Piling on the goons: Friday afternoon notes

Last night's mess involving New Jersey's Cam Janssen and his moronic (and at times homophobic) interview with a St. Louis show has brought on the anti-goon crowd from all corners. I've long complained about the presence of fighting specialists on NHL rosters, but it's not so much about being anti-fighting as it is just wanting to see the best possible players on the ice. All too often, the scrappers just can't play at the NHL level. It wasn't always like that, however.

I was reminded of this earlier this week while I was laid up with a bum ankle. I finally caught "Goon", the latest entry in the hockey movie genre, and while the plot & action cross over into the absurd on many occasions, there's an interesting contrast between Doug Glatt, the young protagonist who stumbles (literally) his way into minor-league stardom as a slugger, and Ross Rhea, the grizzled veteran who is playing out the string on his career.

Rhea, to me, represents the great enforcers of the 80's and 90's that I fondly remember, guys like Bob Probert, Rick Tocchet, or Kevin Stevens, terrors who could play the game at the highest level AND intimidate their opponents, too. In the movie, Rhea dishes out big hits which create turnovers, and causes opposing forwards to duck out of the way rather than face his wrath. He makes a tangible difference in the game. Glatt, on the other hand, can barely stand on his skates, and does little more than drop the gloves when called upon, to the delight of teammates and fans. As a hockey player, he's useless.

The Ross Rhea-types are becoming increasingly rare in today's NHL. I can think of Milan Lucic in Boston, but can you think of many more? Why is it that they've pretty much disappeared from the league?

Our afternoon hockey notes have much more on Janssen, including his apology for last night...

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Nashville Predators News

Electing for Arbitration: What is Sergei Kostitsyn Worth? | The Predatorial
Two of the four comparisons made here wouldn't count in arbitration, because the players (Chris Higgins and Steve Sullivan) were UFA's when they signed their deals. It will be interesting to see how big of a commitment the Preds want to make to SK74, however.

2012-13 Nashville Predators Ice Girls- Nashville Predators
Congrats to this year's squad, which will have 5 rookies and 8 returning members. This serves as a good time to look back at our post from a couple years ago on Harlow Salon, which services both the Ice Girls and the Nashville Predators Dancers.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Shane Doan reportedly offered 4-year, $30 million deal: Flyers aren't this crazy ... right? - Broad Street Hockey
Welp, forget about him coming here.

Statement from Cam Janssen - New Jersey Devils
Cam Janssen issues a predictable apology statement. Does anyone really believe it's sincere? We'll see...

On Goons, Stars, and Misplaced Priorities | Backhand Shelf
E pulls Janssen's sweater over his head and hammers away.

The advanced stats of ‘goons’ | Backhand Shelf
Cam Janssen stinks on ice.

On playing with fear, and why "goons" still exist in hockey today | Backhand Shelf
Meanwhile, Justin Bourne takes up for the bangers. A hitter and a heavyweight fighter are entirely different, however. Many enforcers don't get the chance to throw big hits because they simple can't catch their opponents.

Peter Mueller signs with Florida. Avalanche may regret that - Denver Post
Adrian Dater sees a hole on the left wing in Colorado, and wonders why the Avs let Mueller go for nothing.

Report: NHL Owners lay out ambitious CBA proposal

According to Renaud Lavoie of RDS, the NHL's owners have laid out an ambitious set of demands in the opening stages of negotiation for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Players Association, to replace the one expiring this September.

Actually, "ambitious" is too gentle a word for this. Rapacious, perhaps? Remember, this is the opening salvo in what is sure to be a months-long battle, one which (we all hope) gets concluded in September. But once you see what the owners are asking for, it's hard to not get pessimistic about the 2012-2013 season starting on time.

Let's break down each of the positions as detailed by Lavoie, with a quick assessment of how it all fits together...

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First off, here are the items which Lavoie shared via Twitter this evening:

NHL proposal to players: 1-reduce players hockey related revenues to 46% from 57 %. 2-10 seasons in NHL before being UFA.

— Renaud P Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) July 14, 2012

3-contracts limites to 5 years 4-no more salary arbitration. 5- entry-level contract 5 years instead of 3.

— Renaud P Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) July 14, 2012

Reduce Player Share to 46%

Like an opening jab to the nose, this is sure to draw the most attention, and is easily the biggest issue on the table. Currently, the players get 57% of Hockey Related Revenues, which have been estimated at $3.3 billion for the recently completed 2011-2012 NHL season. A reduction from 57% to 46% would take almost $300 million out of the players' share, and you can bet that they'll fight this point aggressively.

With the salary cap currently set at $70.2 million, this move would knock it down to $56.7 million, and you can bet that the only practical way to accomplish this would involve a rollback on all existing contracts of roughly 20%, just like they did in 2005. Otherwise, the burden of this cut would fall solely on this summer's free agent class, and force draconian moves by teams to get under the new cap.

So there you go, let's start with a 20% pay cut, everybody.

10 Years to Unrestricted Free Agency

Currently, NHL players have to achieve age 27 or have 7 years of North American pro experience to reach unrestricted free agent status, a timeline which is longer than in the other major pro sports. Prior to the 2005 CBA, the age for eligibility was 31, and apparently the owners want to get back to the good old days, by pushing the timeline out to 10 seasons of service.

To me, this is an item on which the owners can budge during negotiation in order to win points elsewhere, because as long as they have a salary cap in place, they know how much they'll spend on player salaries in total. How that money gets divided between the players is a relatively minor concern financially, but for the players, this is a major quality of life issue. Pro athletes place tremendous value on the chance for unrestricted free agency, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them concede a bit on the financial side in order to move this timeline up.

Contract Limit of 5 years

Attention Shea Weber - if you want that 12-year contract, this summer may be your last chance to get it.

Long-term contracts have been a controversial aspect of the current CBA environment, providing a loophole for teams to get around salary cap restrictions. Since each player's cap hit is determined by the average annual salary on a deal, throwing a few bogus years on at the end for $1 million apiece brings the overall average down, allowing you to pay a guy $8 million but have him only count $6 million against the cap.

Certainly the players want the flexibility of signing 10- or 15-year deals, but really, this aspect of the negotiation could have started off much nastier.

Assuming that Lavoie is touching on all the major points of the owners' proposal, it looks like the players are not being threatened on a front where they enjoy a huge benefit over the NFL - Guaranteed Contracts. In the NHL, if a player has a 5-year contract and gets severely injured in his first game, he continues to get paid for the duration of the deal.

If the owners indeed aren't going after guaranteed contracts, then perhaps things aren't going to be quite as contentious as could have been feared, and a 5-year limit could act as a limiting factor for their liability on these guarantees.

Ending Salary Arbitration

Nobody really likes salary arbitration, but at least it provides a mechanism for Restricted Free Agents to try and get a market-level contract in the event that a team tries to put the screws to them. So few players actually end up in an arbitration hearing that this shouldn't turn into a major battlefield, but when combined with the 10-year timeline to UFA status, this would take away a useful negotiating tool for most players in the league (since only a minority make it to 10 years).

Extend Entry Level Contracts to 5 years

Young players in the NHL are the best value in the biz, since they have basically no negotiating room and salaries are capped at modest levels. For most of them, they have to put in three seasons before earning that second contract (case in point - Colin Wilson this summer), and extending that time period to 5 years would really keep them under thumb.

As @SteffeG observed on Twitter, you have to imagine that many European players would say "screw that" and opt for the bright lights of the KHL instead.

If something like this did go through, however, the whole "draft & develop" model would become even more critical for team success, which would be a positive for a team like Nashville.

Update: Larry Brooks of the New York Post tosses in another couple items:

Post has learned proposal would eliminate signing bonuses and mandate same salary in each season with 5-yr term limit

— Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) July 14, 2012

So... no more allowing a salary to vary from season to season? That strikes me as an odd one. It would make salary cap management much simpler, certainly.

Post has learned proposal calls for ceiling to be set $4M above midpoint, floor $8M under

— Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) July 14, 2012

This move would narrow the gap between the big- and small-market teams even further (the current spread is $16 million, not the $12 million envisioned here).

The Beginning of the End, or the End of the Beginning?

Remember, this is just the opening move by the owners. They surely won't get everything on their wish list... right? Right?

Back To School: Friday's notes

Sometimes the morning hockey notes end up concentrated around a particular topic, and today, we're hitting on college hockey. One Nashville Predators prospect is heading back to school for another year, while another draftee welcomes back his star linemate, as they look forward to playing on a big stage at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Meanwhile, the acrimony between college hockey and Canadian junior continues over a lawsuit filed against the University of Michigan's student newspaper...

All that and more after the jump!

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Nashville Predators News

Another year in college for Predators prospect Garrett Noonan - Nashville Predators Examiner
Noonan... Seriously, I wonder if part of this has to do with the fact that the Preds are already close to their 50-man reserve list limit.

Bjugstad to remain in NCAA for junior year with Golden Gophers - Litter Box Cats
Zach Budish's linemate is coming back to Minnesota for another season.

Monday Night Forehand 07/02 by HasBeenSports | Blog Talk Radio
I'm late to the party on this one, but in this podcast, Justin & Ben chat up Preds COO Sean Henry about a ticketing update for next season, and some Skate of the Union talk.

Nashville Predators' Chris Mason glad to rejoin former team | The Tennessean
For Mase, it was an easy call to accept the Preds' offer and come back.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Cam Janssen Interview Provides Further Proof He May Be Just Terrible - In Lou We Trust
In shocking news, a rockhead goes on a meathead podcast and acts like a moron. I can't imagine Lou Lamoriello will be happy about this.

Michigan Daily "stands behind" their Jacob Trouba story - Buzzing The Net
Hail to the Victors!

Soldier Field attempts to prove the ‘Windy City is actually the Hockey City’ | Puck Daddy
A nice marketing slogan for a college hockey tournament, but really?

KuklasKorner : Goal Line Report : Down Goes Brown Wrote a Book!
An interview with the funniest hockey blogger in the biz.

Buffalo GM Darcy Regier: Derek Roy was ready to play through shoulder injury | Dallas Stars Blog
Further background on Derek Roy's injury situation.

Roberto Luongo’s actually doing pretty good at the World Series of Poker | Puck Daddy
How long can Luongo last?

A look back at one year of new Nashville Predators jerseys

Things in the hockey world can get pretty boring this time of year, but this time last year Predators fans had no shortage of action as far as the offseason is concerned.

The main focus was on Shea Weber and his arbitration, but there was some other exciting happenings going on, namely the unveiling of new jerseys for the 2011-2012 season.

It's been a year to the day since the Preds unveiled their new gold threads, so let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

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OtF actually had the first glimpse of the new Preds jerseys on June 23rd, and while the team denied that those were the actual jerseys, they contained many of the new logos unveiled just the day before and ended up being pretty darn close to what we saw 20 days later.

In the poll we ran that day, 54% of people voted "thumbs down" to the new design, mainly citing the loud gold color that was a stark contrast to the navy of old and the mustard third jerseys from a few years back.

The main difference between these and the actual jerseys was the lack of the "Nashville" patch across the left shoulder. I thought it was a nice touch, but alas, the Preds thought otherwise.

The away jerseys were officially released at the draft, and the home jerseys at the annual Skate of the Union. These were the jerseys that our beloved Predators took to the ice in on opening night and wore for the rest of the year:

The main features of the jersey, besides including all of the new logos were guitar strings through the numbers, piano keys on the inside of the collar and of course, the yellow mustard gold.

Between the time we posted our leaked photos and the Predators officially showed us the new threads, fan opinion actually went up, according to our polls. The one we ran 366 days ago showed 60% of fans giving a thumbs up, a 14-point jump from 20 days before.

The jerseys were still a polarizing topic, though, and fans hotly debated the issue all the way up to the start of the season. The discussion continued as the season began, but it seemed like as the season went on, the focus turned away from the jerseys and to the team who actually wore them.

So I ask you, dear reader, what did you think of the first year of the gold jerseys?

Thanks to OtF reader Scot for the suggestion on twitter.

Poll

One year later, what are your thoughts on the gold jerseys?

• I like them
• I don't like them

  279 votes | Results

Teemu Selanne returns for another season: Thursday afternoon notes

Perhaps the most likable opponent in the NHL will return to Bridgestone Arena next season, as our afternoon hockey notes include word that 72-year-old Teemu Selanne will suit for the Anaheim Ducks one more time (and probably lead them in scoring again, too).

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Nashville Predators News

Kostitsyn arbitration date set - Predators Insider
Get ready to take the day off of work on August 2nd.

Shea Weber - The Most Important Domino - Predlines
Dan speculates about what a Shea Weber trade might mean for Nashville's reputation within the league.

Zach Budish Finds Averman From The "Mighty Ducks" Movies - SB Nation Minnesota
While in Chicago to promote the upcoming Hockey City Classic, the Preds prospect caught up with an actor from those famous films.

Also, the Preds present the tryouts for the 2012-2013 class of Ice Girls, held earlier this month. Will the high standards of catfish-scooping be maintained by the newbies?

And by the way, do I recognize one of the Lady Preds in there? Dang, and I was hoping I would be the first Ice Girl/hockey blogger in Nashville!

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Selanne Signs One-Year Contract with Ducks - Anaheim Ducks
Lucky bastards.

(Fake) Dan Ellis Wants a Job - Battle of California
Megalodon, as always, brings the funny.

The strange case of Alexander Semin | Red Light
How do you arrive at a reasonable number for a guy who is unquestionably talented, but reviled by so many?

Rec Hockey Tips: Passing, gaps, strategy and more | Backhand Shelf
Handy advice from Justin Bourne for you fellow beer-leaguers.

What Nashville Needs: Hockey Team Impossible

One of my favorite TV shows these days is Restaurant Impossible, the Food Network series in which Robert Irvine surveys failing restaurants and revitalizes them. What provides the drama on this show is the way Irvine confronts the management & staff of these flop houses with brutally honest assessments of just how awful things are, and what needs to change if a turnaround is to take place. Once the elephant in the room gets exposed and addressed, that's when the magic happens.

Tony Gallagher is one of those hockey columnists who likes to throw firebombs around the NHL. Just a few days ago he penned an absurd article on how teams that receive revenue sharing shouldn't pursue top-dollar free agents, for example. Today, he chips in with a rollicking tirade mocking David Poile for his expression of surprise in the immediate aftermath of Ryan Suter's signing with Minnesota:

How in the world could Poile have been 'surprised' when shortly after July 1, Suter left the Predators? Had he been in one of those mountain caves in Pakistan trying to stay away from drone attacks? Had he been in a comma for more than a year?

Nobody was surprised. And to be perfectly blunt, it doesn't matter what Suter or Suter's agent had been telling them. If he's not signed coming up to the deadline, you're in deep doo-doo pal! You've been a general manager in this league for 30 years and seen this happen like clockwork every season since free agency existed. What could possibly have come as a surprise?

You know what? Gallagher's right on the money here, and in the same way that Irvine berates restaurant owners, a similarly blunt assessment needs to be applied to the Preds' relationship with Shea Weber.

(Lack of) Action Speaks Louder Than Words

Since July 1, 2010, Weber has been eligible to sign a long-term contract extension with the Predators, a team which has done everything they can to demonstrate their commitment to him. They named him team captain, and have repeatedly emphasized that money is no object. They loaded up at the Trade Deadline for a playoff run this spring, and David Poile went the extra mile to facilitate Alexander Radulov's return as well.

And yet, Weber still hasn't signed a contract with the team. They went to arbitration last summer after failing to agree on the length of a new deal, or a salary (other than that, though, I'm sure things went swimmingly). Clearly, Weber is taking the slow walk to unrestricted free agency just as Ryan Suter did.

It's time to realize what's going on here. Good conversations can go on for weeks or months at a time, but serve to do nothing more than string the team and fans along with false hope, and delay the hard work of charting a path forward.

Yes, this sucks. But the time has come to trade Shea Weber.

Lou, Mo, and O make the Hall: Wednesday afternoon notes

Our afternoon hockey notes touch on all the bases - there's an update on the Nashville Predators talks with Shea Weber (don't get your hopes up), a smattering of contract news from around the league, and three new members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame have been announced...

Nashville Predators News

Poile had "good conversation" with Weber’s reps - Predators Insider
At the risk of repeating myself... Unfortunately, talk is cheap. World-class two-way defensemen are not.

Being a Professional Dumbass on Twitter Is Easy | VICE
Sam calls out the hockey rumor crowd for getting the Parise/Suter story so very, very wrong. SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE - don't pay attention to those charlatans, or pass along their "inside scoop" here. You only make yourself look hopelessly gullible by doing so.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

USA Hockey Hall of Fame
Lou Lamoriello, Mike Modano and Eddie Olczyk make up your 2012 Class.

Sharks extend Marc-Edouard Vlasic for 5 years, $21 million - Fear The Fin
[INSERT PICKLE JOKE HERE]

Caps Sign Wojtek Wolski - Japers' Rink
Dang, he got Brian McGrattan money.

Derek Roy Out Until November After Shoulder Surgery - Defending Big D
Well, this is an unpleasant surprise for Stars fans.

More on the advantages of puck possession over dump and chase | NHLNumbers.com
A further refinement to the argument against the dump-in.

Win a chance to go speed dating with Tyler Seguin | Backhand Shelf
Ladies...

Rick Nash Derby: Shockingly, he’ll only go to six teams with great centers | Puck Daddy
Can you imagine if he landed in Detroit?

The Quiet Room: McIlrath Dislocates Kneecap, Grosses Everyone Out. | Backhand Shelf
HOLY CRAP.

Kitchener Rangers Sue Newspaper and Writer | mc79hockey.com
Tyler takes a look at the suit by an OHL team against the University of Michigan student newspaper, over the de-commitment of a player from the Wolverines to make the jump to junior, allegedly for $200,000.

KuklasKorner : Hope Holland Wasn’t Watching
Tootoo's up to some new tricks.

Alex Semin's Backstage Rider May Be Keeping Him Out of the NHL - Lighthouse Hockey
Brilliant!

Are top NHL Free Agents heading to the bottom of fantasy hockey lists? | Hockey Gear HQ
Minnesota Wild fans are giddy over the signing of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but in fantasy hockey terms, have these two stars marched right into quicksand?

Silly thoughts on a soggy morning: Thursday's notes

Last night's post tying the TV show Restaurant Impossible to the Nashville Predators got me thinking - what other reality TV personalities might lend a hand around Smashville? They probably don't need any home-makeover types, as one itemI think we can all agree on is that the team has done some pretty wonderful things with Bridgestone Arena over the last couple seasons. So... the Bachelorette, perhaps, to entice top free agents? They've already got the Food Network tie-in with some of the concession stands, but would a Guy Fieri or Adam Richman take things to another level?

Chime in with your suggestions while reading this morning's hockey notes...

Nashville Predators News

O Captain, Our Captain? The Decisions of Signing Shea Weber | ladypreds
See, the ladies agree with me.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Theo Fleury is now a country singer, apparently | Backhand Shelf
Hmm...

Dallas Stars Feel Derek Roy Surgery Best Long-Term Option For Player & Team - Defending Big D
So here's the scoop on yesterday's surprising news.

Panthers reportedly sign F Peter Mueller to 1-year, $1.75M contract - Litter Box Cats
A bit of a gamble here, but an affordable one.

Ralph Krueger expects Nail Yakupov to make the Edmonton Oilers out of camp, and immediately help the power play | Edmonton Journal
That is the exciting thing about those 1st overall picks, they're often ready to contribute right away.

I'd make great backup for Canucks' Cory Schneider, says UFA Dan Ellis - TheProvince.com
Dan Ellis is standing by the highway, holding a sign saying "Will Butterfly For Food".

Mask Musings : Luongo And Winding Road - Nucks Misconduct
It is remarkable how Roberto Luongo is angling for a trade out of Vancouver, without any apparent ill will towards either the team or Corey Schneider.

Brad Boyes vs. PA Parenteau: Why Boyes Is Going To Be The Better Islanders Winger | Hockey Independent
An optimistic assessment for Islanders fans.

The Hall of Fame and Claude Lemieux | Bobby Holik - Holik on Hockey
I can't stand the guy, but he probably does deserve to be in there, his playoff performances were the stuff of legend.

How to save 20% on hockey skates, sticks, helmets & gloves this summer | Hockey Gear HQ
You need new hockey equipment, and thanks to a new coupon code, only valid until July 19, I can help you save 20% on select hockey skates, sticks, helmets & gloves...

Tough guys in the spotlight: Wednesday's notes

Yesterday's NHL news had the tough guys taking center stage. Trade rumors surrounding Dallas captain Brendan Morrow took a hit, while St. Louis sent a banger over to the Eastern Conference trade, and Ottawa locked theirs up for three more years.

All that, and a chance for you enterprising college students to land a gig with the Nashville Predators, follows after the jump...

Nashville Predators News

George Plaster returning to air; new show to be part of statewide network | The Tennessean
The battle for Nashville sports radio listeners will escalate later this month with the reunion of Willy Daunic & George Plaster in the 3-6 p.m. time slot opposite the 3HL.

Ryan Suter says he's sorry for pain he caused Nashville Predators | The Tennessean
...he said while lounging on a bed made of cash.

Day in the community a rewarding experience for Predators prospects - Nashville Predators Examiner
The baby Preds got their taste of community outreach as part of Development Camp.

Broadcasting Internship - Fall - Nashville Predators
So you want to go behind the scenes and see how a Predators broadcast comes together? You college students looking for intern opportunities should check this out.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk: My plan is for Brenden Morrow to stay with Stars | Dallas Stars Blog
Hmm... throwing cold water on that trade talk from yesterday?

Tampa Bay Lightning acquire B.J. Crombeen from St. Louis Blues - Raw Charge
The Blues send a tough guy to Tampa in exchange for draft picks.

Senators sign Chris Neil to three-year extension - Silver Seven
Meanwhile, the Sens sign their chief mucker to a new contract.

Jamie Langenbrunner Signs 1-Year Deal With Blues - SBNation.com
St. Louis brings back the veteran checker.

The L Word: Why I don’t think we will see another lockout | Jerseys and Hockey Love
James lays out some reasonable demands from each side of the negotiation. In addition, I tend to think that an earlier path to unrestricted free agency could be something the players would like, and the owners would be willing to give up.

KuklasKorner : Report- Niklas Hagman Signs With Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Wow, a pretty decent NHL player flying the coop.

PHOTO: Brad Richards appears in 'ESPN The Magazine' Body Issue - CBSSports.com
And since he's already playing in New York, he can grab a spot in the cast of "Oh! Calcutta!" in case there's a lockout.

Fixing NHL Network's Eternal Summer Of Reruns - SBNation.com
It's an old idea, but a goodie.

Owners & Players positioning for CBA PR battle: Tuesday afternoon notes

The initial talks between the NHL owners and the Players Association have been described as cordial, but once deadlines begin to approach, you can expect the tenor to get much more contentious. Let's just say I wouldn't make plans set in stone to attend training camp this September, if you know what I mean.

Back in 2004-2005, the owners clearly won the public relations battle, portraying themselves as losing money in most markets and requiring a partnership with the players in the form of a salary cap to control costs and ensure the sustainable growth of the game. In the seven years of the "New NHL", there have been record revenues and, with a few minor exceptions, the salary cap has indeed kept a lid on player salaries.

So how can the owners make a case to the fans that they need the players to take a smaller piece of the pie going forward? That will be something to behold.

This year's public relations struggle is already underway, and this time, it doesn't look like the owners have much to stand on. Our afternoon hockey notes include three different angles on the issue...

Nashville Predators News

Nashville Predators' Hellberg looks to gain professional experience | The Tennessean
Enter Hellberg.

Hockey Night in Nashville: Is Josi ready to take big step?
I'd be happy just to see Josi settle in on the 2nd pair, that will be a big enough challenge in his second season. The Preds need a veteran hand to line up alongside Shea Weber.

Exclusive Leak: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter's Text Messages | Overtime

So this is how it all went down...

EPISODE 30 – Shea Weber | Bobby Holik - Holik on Hockey
Holik talks about the various options facing the Preds & Weber, and how the CBA negotiations might play a role in what happens this summer.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

2012 free agency -- The recent wild spending spree can't be good for the NHL's collective bargaining agreement position - ESPN
Scott Burnside joins the ranks calling out the absurdity of the owners complaining about player costs.

The Player: What’s really at stake for NHLPA in collective bargaining with NHL | Puck Daddy
Here's the best argument for the players to hold off a money grab by the owners, looking at how things have trended since the 2004-5 lockout: "over the course of that time revenues have increased by over 50 percent while player costs have only increased by about 15 percent."

Minnesota Wild owner on crying poverty then spending $196 million on Zach Parise, Ryan Suter | Puck Daddy
Here's your daily dose of BS from the ownership side of the CBA negotiations.

Putting a whip in the "tail" of those exasperating mega-contracts | Edmonton Journal
Now here's a novel approach to restoring some sanity to long-term contracts.

Jamie Langenbrunner Signs 1-Year Deal With Blues - SBNation.com
St. Louis brings back the veteran checker.

Teddy Purcell signs 3-year contract extension with Tampa Bay Lightning - Raw Charge
Purcell has found a home in Tampa's Top 6.

Blues show interest in Stars captain Morrow - STLToday.com
Should the Predators stick their nose in here? Morrow was banged up last season, but is a considerable force up front.

A Proposal for the CHL-NCAA Battle | Illegal Curve Hockey
Is there hope for college and junior hockey to ever bury the hatchet?

Is the Central Division due for a downturn? - Tuesday's notes

While we've been focused on how the Nashville Predators will set up for next season, it's easy to forget just how much change is taking place throughout the Central Division, which has been among the NHL's most competitive for several years now. Detroit has lost three of their top four defensemen over the last 12 months, Columbus is still trying to figure out what to do about Rick Nash, and Chicago faces issues up and down the roster, with Patrick Kane's name often coming up as a trade chit they could use to patch holes elsewhere.

St. Louis appears to be positioned well, building off a very successful 2011-2012 campaign, but outside of that, is it possible that even if the Preds take half a step back next season, three of their rivals could fare worse?

Ponder that question while skipping through your morning hockey notes...

Nashville Predators News

Predators AJenda | Preds Offseason 2012: A Midsummer Night’s Dream…Or Nightmare? (Part I)
While we've been sweltering in the summer heat, AJ's been simmering over the main themes surrounding the Preds, and we all know that some of the tastiest meals are the slow-cooking kind.

Nashville throws their name in the Shane Doan Sweepstakes hat… | The Predatorial
The Predators have apparently expressed interest in the Coyotes captain... along with just about every other team in the league. Good job by Kris to reach out to Doan's agent, however.

Smashville 24/7 - Promising draft class could keep on giving
Who will be the next member of the 2009 class to crack the NHL?

Youth Marketing and Fan Development Intern - Fall - Nashville Predators
If you're looking for a marketing internships, the Preds have an opening this fall. Just follow the link above for all the details on how to apply.

No turning back this time for Predators' defense prospect | Nashville City Paper
Mattias Ekholm has a tremendous opportunity open to him over the next few seasons... can he take advantage?

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Special Report: Anti-Coyotes Petition Not Turned In - Five For Howling
Another obstacle to the Coyotes' future in Glendale has been cleared, but is the finish line in sight?

Alexander Semin and Ignoring the 10 Percent | Overtime
What's better? To have a traditional "good locker room guy" with middling talent, or a unique talent who's a bit of a flake?

2012 Free Agency: New York Rangers Add Jeff Halpern On One-Year Deal - Blueshirt Banter
An under-the-radar pickup here for the Rangers that could pay off handsomely.

Larry Robinson definitive: "I do not want to be a head coach, I’m not here to take Todd’s job’ | Working the Corners
So... head coach by the All-Star Break?

Major College Hockey Coming To Chicago - Blackhawk Up
College hockey is on the rise, and a new tournament will put it on center stage in Chicago this February.

Unicycle hockey: feast your eyes on the single-wheeled glory (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports
Um... OK?

The Shane Doan market opens: Monday afternoon notes

The rapidly-thinning free agent market is starting to perk up today, with lots of discussion around Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who is starting to look at opportunities around the league after having stuck with the Jets/Coyotes for his entire career. Do you think he is a player which Nashville should be looking at?

---

Shane Doan

#19 / Left Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-1

Weight: 228

Born: Oct 10, 1976

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	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2011 - Shane Doan	22	28	50	-8	48

That story and a whole lot more make up our afternoon hockey notes...

Nashville Predators News

Trotz on Elly - Windsor Spitfires
Insight from Barry Trotz on what Ryan Ellis has done and needs to do going forward to become a top NHL defenseman (found via @ADPreds & @Cellblock303 on Twitter).

Paul McCann - More Mainstream Media Arrogance
Paul puts the blast on Tony Gallagher for his revenue sharing screed from the other day, and sings a happy tune about the Preds' ability to draw in elite players, pointing out "how many retire here after their playing days are done." Hmm... I'm guessing we probably have differing definitions of "elite".

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan ready to look over options - AZCentral.com
Do you think David Poile leverages Mike Fisher here, trying to coax Doan to Nashville with the offer of some top-notch Bible study? Whatever it takes...

Parise, Suter meet Wild Nation | StarTribune.com
Viewer Discretion Advised.

Which NHL teams have the most expensive defense? | Puck Daddy
Check out where the Preds rank currently!

History Lessons: Harvey Jackson and Le Temple de la Renommée | Backhand Shelf
To what extent should personal conduct influence one's chances for enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame? An outstanding read here on the life of Busher Jackson.

Springing Malik: The Pain Game - 4-year analysis (2008/09 - 2011/12)
Watch how the pendulum swings - the Preds went from one of the most banged-up teams in 2010/2011 (remember how the centers were decimated at one point?) to the healthiest in 2011/2012.

How Brett MacLean’s life was saved by his pick-up hockey friends | Puck Daddy
Awesome story here about how quick action averted disaster.

How important is neutral zone play? | NHLNumbers.com
There's a lot of data-collection work that went into this analysis of just one team, but it would be fascinating to see a league-wide picture.

An Obscenity : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com
Tom takes Roy MacGregor out to the woodshed for a particularly idiotic column on the CBA situation.

Cristobal Huet wants back in the NHL | Backhand Shelf
Hey, who else forgot this guy existed? Show of hands, please?

And lastly, I don't know if it's just due to the pain medication I'm on for a sprained ankle suffered over the weekend, but I can't get enough of this video found over at Backhand Shelf:

Nashville's ability to attract & retain the NHL's elite under question: Monday's notes

The Nashville Predators and their fans are facing a thorny issue this summer. In light of Ryan Suter's signing in Minnesota, and Shea Weber's reluctance so far to commit long-term to the team, there is the question of whether the Preds as a franchise, and Nashville as a city, can attract and retain enough elite NHL talent to ever really contend for the Stanley Cup.

If top performers look here and decide that other franchises offer a greater mix of competitiveness/money/quality of life, does that condemn the Preds to simply being a developmental squad for the real contenders? And if players are making those kinds of calls, where does that leave general manager David Poile? In light of his decades of respected work in Washington and Nashville, might he ask himself a similar question?

Can he ever win a Stanley Cup here, or does he deserve a shot in a major NHL market, with a broader array of assets at his disposal? He's punched above his weight for a long time, but you have to wonder what he could do with greater resources available.

That thought came to me last night, and makes a fitting setup for this morning's hockey notes, which include a great deal of discussion about elite players coming & staying in Nashville...

Nashville Predators News

The View from 111: Will Top Talent Play in Nashville?
Mark says that the talk about spending to the cap needs to be backed up with action if the Preds are to become an attractive team to star-quality players.

Q&A: Barry Trotz | Nashville City Paper
Trotzy reminds us that the Oilers won the Stanley Cup two years after trading Gretzky, so the Preds will just pick up and move on.

Players Departing is Par For The Course in Hockey | PuckScene.com
Patten has some consoling words for those who are upset of Suter's departure.

Smashville 24/7 - Signing Weber important to franchise, city
Jacob wants to see Poile skip the foreplay and get right to a max offer.

Larry Brooks: New York Rangers would pay large price for Shea Weber, Nashville Predators defenseman, but he would be worth it - NYPOST.com
With only one year until he hits UFA status, I find it hard to believe someone would pay the price necessary to land #6.

Nashville Predators CEO Jeff Cogen knows big contracts don't always bear fruit | The Tennessean
Thanks to Josh Cooper for including OTF in this look at how the team, and the fan base, are responding to last week's events.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Some of the Many, Many, Reasons to Sign NHL Free Agent Alexander Semin - Lighthouse Hockey
Alexander Semin has to be the top forward left on the market, right? His public detractors, however, provide reason for teams to take a pass.

NHL Rumors: Alexander Semin has $10 million-per-season offer from KHL - CBSSports.com
Well, that explains the slow progress on the NHL front.

Shane Doan Watch: 11 teams interested, but will Coyotes captain leave? | Puck Daddy
Are/Should the Preds be in the running?

Scrapping long-term NHL contracts is a bad idea | Hockey | CBC Sports
Elliotte Friedman argues that something like a 5-year cap on contracts won't provide the help some think it would.

Teams that cry poor should act the part - The Province
Should teams that receive revenue sharing pursue top-end free agents?

What do you want from the next CBA? - Silver Seven
Does anyone care what the fans think? Of course not, but this is still an interesting exercise.

NHL: Is the price right for Rick Nash? | BlueJackets Xtra
Can Scott Howson get a deal done, or does he view Rick Nash at a higher level than the rest of the league?

Sign Our Petition to Fire Bob Murray - Anaheim Calling
The crew at AC are fed up with the head Duck.

Hockey Prospectus | Top 10 Prospects: 2012 NHL Organizational Rankings
#22 with a bullet, baby!

Nassau County Launching Latest Attempt to Get Isles A New Arena The Hockey Guys
So... will this have a shot?

It’s true: Sharks hire Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Robinson as associate coach | Working the Corners
Well well well... Here's an interesting hire in San Jose.

Wild's 72 hours of pursuit, anxiety and elation | StarTribune.com
Relive the magic from the Minnesota perspective.

The Dark Blue Jacket: The 2012 Central Division Tweet Up
A reminder, for those of you who fancy a trip to Columbus to engage with other hockey fans.

Long-Term GMs and the Stanley Cup

A few weeks ago, right after the Paul Gaustad signing, a bunch of us were discussing the success rate of general managers around the NHL. You probably remember this. I offered to do the research, and I have not forgotten! One looooooooooooooong Saturday night, 30 Wikipedia pages, and five sheets of notebook paper later, I have the coveted information!!

For anyone who wasn't involved in the discussion, or doesn't remember it, here is the general plot: David Poile has been a GM for almost 30 years (28 to be exact), with two different teams, and has no Stanley Cups to show for it.

(1) Is this or is this not acceptable for a GM of his length of tenure?

(2) Are there other GMs who have also been around this long without any Cups to show for it?

(3) Are there other GMs who have been around this long with only one or two teams and have no Cups to show for it?

(4) Of the GMs who have also been around this long, how many of them have won Cups, and how many Cups have they won?

Boys and girls, tonight is your lucky night. There does not exist a Wikipedia page for every GM in NHL history, so I had to do a bunch of writing down and double checking and cross-referencing and re-writing. Luckily this wasn't nearly as bad as the research for the playoff history article. After the jump, I have listed all NHL General Managers who have at least twenty years of experience managing... generally. There are only 14 GMs in the history of the NHL with more than twenty years of experience.

Jack Adams

GM Length: 35 years (1927-1962)

Team(s): Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup(s): 7

Glen Sather (ACTIVE)

GM Length: 32 years (1980-2000; 2000-Present)

Team(s): Edmonton Oilers; New York Rangers

Stanley Cup(s): 5 (Edmonton Oilers)

Harry Sinden

GM Length: 29 years (1972-2001)

Team(s): Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup(s): 0

David Poile (ACTIVE)

GM Length: 28 years (1982-1997; 1998-Present)

Team(s): Washington Capitals; Nashville Predators

Stanley Cup(s): 0

Cliff Fletcher

GM Length: 26 years (1972-1991; 1991-1997; 2000-2002)

Team(s): Calgary Flames; Toronto Maple Leafs; Phoenix Coyotes

Stanley Cup(s): 1 (Calgary Flames)

Lou Lamoriello (ACTIVE)

GM Length: 25 years (1987-Present)

Team(s): New Jersey Devils

Stanley Cup(s): 3

Emile Francis

GM Length: 24 years (1964-1976; 1976-1983; 1993-1989)

Team(s): New York Rangers; St. Louis Blues; Hartford Whalers

Stanley Cup(s): 0

Tommy Ivan

GM Length: 23 years (1954-1977)

Team(s): Chicago Blackhawks

Stanley Cup(s): 1

Craig Patrick

GM Length: 23 years (1980-1986; 1989-2006)

Team(s): New York Rangers; Pittsburgh Penguins

Stanley Cup(s): 2 (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Bobby Clarke

GM Length: 22 years (1984-1990; 1990-1992; 1993-1994; 1994-2006)

Team(s): Philadelphia Flyers; Minnesota North Stars; Florida Panthers; Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup(s): 0

Punch Imlach

GM Length: 22 years (1958-1969; 1979-1981; 1970-1978)

Team(s): Toronto Maple Leafs; Toronto Maple Leafs; Buffalo Sabres

Stanley Cup(s): 4 (Toronto Maple Leafs - 1st Run)

Bob Pulford

GM Length: 22 years (1977-1990; 1992-1997; 1999-2000; 2003-2005)

Team(s): Chicago Blackhawks

Stanley Cup(s): 0

Bill Torrey

GM Length: 21 years (1972-1992; 2000-2001)

Team(s): New York Islanders; Florida Panthers

Stanley Cup(s): 4 (New York Islanders)

Art Ross

GM Length: 20 years (1924-1954)

Team(s): Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup(s): 3

GMs Based on Cup-Winning-ness

GMs with 0 Cups: 5 (Harry Sinden, David Poile, Emile Francis, Bobby Clarke, Bob Pulford) = 35.71%

GMs with 1 Cup: 2 (Cliff Fletcher, Tommy Ivan) = 14.28%

GMs with 2 Cups: 1 (Craig Patrick) = 7.14%

GMs with 3 Cups: 2 (Lou Lamoriello, Art Ross) = 21.43%

GMs with 4+ Cups: 4 (Jack Adams, Glen Sather, Punch Imlach, Bill Torrey) = 28.57%

.

GMs Based on Team-Loyalty-ness

GMs with 1 Team: 6 (Jack Adams, Harry Sinden, Lou Lamoriello, Tommy Ivan, Bob Pulford, Art Ross)

GMs with 2 Teams: 5 (Glen Sather, David Poile, Craig Patrick, Punch Imlach, Bill Torrey)

GMs with 3 Teams: 3 (Cliff Fletcher, Emile Francis, Bobby Clarke)

.

GMs Based on both Team-Loyalty-ness and Cup-Winning-ness

GMs with 1 Team and 0 Cups: 2 (Harry Sinden, Bob Pulford)

GMs with 1 Team and 1 Cup: 1 (Tommy Ivan)

GMs with 1 Team and 3 Cups: 2 (Lou Lamoriello, Art Ross)

GMs with 1 Team and 4+ Cups: 1 (Jack Adams)

.

GMs with 2 Teams and 0 Cups: 1 (David Poile)

GMs with 2 Teams and 2 Cups: 1 (Craig Patrick)

GMs with 2 Teams and 4+ Cups: 3 (Glen Sather, Punch Imlach, Bill Torrey)

.

GMs with 3 Teams and 0 Cups: 2 (Emile Francis, Bobby Clarke)

GMs with 3 Teams and 1 Cup: 1 (Cliff Fletcher)

.

Let's Return to the Questions...

(1) Is this or is this not acceptable for a GM of his length of tenure? I'll come back to this.

(2) Are there other GMs who have also been around this long without any Cups to show for it? Yes, 4; 5 total.

(3) Are there other GMs who have been around this long with only one or two teams and have no Cups to show for it? Yes, 2 GMs with one team and no Cups; Poile is the only GM to be with two teams and have no Cups.

(4) Of the GMs who have also been around this long, how many of them have won Cups, and how many Cups have they won? 9 GMs have won 30 Cups over a combined total of 227 seasons.

.

So now back to that first question! I'm gonna risk creating a thread full of chaos and in-fighting. After looking at all this information, does it still seem reasonable or unreasonable that David Poile has not yet won a Stanley Cup??

Pro-Poile: He is up against legendary competition, including the guy with the Coach of the Year trophy named after him, the guy who won five Cups with the Oilers in seven years, and the guy who won four Cups with the Islanders in four years. They were very talented GMs, but they also had everything line up perfectly at the perfect times - they are such stuff as dreams are made on... not anyone can do what they did whenever they want. A lot of these guys also won Cups when there were significantly fewer teams in the NHL - meaning that there was not only less competition for the Cup in the playoffs, but also less competition over things like players being traded (5 or 20 teams to fight with, not 29).

Anti-Poile: It really doesn't matter who he's up against because they're all just other GMs who were doing their best to win the Cup during the times they were in charge of their respective teams. They all developed strong, competitive hockey teams around the league who could all win Cups. Sometimes things just don't work out, but after 20 years in the league as a GM, the general expectation is that you should have won at least one Cup by now, right? 9 of the 14 guys have won at least one Cup, so Poile should probably have won at least one Cup. He's also on the high end of the 20+ year spectrum at 28, so if he doesn't win soon, he's going to be the longest tenured GM with zero Cups.

Poll

Does it seem reasonable or unreasonable that David Poile has not yet won a Stanley Cup?

• Reasonable
• Unreasonable
• I can't decide
• Has Weber signed yet?
• FIRE ALL THE PEOPLE!!

  57 votes | Results