss off everyone on the other team and win over the crowd.
I have always viewed Tootoo as shorter version of Russell Crowe's character Maximus. In Gladiator, Maximus overcomes great setbacks and personal tragedy by winning his freedom in gladiatorial fights. Tootoo, as all of us know, has succeeded even when he was faced with great adversity and personal loss. He won the crowd over in Nashville, as evident by the hundreds of whistles that you could hear in the confines of a packed Bridgestone Arena. He was a fan favorite in Smashville and an unbelievable community volunteer for the city as well. While Tootoo's contributions on ice may not be substantially missed, his assists off the ice will be sorely missed.
Which brings me to my next point. After his decision to sign with Detroit was announced, there was a large amount of backlash in the Predators' fan base, claiming good riddance and that he wasn't a good player anyways. Personally, I am shocked and appalled by this kind of reaction. 22 has given this franchise everything on and off the ice. Between rehab and literally bleeding for his team anyone who says he didn't do enough for the team is out of their mind. I would encourage fans not to take this low road as it makes our fan base look very unthankful to a great human being. I am certainly not saying it doesn't sting or that I wasn't upset to find that out, but some of the volatile reactions some people have taken need to be reigned in due to their emotions getting the better of them.
Still, Tootoo's departure to Hockeytown is a slap in the face to the Predators' organization as he reportedly took a pay cut to play for the Red Wings. What does this mean? I can't claim to be Tootoo and I don't really know his motivation, but to me this signals a desire to enact some sort of vengeance against the Predators. For those of you who missed out on Tootoo's interview with Cooper in the Tennessean during the playoffs, here is a little tidbit:
"When you get shut down and told you're not playing, it (expletive) burns, after doing everything right, it just (expletive). ... I'm (ticked) off because I'm not able to do what I love to do and that's playing the game.
"Ultimately, I get whose decision it is. But I've been here in every playoff game in the past and I think right from the beginning of the series, you're told you're not playing and ... what the (expletive)?"
"I was told that my play towards the end of the season was awful and they got to go with the guys that are going (well). Inconsistency I guess, I think the only way to get out of that slump is to play games. ... For me, (expletive), you can only get bag-skated so much and mentally it's (expletive), it's straining, it's frustrating."
In fairness, Tootoo wasn't playing well at the end of the season and with the addition of Andrei Kostitsyn and a certain unnamed Russian, he simply did not have a spot on the roster. While I can't confirm this, there was also a rumored altercation between Tootoo and said unnamed Russian during practice. For whatever reason and believe me there are plenty of speculated ones, Tootoo obviously feels like he didn't get a fair shake in Nashville this last season and is obviously upset at either the players, Trotz, or management for the way things were handled.
A motivated Tootoo is a scary Tootoo. I can't imagine playing against a guy like him because he simply hard to play against. Detroit may not have gotten a super star but what they did get was a guy who is willing to battle every night and isn't afraid to get his pound of flesh. Sadly, it will be Nashville who will receive his haymakers this season, as I fear Tootoo finding a new team will get his engines going again and we will see the old scud missile side of him once more. This move also adds fuel to an already sizzling rivalry between both teams, as the Red Wings will be looking for their own pound of flesh for the Weber incident during the playoffs. The first game of the season should be an interesting one.
I thank Tootoo for his service to our community and will be cheering him when he returns to Nashville, even if he has a Dead Thing sweater on his back. I encourage fans to show their thanks and support for 22 by posting some of their favorite memories of him in the comments section.
Ryan Suter, on the other hand, is beginning to bore me. He has been flip flopping for months now and it is time to make a decision. The Predators can't wait on Suter forever as the free agent market begins to thin out and defenseman who would be decent replacements for Suter begin to get snatched up by other teams. It's been speculated that Suter is waiting for Parise to sign somewhere and could potentially pull a Chris Bosh and Lebron James, but I don't see it. I think Suter is having a hard time deciding between staying in a comfortable setting and going somewhere where he will be a minor god while Parise is just trying to find the biggest contract available.
Poile has to have a contingency plan already in place if Suter decides to take his talents elsewhere. We can't afford to not be ready for the worst case scenario.
Either way, I don't see these guys staying unsigned past tomorrow. Suter has had more than a month to figure this one out so it is time for him to put his big boy pants on and make a decision. The clock is ticking.
Following David Poile's statement on Sunday that the Nashville Predators could possibly "move on" before Ryan Suter ultimately makes his decision on where to sign, the pressure on the Preds is slowly mounting. The danger is that alternative defensemen could be plucked off the market by the time Nashville is ready to act, but fortunately, that part of the market seems to be held up right now.
There were a few forwards who made moves yesterday, however, as Calgary, Winnipeg and Dallas all added some talent up front...
Nashville Predators News
As Red Wings wait on Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, they add some pieces on Day 1 of free agency | MLive.com According to this report, the Red Wings' offer to Suter is 12 years, $90 million. At a $7.5 million annual salary, that's not an eye-popper, but the front-loading could be difficult to match for Nashville.
Dreger: Parise, Suter holding up trade market - TSN This is good news for the Preds, as it leaves more options open if things don't turn out well.
Boclair: Treasure hunt | Nashville City Paper David Boclair wonders if Shea Weber will ever be able to capture a major trophy playing in our little hamlet.
Predators have plenty of money, will the wait be worth it? | Nashville City Paper David Boclair entertains the notion of Suter + Weber + Parise.
Smashville 24/7 - Options for a potential Suter replacement 7 guys who could fill at least some part of the potential void.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Olli Jokinen Joins The Winnipeg Jets On A 2 year, 9 Million Dollar Deal - Arctic Ice Hockey He's a bit of a space cadet at times, but he does have talent.
Flames Sign Jiri Hudler for Four Years, $16M - Matchsticks and Gasoline I know that laughing at Jay Feaster is a favorite pastime, but I actually like this deal for Calgary.
Sabres Trade Derek Roy To Dallas For Steve Ott, Adam Pardy - Die By The Blade Derek Roy had seemingly been on the trading block for a long time, and now gets a chance to rejuvenate his game in Dallas. Meanwhile, is Buffalo loading up on toughness, or what? They also signed uber-goon John Scott on Sunday.
Canadiens sign goaltender Carey Price to six-year, $39M deal - The Globe and Mail Not quite Pekka Rinne money, but not bad.
Shop like an NHL GM with July's coupon codes | Hockey Gear HQ This month you can save on hockey equipment, NHL fan gear, or memorabilia thanks to these new coupon codes.
Our newest writer, David Yampolsky, is back with a followup to his look at Unrestricted Free Agents the Nashville Predators should target. Today, he highlights some RFA's, who would require either an offer sheet or trade with their current team. - Dirk
I truly appreciate the volume of comments I received following my first piece. I really value your assessment of my picks, and as I said before, there is no right answer. We are not David Poile, and I am not sure we would really want to be, especially in this tumultuous offseason for the Preds. Since my first piece, one of my picks, Lee Stempniak, has re-signed with the Calgary Flames at $5 million for two years. More importantly, the Predators have made a statement with Paul Gaustad's new contract that they are willing to spend some serious money on players they they believe will be instrumental in continuing and furthering the team's success in subsequent years. Was Gaustad worth $13 million? This is contestable. However, this may be a hint to Ryan Suter that the Preds are willing to do whatever it takes to sign him. Whether that will change Suter's mind at the end of the day is an entirely different story.
Taking all of this into account, I have assembled an analysis of 7 Restricted Free Agents I think Poile should heavily consider. As always, let me know what you guys think about my picks, and let's hope the Preds make the right moves!
Kris Versteeg
#32 / Right Wing / Florida Panthers
5-10
182
May 13, 1986
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Kris Versteeg
71
23
31
54
4
49
8
1
5
181
Coming off his most productive season in the NHL after being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Florida Panthers, Kris Versteeg had 54 points (23 goals and a career-tying 31 assists) and made $3.083 million last season.. Versteeg will need to get a significant bump in his pay due to his stellar performance this past season. The Predators need someone like Versteeg to fill the offensive void left by Andrei Kostitsyn, and he would be a great fit for the Predators’ second line.
Jakub Voracek
#93 / Right Wing / Philadelphia Flyers
6-2
214
Aug 15, 1989
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Jakub Voracek
78
18
31
49
11
32
0
0
2
190
Drafted seventh overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2007, Jakub Voracek has had three consecutive plus-45 point seasons. Voracek scored 18 goals and 49 points this past season and added two goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games. Voracek made $2.25 million last season, and after putting up some solid numbers this past season, he can look forward to at least a three year, $3 million contract. However, to pry Voracek away from the Flyers, the Predators may need to up the ante and dish out another million for this star forward, who has yet to play to his fullest potential. Voracek would most likely replace Radulov on the second line, on top of proving to be slightly more dependable come playoff time.
David Perron
#57 / Left Wing / St. Louis Blues
6-0
200
May 28, 1988
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - David Perron
57
21
21
42
19
28
5
1
4
114
After a very productive season for the St. Louis Blues, Davin Perron has proven to be a core player alongside Right Winger T.J. Oshie. Perron is already accustomed to a defensive-style of play that the Blues and Predators have adopted to win games, so he should not have any problems fitting into Barry Trotz’s system. Perron is yet another player that can assume the role of Andrei Kostitsyn the Predators’ second line. Last year, Perron made $2.5 million, and after his performance last season, his value can only skyrocket. The Predators may be able to steal Perron from the Blues if they are willing to free up a big chunk of cap space. This may come in the form of, dare I say, letting Ryan Suter go.
Nick Foligno
#71 / Left Wing / Ottawa Senators
6-0
208
Oct 31, 1987
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Nick Foligno
82
15
32
47
2
124
1
0
3
153
After his most productive year in the NHL, with a career-high 47-point season, Nick Foligno has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Ottawa Senators. Having finished sixth amongst Senators forwards in average ice-time per game and seventh in PP TOI/G, Foligno has still a lot of potential left in him. The Senators have been looking for Foligno to score more, yet the Predators have been known to resurrect players’ potentials after acquiring players from teams where such players have been unable to play at their best (Sergei Kostitsyn from the Montreal Canadiens, Mike Fisher from Ottawa Senators). Speaking of Fisher, this may be a good move for the Predators to make, since Foligno has already one familiar face on the team, which should make the transition for him a little bit easier. Foligno deposited $1,550,000 into his bank account last season, and the Senators must take this number seriously into consideration if they desire to keep him. In order for the Predators to steal him, they may need to pony up at least another million to bring the 24-year-old to Music City. Foligno could become the 30-goal scorer the Predators are looking for if everything goes right.
Sam Gagner
#89 / Center / Edmonton Oilers
5-11
191
Aug 10, 1989
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Sam Gagner
75
18
29
47
5
36
6
0
0
149
Do you remember what you did on Groundhog Day this year? Sam Gagner sure does, as he tied a franchise record for the Edmonton Oilers only accomplished by none other than Wayne Gretzky in 1989, contributing to every single of the eight goals scored by the Oilers that night against the Chicago Blackhawks, four of which were his own. Apart from this sensational spectacle, Gagner’s 75-game season was plagued with inconsistencies, though he did manage to score 18, had a total of 47 points, and was at a team best of +5 for the season. His starts and finishes to the season were quite slow, with only 4 goals scored in total in his first 18 and last 23 games of the season. The 34-game stretch in the middle was much more favorable for Gagner, in which he had a remarkable 9-game stretch of 9 goals, 18 points, and a plus-9 rating. Bottom line is, Gagne’s inconsistency needs to be remedied, but at only 22 years old, he has a lot of undiscovered potential. Gagner earned $2.275 million the last two seasons and is undoubtedly due for a pay raise. The Predators may take a serious risk acquiring Gagner, but if all the gears will be turning come next season, Gagne may find himself fitting in very nicely on the Predators second or third lines.
Mathieu Perreault
#85 / Center / Washington Capitals
5-10
175
Jan 05, 1988
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Mathieu Perreault
64
16
14
30
9
24
2
0
4
60
Despite being a healthy scratch for 18 games last season for the Washington Capitals, Perreault had 16 goals and 14 assists in 64 games, on top of being plus-9 for the season. Unfortunately, because of the Capitals’ saturated lineup, Perreault has not been given the opportunity to fully explode as a top six forward, so he still has room for improvement and a 20+ goal season seems to be on the horizon. Perreault may fit well on the Predators thirdor fourth line, and he has the ability to contribute to the team’s offensive depth. The Caps have just extended a qualifying offer to Perreault for $577,500. The bounty on Perreault is still relatively low, so if Perreault has a lot left in him, the Predators might strike gold with this acquisition.
Dmitry Kulikov
#7 / Defenseman / Florida Panthers
6-1
196
Oct 29, 1990
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
GTG
SOG
PCT
2011 - Dmitry Kulikov
58
4
24
28
-5
36
2
0
1
104
As everyone knows, the probability that Suter will be gone next season is quite high, and the Predators need to think quick about who his replacement will be. One option is in the up-and-coming defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who had a solid year for the Panthers and broke a career-high with 28 points. With Dale Tallon already very interested in re-signing players such as Jason Garrison, Kris Versteeg, as well as scoping out the market on July 1st for players that can add some more offensive depth to the Panthers lineup, Kulikov may get cut ultimately. Kulikov is in his prime right now, and the Predators can develop him to become one of the top defensemen in the league. He would most likely have the privilege of taking Suter’s spot next to Weber. However, Kulikov’s price would likely be no less than $2-3 million annually. If the Panthers are not prepared to spend that kind of money and lock him up for a long-term deal and the Predators are, then we might just have found Sergei another Russian companion.
Nashville Predators haven't got much to do these days but wait and see whether Ryan Suter accepts the team's contract offer, or take his talents to South Detroit, South Philly, or wherever else that might be.
Not much to do, other than tune in to 102.5 The Game this afternoon - I'm joining Willy Daunic from 5:00-6:00, taking calls on the Preds and the free agent market so far. What do you think of Tootoo heading to Detroit? Do you like the guys the team has brought back already? What should they do if Suter walks? Call in (737-1025) and spark the discussion.
After, of course, reading your daily hockey notes...
Follow @Forechecker
Nashville Predators News
Paul McCann - Day Two - On the #SuterWatch I hope Paul doesn't concuss himself, after smacking his head over all these contracts getting signed.
Thoughts on #Sutergate and other Sundry Ramblings | The Predatorial Among other items, James shares a few trade targets to potentially replace Sutes.
A Nashville Predators Fee Agency Sonnet - Predlines Link waxes poetic during these dramatic times.
Scott Ford Signs With St. Louis | Admirals Roundtable The Admirals will need a new captain this fall.
Return of Chris Mason pleases Predators goaltending coach Mitch Korn - Nashville Predators Examiner It sounds like Mase is the marryin' kind.
Nashville Predators majority owner gifts $2.9 million to Duluth Heritage Sports Center | StarTribune.com Kudos to Herb Fritch.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
As Parise and Suter wait, the NHL's payroll chasm widens - NHL - Sporting News A natural followup to the "OMG this spending is crazy" reaction is to call for greater revenue sharing between teams.
2012 NHL Free Agency: A Few Thoughts On Martin Brodeur's Return - In Lou We Trust The Marty Party in New Jersey won't stop after all.
Lay Of The Land | BlueJackets Xtra Can you imagine the reaction in Columbus if they traded Rick Nash to Detroit? Whoa, boy.
Gary Bettman dials back the suspension Brendan Shanahan gave Raffi Torres | Backhand Shelf The commish tosses Torres a bone.
The Predators are continuing their tradition of carrying a heavyweight fighter on the roster, with the announcement that they're bringing back the popular Brian McGrattan for another season, at the same salary as last:
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Brian McGrattan on a one-year contract worth $600,000.
McGrattan, 30 (9/2/81), appeared in 30 games with the Predators in 2011-12, posting two assists and 61 penalty minutes. Claimed on waivers from Anaheim on Oct. 11, 2011, the 6-4, 235-pound winger has 13 points (3g-13a) and 456 penalty minutes in 212 NHL contests with Ottawa, Phoenix, Calgary and Nashville since 2005-06.
Brian McGrattan
#23 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators
6-4
235
Sep 02, 1981
The question is, will he square off with the now-enemy Jordin Tootoo, considering the disparity in height & weight?
