The Nashville Predators have placed 14th among all 122 North American major league sports teams in ESPN's latest edition of their Ultimate Standings, which ranks franchises based categories such as on-field performance, ownership stability, fan relations, and other factors.
This puts them fourth among NHL teams on the list, trailing Phoenix, Tampa Bay, and New Jersey, and represents a climb up from 18th spot last summer. The Preds' strongest areas was Affordability (7th overall), while their weakest was "Title Track", a measure of championships either recently won or reasonably expected soon (61st). Here's a comparison of this year's vs. last year's rankings:
Year
Rank (of 122)
Bang for the Buck
Fan Relations
Ownership
Affordability
Stadium Experience
Players
Coaching
Title Track
2012
14
22
27
35
7
25
30
17
61
2011
18
33
6
41
7
23
16
14
70
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The interesting bit to me is the drop in the Fan Relations ranking. Has there been a difference in service level that you've seen as a Preds fan, or might this instead mean that other franchises are picking up on what teams like the Predators are doing?
Either way, the continued climb upwards should be considered a validation that Nashville is indeed making progress towards their oft-stated goal of providing the top sports & entertainment venue in the world, centered around a championship hockey team.
At the other end of that spectrum, as has been the laughing stock of the hockey world since being talked about on Puck Daddy yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs came in dead-last at #122.
Locally, the NFL's Tennessee Titans ranked 72nd, a healthy climb from their #98 ranking of 2011.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the terrible plane crash which claimed the lives of the KHL's Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team, so our hockey notes focus not only on the latest news regarding the causes of that accident, but on those family members who are still grieving the lost.
Nashville Predators News
Welcome To My Blog - Nashville Predators Stu Grimson is glad to be back at the rink full-time, as the team's radio color man. And now, he takes up the keyboard and enters the lowly world of blogging, too.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Hockey’s ‘darkest day’ remembered - The Globe and Mail Eric Duhatschek brings us a look back to that tragic day, through the eyes of Kelly McCrimmon, brother of Lokomotiv head coach Brad.
Pilot documents forged in Russia hockey team crash | Reuters Now it sounds like the pilot & co-pilot in the Lokomotiv plane crash were flying under false training credentials. Awful, awful stuff.
Spector on KHL: Worth the risk? - sportsnet.ca The KHL may want to compete with the NHL for the title of world's greatest hockey league, but they have a long ways to go, especially in regards to off-ice matters.
Bettman, Daly and Fehr all plan to decline salary during NHL lockout - The Globe and Mail A sensible gesture, but somehow I think they'll get by.
Canadian NHL clubs sacrificing revenue - The Globe and Mail When people complain about some teams showing up on national TV too often, you know you've got some real divisiveness going on.
NHL labour: Ontario government rejects NHL players’ plea for help in talks - thestar.com Apparently the NHLPA tried to invoke government intervention to help avoid a lockout, but that attempt fizzled.
Shane Doan: Deal in place with Coyotes, waiting on lease agreement to go through | Puck Daddy Somebody just wake me up when all this is over, m'kay?
Bobby Ryan's Mea Culpa & The Meeting That Never Was - Anaheim Calling Bobby Ryan has backed off his trade talk from a few months ago, but Jen notes an odd lack of communication between he and Ducks GM Bob Murray.
Lowetide.ca | THE GREAT EXPANSION VOL 1 An ambitious historical project, here, which makes for very interesting reading.
As part of the marketing push for EA Sports NHL13, the "Ultimate Team" feature is being touted today, and an article at NHL.com showcases how some of the league's leading stars would put together a 6-man unit from their current competitors that would dominate all others.
For example, Philadelphia's Claude Giroux put himself on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Steven Stamkos, with Erik Karlsson and Zdeno Chara on defense, and Pekka Rinne in goal. That makes sense.
Pekka was included in the fun, too, but I think his talent assessment skills might be a bit off:
First, he puts Martin Brodeur in goal. OK, that's a nice nod to the old veteran, and a demonstration of the humility which makes Rinne so endearing.
Second, he puts Shea Weber & Ryan Suter on the blueline. Given the years he spent working behind them, this is totally understandable.
Up front? There's Teemu Selanne & Mikko Koivu, a reasonable tribute to his Finnish countrymen. Selanne led the Ducks in scoring last season, and Koivu is a pretty wonderful two-way center. We'll give him a homer's pass here.
But Rinne's last forward pick?
Rich Peverley.
Yup, the waiver-wire wonder who left Nashville back in 2009 and has forged a successful career in Atlanta and Boston was Pekka's selection to round out his Ultimate forward line. Not Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or any of a dozen All-Star-caliber forwards. Rich Peverley.
Just listen to the lineups as described in the following video. Does it strike anyone else as odd to hear "Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, Stamkos... Peverley"?
Who knows, maybe there's some bizarre video game trick in NHL13 that turns Peverley into the next Jeremy Roenick circa NHL94, but I just don't see it!
Well aren't you lucky? For the first time in ages (it seems) we have enough goings-on to bring you a double-dose of hockey notes today, so we'll start you off with the news that Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber has finally returned to Music City...
Nashville Predators News
Nashville Predators' Shea Weber back in town | The Tennessean At long last, the captain has returned to Nashville. Josh Cooper caught up with him at Centennial, where he worked out with some of his teammates earlier today.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Fantasy hockey leagues that reward PIMS make zero sense | Backhand Shelf Sure they do - it's because fantasy hockey is about having fun, and hey, at least it adds some meaning to all the sideshow fights.
NHLPA gives players lockout preparation memo – USATODAY.com Well, at least it sounds like J.P. Dumont will still get his money.
NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement: State of the discussions - ESPN Pierre LeBrun masterfully sets the current scene, covering just about every different major issue being discussed right now.
McKenzie: Expiry of CBA significant for some young RFAs - TSN There are still a number of high-profile players waiting on new contracts. Should they get them done soon?
How Alex Ovechkin Can Make The Most Out Of A Lockout - Japers' Rink A Capital notion, here.
Will Caps be more aggressive under Oates? - CSN Washington Once the season does start, Washington will be one of the more fascinating teams to watch. Will they get back to an up-tempo offensive game under new head coach Adam Oates?
Bruins sign Malcolm Subban to entry-level deal - Stanley Cup of Chowder Boston inks their 1st-round draft pick from this summer.
We've got some very cool news to share with you this morning from the founder of SB Nation, Tyler Bleszinski:
It's with great pleasure that I unveil the first step in the next evolution of On The Forecheck. In the next month SB Nation will be undergoing a dramatic upgrade to our platform and our editorial process. There will be much more detail to come but for now, the new logo seen here is just a first taste of what is coming for On The Forecheck.
This is a small, but important sample of what is coming when our network undergoes its most exciting and radical transformation in the eight-year history of the company. A new visual identity here and across the network is only one step we are taking to unite our network of sites. United through individuality is the underlying theme of this project. You'll notice that our team colors and the unique spirit of our individual community is maintained while making it clear to sports fans that each site is a part of the larger SB Nation network. We want everyone to know that they can find the same type of great writing, video and conversation that we offer here on all of our 350 plus sites. You can browse through all the new logos on a special page we put together at sbnation.com/united.
Our commitment to passionately follow our sports will never end. It's what makes SB Nation a special place and that will only be enhanced by these new changes. In the meantime we're setting up additions to our store so you can be sporting the latest and greatest before it even launches. Welcome to our future.
The new logo won't go live until the dawn of SB Nation United, but we wanted to give you a taste of what's coming.
The Nashville Predators' plan for success in 2012-2013 rests largely on improvement from a number of young players entering their second, third, or fourth NHL campaigns. This is the kind of development which flies under the radar as other teams make splashy free agent acquisitions, and our morning hockey notes begin with a pair of stories which look at individuals who are gearing up for what we all hope is an 82-game season...
Best of Nashville 2012 - The Nashville Scene
This year they have a reader poll for "Best Sports Blog". Can you help us defend our title from 2011?
Nashville Predators News
Hockey Night in Nashville: Smith no longer 'wandering around in the dark' at NHL level Robby spoke with yesterday's birthday boy about the challenges heading into his second season.
Smashville 24/7 - Determined to recapture NHL spot, Blum has ‘a lot to prove’ Can Jonathon Blum fulfill his potential as a first-round draft pick? At least he's doing the right things this summer to give it his best shot.
Episode 6: Penalty Box Radio 09/05 by PuckScene PuckCast | Blog Talk Radio Conspiracy theorists will long debate what happened during the Lost 5 Minutes at the end...
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
NHL's Bill Daly questions players' urgency in labor talks - latimes.com It doesn't sound like much will happen this week, but next week, big internal meetings for both sides in New York could provide a signal as to how entrenched they are.
Daily Debate: Ready to rumble, CBA-style - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN A trio of writers banter about the state of the talks.
Dirty Dangle Hockey: Everybody Hates Gary How do fans dislike the Commish? Let Dirty Dangle count the ways.
Recess is over. NHL and NHLPA talks resume behind the scenes, reports Peter Adler | Edmonton Journal Forget Fehr & Bettman, I just want to see Peter Adler (for the owners) and Larry Brooks (for the players) duke it out to decide upon a new CBA.
Panel hits ‘culture of sexual entitlement’ at BU hockey - BostonHerald.com A new report raises serious concerns about the culture of the hockey program at Boston University, of which current Preds Brandon Yip & Colin Wilson are alumni.
Canadian Summit Series hero Phil Esposito is beloved in Russia, and he loves them back | Puck Daddy Espo is the talk of the town as the gang from '72 is celebrated.
The Complex Dynamics of Premium Seating Demand | The Business of Sports While the discussion here relates to football, it raises some of the issues which are likely being addressed by the new "501 Club" at Bridgestone Arena.
Who is King of Hockey’s Twittersphere in 2012? Bob McKenzie, of course. | Edmonton Journal Uncle Bob rules the roost, but the Tennessean's Josh Cooper made the list of fastest-growing Twitter accounts in hockey.
File this one under "why the heck did this take so long?"
Josh Cooper of the Tennessean reports this afternoon that Shea Weber's 14-year, $110 million contract has finally been signed, sealed & delivered, per his agent Jarrett Bousquet.
Recall that since the Preds agreed to match Philadelphia's offer sheet, by rule the financial terms of the contract were set and not open to negotiation. Weber's agents had asked for a no-trade and/or no-movement clause to be added, but really, what did they have to offer the team in exchange?
With this issue out of the way, not only is the contract finally registered with the NHL, but Weber can finally receive that initial $13 million signing bonus, which I'm sure his fiancee can put to good use planning their wedding.
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Trade Chances Unlikely, But The Option Is Valuable
I know a story like this will have fans in some markets salivating about a possible trade for Weber in the near future, but the Preds aren't allowed to trade him for a full 12 months after matching his offer sheet, anyway. After that, they'll already have $27 million paid out to him, and it would make little sense to let him leave after much of the highest-cost days of the contract have passed.
The Preds do have the option of moving Weber down the road at their own discretion, however, which could prove important. Remember, this is a guy with a concussion history, so a Matthew Lombardi-type situation is not out of the question at some point, where a wealthy team could better afford the financial risk associated with a top-notch, but injured player with an uncertain future.
It's not anything we want to obsess about, but having that option available is an important bit of risk management for a budget-conscious team like Nashville.
Renaud Lavoie of RDS is setting tongues wagging this afternoon, with an anonymous "tip" from inside the NHL that seeks to build sympathy for reining in player salaries:
League source indicated to me that the NHL as a whole is losing a significant amount of money.
Another one said close to 240 million lost total, in the last 2 seasons.
NHLPA don't agree with their losses info, but are proposing a system to adress [sic] some individual team issues.
--- Renaud Lavoie on Twitter
Yes, it is possible, I suppose, to continue bleeding money while revenues have been climbing to ever-higher heights for the league, as the NHL has proudly touted repeatedly. Possible, if expenses are escalating even more quickly than revenues are.
But how can that be the case?
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We've Been Down This Road Before
The owners played this card the last time around, too. Let's take a look at how USA Today broke down the report that the NHL commissioned former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt to produce in 2004 (PDF), detailing how much money the league was losing ($273 million) at that time:
• The league had $1.996 billion in revenues and $2.269 billion in player and other costs. About 75% of revenues - $1.494 billion - went to player costs, which includes salaries, bonuses and benefits.
OK, let's do a little back-of-the-envelope math here.
In order to lose $273 million back then, "other costs" (outside of player costs) must have been in the ballpark of $770 million.
Since that time, however, the league rolled back player salaries by more than 20%, and put a cap in place, so that player costs rose in line with revenues. In today's world of $3.2 billion in league revenues, that can only mean that "other costs" have basically doubled since then, as player costs have only risen by 25-30% overall.
Even if you use a generous figure of the players getting 60% of revenues today (a little higher than 57% due to high-salary players stashed in the AHL, long-term injury costs, etc.) that puts player costs around $1.9 billion for last season. $3.2 billion in revenue - $1.9 billion in player costs yields more than $1.3 billion in "other costs" that would still allow them to break even, but apparently they are even higher than that if Renaud's informant is correct.
So let's see... how could the league be bleeding cash so badly? Let's vote on some likely options.
I want to start off by thanking everyone who showed up at last night's OTF Meetup, it was a great chance to put some faces with some screen names and talk pucks here in the days when training camp, even if it starts on time, is still a ways down the road.
Thanks also go out to Sam's Sports Grill, Harlow Salon, Sport Seasons and the Nashville Predators for their contributions to make everything come together. Stay tuned for viewing party dates during the season, once it gets underway!
And now, on to your morning hockey notes, which include hopeful news for Phoenix Coyotes fans, Roberto Luongo openly calling for a trade to Florida, and of course, more updates on the lack of CBA negotiations.
Nashville Predators News
Nashville Predators wary of potential NHL lockout | The Tennessean Many of the guys are back in town getting ready, in the hopes that training camp starts on time.
Smashville 24/7 - Smashville On The Glass podcast – Lockout looming? Good insight here from Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press on how the CBA negotiations aren't progressing.
LAKings.com Presents 4 on 4 - Week 6 - Los Angeles Kings Are the Preds' jerseys the best or worst in the NHL? Opinions span the entire range here.
Who Gets Suter’s Assistant Captaincy? | The Predatorial This is a question which drew lots of attention a month or two ago, but hey, we've got time to fill.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Source says Phoenix Coyotes suitor Greg Jamison secures financing - ESPN This was a hot topic of conversation at last night's meetup, and it sounds like this tortuous road to new ownership is taking another turn in the right direction.
Landeskog named youngest captain in NHL history - The Globe and Mail In related news, the Nashville Predators have stripped Shea Weber of his "C" in favor of this guy.
Disgruntled Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo wants to return to Panthers - Sun-Sentinel.com This is more than a little weird. Roberto Luongo is not only openly talking about getting traded to Florida, he's practicing at their facility.
Quebec City Ready to Start Digging for New Arena | The Hockey Writers Who knows, maybe they'll be done building in time for the season to start.
Grand finales: Top farewell seasons by NHL players - NHL.com What, no
KHL to provide home for NHLers for duration of potential lockout | Puck Daddy What a country!
KHL president says Dynamo has a ‘moral right’ to Alex Ovechkin | Puck Daddy Hmm... I wonder if such a notion would ever play out over here?
MacLean: No NHL lockout in 2012 - CBC.ca Hockey Night in Canada's Ron MacLean sees hope for a solution.
Setting the Record Straight: CBA Myths vs. Facts - NHLPA The players' association rolls out their talking points here.
Patrick Eaves Injury Update: Still Struggling With Headaches - Octopus Thrower Bad news for Eaves, as he still isn't 100% after taking a Roman Josi shot off his jaw last season.
This Is 'One of the Best Table Tennis Shots Ever' | Playbook | Wired.com Holy crap, I think we could watch plenty of this in the event of an NHL lockout.
Top 10 Incoming Freshman Classes in College Hockey for 2012 | The Hockey Guys So, how about that college game, eh?
CBA talk: Moving the start of free agency - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN A fine idea here....
Today's Nashville Predators birthday boy is none other than the Honey badger himself, Craig Smith, who turns 23:
Craig Smith
#15 / Center / Nashville Predators
6-1
197
Sep 05, 1989
Last season for the Preds, Smith showed the kind of offensive impact (14 goals, 22 assists in 72 games) we haven't seen from a rookie since Alexander Radulov came on the scene six years ago. His speed and tenaciousness to drive pucks on net were welcome additions to a lineup which too often falls into a pass-happy mindset.
Heading into Year 2, there will be increased attention put on Smith to follow up on the promise he showed in 2011-2012. Personally, I'm very bullish on Smith, as the ability to create shots and scoring chances is much more consistent from year-to-year than goal-scoring, which is subject to random swings in shooting percentage. The especially encouraging news with Smith was that he scored those 14 goals on 172 shots, for an 8.1% shooting percentage which if anything, looks likely to up-tick in 2012-2013***. Typically, forwards shoot in the 10-12% range, so even average "puck luck" would bring him up around the 20-goal mark, before we even factor in greater ice time opportunities which he may be able to earn as a sophomore.
So here's to hoping we see plenty of this... soon!
With the NHL owners and players taking a break from CBA negotiations, hockey fans are left to speculate on what to do. Hmm... what to do... what to do...
Join us tonight from 6-8 p.m. at Sam's Sports Grill for the OTF Meetup!
Our morning notes include an update on the Nashville Predators' travel situation, a hilarious look back at the 1972 Summit Series which changed the game of hockey forever, and celebrity wedding news!!!
Nashville Predators News
Predators lose charter jet service – USATODAY.com Hey, buddy, can you spare a ride for the Preds? It looks like they need to line up alternative transportation, now that Swift Air has cancelled their contract for this season. By the way, I wonder what published reports were used to get that "the Predators will travel more than 43,700 miles" line from?
Penalty Box Radio Sept 3, 2012 09/03 by Penalty Box Radio | Blog Talk Radio Last night's PBR featured special guest Jonathon Blum...
Monday Night Forehand 09/03 by HasBeenSports | Blog Talk Radio MNF's new lineup debuted as the Nashville podcasting landscape continues to shift.
Lockout a Double-Edged Sword for Nashville Predators - The Hockey Writers Personally, I don't think losing a month (or even two) would be that bad for the Preds, especially depending how the new CBA shakes out.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Lockout City : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com I'm 100% on board with Tom here. The NHLPA had better be prepared to hold out for an entire season, because "The last thing they – or we – need is for the players to stand united until December before collapsing and signing a deal only marginally better than they could get today."
Hockey fans: there is nothing you can do to prevent a lockout | Puck Daddy A nice summation of the cacophony of calls for fan action these days. Sorry folks, but petitions, sit-ins, and such won't make any difference whatsoever.
It’s time for players to cut a deal and let NHL owners run their business, Peter Adler argues | Edmonton Journal The bar for spectacular nonsense written about the CBA negotiations has been set to a new high. Apparently Mr. Adler is unaware that zillions of public corporations publish their revenue figures every quarter.
Down Goes Brown: Team Canada's 1972 Summit Series application form In the event of a lockout, it looks like DGB will have no shortage of material.
The Quiet Room: Richard Zednik’s Neck (is still horrifying) | Backhand Shelf It's still amazing that Zednik survived a lacerated carotid artery, and played again.
Elisha Cuthbert Engaged to Dion Phaneuf: All the Details! - UsMagazine.com Now for some hard-hitting hockey news! Found via Kukla's Korner.
Dustin Penner’s controversial signing remains the only successful RFA poaching of the 21st century | Edmonton Journal RFA Offer Sheets have turned out to be a real dud under the current CBA.
Welcome to the MHH lockout week - Mile High Hockey Here's a novel approach to keeping a hockey site busy.
Hockey Prospectus is publishing a series of posts on each division this summer. For those that do not know, Hockey Prospectus uses advanced stats to predict the success of each team and player. Here is the post on the Central Division.
This was also featured as an ESPN insider article. The only difference was that Custance provided a brief write-up on Elkholm.
They didn't waste much time with their outlook for the Predators.
With career seasons from virtually every member of the team, the Nashville Predators rode extremely fortunate shooting percentages to advance out of the first round for the second straight season, leading those who don't follow the team closely to assume they were a team on the rise.
Unfortunately things were trending down in Nashville in way you don't need advanced statistics to determine. Playing most of their games in their own zone and/or without the puck, it is only a matter of time before the Predators cool off, potentially out of the playoff picture altogether.
They also took a pretty good shot at Mike Fisher. The article is very short, but I think it is the same things we have heard about this team for a while now. Dirk has pointed out the same exact issue surrounding the Predators shooting percentages. This team has got to find a way to become a better puck possession team.
What are your thoughts on the Article? Is it "This article is right on the money." or " Who cares it is just advanced stats."?
Hockey Prospectus is publishing a series of posts on each division this summer. For those that do not know, Hockey Prospectus uses advanced stats to predict the success of each team and player. Here is the post on the Central Division.
This was also featured as an ESPN insider article. The only difference was that Custance provided a brief write-up on Elkholm.
They didn't waste much time with their outlook for the Predators.
With career seasons from virtually every member of the team, the Nashville Predators rode extremely fortunate shooting percentages to advance out of the first round for the second straight season, leading those who don't follow the team closely to assume they were a team on the rise.
Unfortunately things were trending down in Nashville in way you don't need advanced statistics to determine. Playing most of their games in their own zone and/or without the puck, it is only a matter of time before the Predators cool off, potentially out of the playoff picture altogether.
They also took a pretty good shot at Mike Fisher. The article is very short, but I think it is the same things we have heard about this team for a while now. Dirk has pointed out the same exact issue surrounding the Predators shooting percentages. This team has got to find a way to become a better puck possession team.
What are your thoughts on the Article? Is it "This article is right on the money." or " Who cares it is just advanced stats."?
We move right along to #28 in our jersey number series. From brutal enforcers to faceoff specialists, this set of 9 candidates is quite the assortment.
Denny Lambert
Lambert was claimed by the Predators in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft as their primary enforcer. He was a fan favorite for his friendliness off the ice and his fists on it. In just one season with the Predators, he racked up 218 PIM (along with 5 goals and 16 points), ranking second in PIM's in a season behind Patrick Cole (242), also from that year. Lambert was traded in the offseason to the Atlanta Thrashers for Randy Robitaille. He later joined the Admirals in the 02-03 season for 39 games, notching 12 goals and 24 points. Lambert would officially announce his retirement at the conclusion of that season.
Jeremy Stevenson
Another hard-nosed owner of #28, Stevenson was signed by the Preds as a free agent on September 25, 2000. In his first two seasons with the organization, he played in a total of 12 games while spending the bulk of his time with the Milwaukee Adimrals. In Milwaukee, he amassed a mammoth 454 PIM in just 113 games. His offensive production was mediocre, scoring 28 goals and 48 points for the Ads in those two seasons. Stevenson was signed by the Minnesota Wild in the 2002 offseason.
However, he would not part ways permanently with the Predators, as the Predators claimed Stevenson on waivers from Minnesota one year later. With his return, he did appear more regularly on the Predators lineup. In two years, he played 88 games for the Predators, accumulating 177 PIM, 9 goals, and 16 points. The following season, upper management was ready to dispose of Stevenson for good, and he was placed on waivers before eventually being picked up by the Dallas Stars.
Cameron Mann
Traded by the Dallas Stars prior to the beginning of the 02-03 season, Mann played only 4 games with the Predators in the 02-03 season, spending the majority of his time in Milwaukee. Coming off a hot season with the Utah Grizzlies, then AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, he recorded 26 goals and 57 points with the Admirals. Mann became a free agent that offseason and decided to take his talents across the Atlantic Ocean, playing primarily in Germany for the rest of his career.
Tomas Kloucek
This stay-at-home defenseman has been already featured in our jersey series, as he also donned #5. Click here to refresh your memory on Kloucek.
Patrick Leahy
In hot contention with our friend Pascal Trepanier for the Player who has spent the least amount time on the Predators lineup award, Leahy also played only 1 game with the Predators. Spending the majority of his stint with the Predators organization in Milwaukee, he registered 10 goals and 30 points in 52 games. The following season Leahy abandoned his aspirations to become a regular in the NHL and joined the EHC Linz club in Austria.
Ryan Jones
Jones was acquired from Minnesota along with a second-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (Charles-Olivier Roussel) for defenseman Marek Zidlicky on July 1, 2008. Expectations were high, as he was one of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker award. However, he was not able to solidify a spot on the Predators lineup, juggling his time between the Predators and the Admirals during his two years with the organization. In 40 games with the Admirals, he scored 17 goals and 27 points, while notching 14 goals and 28 points in 87 games with the Predators. He was instrumental in the Admirals' run to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, scoring 4 goals and 7 points in 11 games. Jones was claimed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers late in the 09-10 season.
Steve Begin
On October 20, 2010, Begin was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators. He played only 2 games with the Predators, with his debut coinciding with a road game win against the New Jersey Devils. Begin seemed to struggle in the AHL as well, as he was only able to rake in 3 goals and 3 assists in 36 games. The Predators decided against resigning him, and he became a free agent on July 1, 2011. He has not played an NHL game since.
Kyle Wilson
On July 5, 2011, Wilson signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators. He played only 5 games with the Predators, spending the majority of the season in Milwaukee, where he tallied an impressive 22 goals and 54 points. Wilson did not stay long with the organization, however, as he was traded along with Anders Lindback and a seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Sébastien Caron, two second-round draft picks and a third-round draft pick.
Paul Gaustad
If you have made it to this point, it was well worth it, as the "Goose" is up next on our list of candidates. Gaustad came over to the Predators from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2012 Trade Deadline along with a fourth round pick in exchange for a first round draft pick. This acquisition, along with picking up Hal Gill and Andrei Kostitsyn, drew much praise from the hockey world and was most likely a serious factor in David Poile's nomination for the General Manager of the Year Award. Gaustad was a huge reason for the Predators' success leading up to the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs and their victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.
He has been known for his uncanny ability at winning faceoff draws, as well as his ability to screen goaltenders and deflect goals. He definitely did not fail in living up to these expectations in Music City. He averaged 57% on faceoffs and gave the Predators the added depth they desperately needed, on top of significantly bolstering their defense. This summer, Gaustad locked up a four-year, $13 million contract extension with the Predators, and with the departure of Ryan Suter, expect Gaustad's presence to increase on both sides of the ice.
Today we are proceeding to #27 of our jersey series. Though it is fairly obvious who will take this one home, let's take a look at all the players who have ever donned #27.
John Slaney
Slaney ventured over to the expansion Predators in the 98-99 season from the Phoenix Coyotes. He played 46 games with the Predators, amassing 2 goals and 14 points. He also recorded his worst +/- rating, -12, in his entire NHL career. Slaney was then relegated to the Admirals in the IHL for 7 games before becoming a free agent in the offseason. He was eventually picked up by the Pittsburgh Penguins, where in 29 games he would record his second-worst +/- rating of -10.
Randy Robitaille
Robitataille's arrival to Music City from Atlanta in 1999 marked the beginning of his full-time status in the NHL, making occasional appearances for the Admirals during his tenure with the Predators. Robitaille's rookie season with the Preds was his most prolific one, ranking first all-time for most power-play points by a rookie (2G-9A) and third for most shots by a rookie (113). In two seasons with the Predators, Robitaille accumulated 20 goals, 51 points, and a +/- rating of -24. After his second year with the Preds, upper management chose not to re-sign him. Interestingly, Robitaille was actually brought back as a free agent 5 years later, but he was placed on waivers and sent over to the Minnesota Wild before he ever stepped foot on the ice at 501 Broadway again.
Jukka Hentunen
This Finnish forward spent a total of 38 games in the NHL, 10 of which were with the Predators, to whom he was traded from the Calgary Flames in the latter part of the 01-02 season. During his stint with the Predators, he recorded 2 goals and 2 points. The following season, he decided to return to his homeland to play for play for the Jokerit Helsinki club team.
Jason York
York joined the Predators in the 02-03 season after being demoted to the Anaheim Mighty Duck's minor league team in Cincinatti. He became a regular on the Predators lineup and stayed with the team for two seasons, amassing a total of 6 goals and 34 points. Unlike our other candidates, York's +/- rating was a stupendous +13 for the 02-03 season, the highest on the team for that year. The veteran defenseman became a free agent after two seasons with the Preds and decided to take a year off during the NHL lockout before signeing with HC Lugano for the 2005-06 season, where he would win the Swiss League championship.
Pascal Trepanier
This candidate is our nominee for the Player who has spent the least amount time on the Predators lineup award, playing 1 game for the Preds during the 02-03 season before forever bidding farewell to the NHL. He spent the rest of the season in Milwaukee, scoring 9 goals and 24 points in 52 games.
Patric Hornqvist
Probably the most familiar player in this set of candidates, Hornqvist was the last player selected at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Surprising, is it not? Hörnqvist signed on a three-year contract with Nashville in May 2007 and joined the team at the beginning of the 08-09 campaign. Nevertheless, he had some difficulties adjusting to the pace of NHL games, and after 28 games, he was reassigned to Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, Hornqvist recorded 17 goals and 35 points on top of contributing greatly to the Ads' run to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs against the Houston Aeros (losing in the 7th game of that series). Convinced by his stellar performance in Milwaukee, David Poile and company decided to make Hornqvist a regular on the Predators roster the following season. Hornqvist, in turn, did not hesitate to prove himself, leading the Predators in goals (30) and tying for the team lead in points with 51. The following two years for Hornqvist were very successful as well. In the 10-11 season, he notched 21 goals and 48 points, while the following season, he dominated on the second line alongside Gabriel Bourque and David Legwand for the majority of the season, scoring 27 goals and 43 points. It is imperative to note that Hornqvist is the only one of three players picked last overall to play at least 100 NHL games and score at least 20 goals.
To further glorify his resume, Hornqivst was the named NHL's 3rd star of the week for the week of December 14, 2009. He also set a number of team records. In the 08-09 season, he recorded the most goals (30), points (51), power-play goals (10), game-winning goals (8), and shots (275). The following season, he continued his hot streak with the most game-winning goals (5) and shots (265). Expect Hornqvist to absorb a much more elevated role now that comrade Alexander Radulov has defected, once again.
Today's birthday boy on the Nashville Predators is none other than enforcer Brian McGrattan, who turns 31.
It's been a big year for McGrattan, who finished off a season which saw him notch a couple spots high atop HockeyFights.com's Best of 2011-2012 list, and quickly signed a contract for another year with the Predators this summer. In July he dropped the gloves in order to put on a wedding ring, but for the biggest highlight from the last year, I'm going to go with his talk at the Nashville Salvation Army Sobriety Banquet:
