NHL FanHouse

Predators Score High at Work Ethic

Susan Slusser — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Nashville might not put a lot on the scoreboard every night, but it's not for lack of effort. Their last time out, the Predators out-shot Montreal 55-20, setting team records for most shots and total shot advantage.

That resulted in ... a 2-0 victory, with the Predators coming out on top the way they usually have to win: with smarts, good defensive play and decent goaltending. Nashville isn't going to wow anyone in any particular area, it seems, but the Predators can still get the job done.

"They always work hard," said Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle, whose last-minute goal beat Nashville in San Jose last week. "They're physical. They're very fast. They're tough. We never expect anything different."

The Predators face the first-place Sharks again Tuesday night in Nashville, and six of the past seven meetings between the teams have been decided by one goal. The close game is something of a Predators' specialty; all nine of their wins this season are by two goals or fewer.

When the Sharks faced Nashville last week, San Jose coach Todd McLellan hoped his team might be able to take advantage of special teams, which had been a Nashville weakness. The Predators opened the season 1-for-27 on the power play.

"I think throughout the past couple of years, whatever the personnel, the one thing we haven't lost is our work ethic. We don't have a choice. We don't have enough high-end players to score goals on a given night, so we have to work hard."
-- Steve Sullivan Lately, though, Nashville has prettied up those numbers, scoring power-play goals in seven of the past 10 games -- and the Predators are 7-0 in games in which they score a goal with a man advantage.

The penalty kill, meantime, has become a real plus. The Predators have been perfect on the PK in each of the past three games. And it's not as if Nashville has to kill off a lot of time; the team is penalized 9.1 minutes per game, the fewest in the league. That's important for a team that doesn't have the kind of offensive might of, say, San Jose, which boasts several scoring leaders and notable sharp-shooters. Nashville has to keep out of the box, get to pucks, get in lanes, battle around the net -- do all the less-glamorous types of things.

"I think throughout the past couple of years, whatever the personnel, the one thing we haven't lost is our work ethic," Nashville forward Steve Sullivan said. "We don't have a choice. We don't have enough high-end players to score goals on a given night, so we have to work hard."

"A high work ethic has to be part of our game," head coach Barry Trotz said. "That has to be a staple."

A little more scoring might make Nashville a serious contender: the Predators are 9-2-1 when scoring more than one goal this season. Sullivan called the campaign so far "a carbon copy" of last season, with the team starting off slow and then picking up speed. Nashville has won six of its past eight going into tonight.

Part of the slow start was the result of early injuries and a lot of roster juggling, according to Trotz, who was almost amused by the number of newbies the team was fielding.

"The first seven guys would get off the bus and they didn't know where to go," Trotz said. "They were like seven Weebles out there bumping around."

With so many personnel changes, injuries and a poor start, Trotz said, "We went through a stretch where they didn't trust each other and strange things were happening. That's not a recipe for success."

Roster juggling can make it tough for a team to find its personality, Sullivan said. He isn't certain the team has figured that out yet apart from the ever-present emphasis on hard work, but he acknowledged that the Predators are starting to find their footing, they're making fewer mistakes and they're getting contributions from many places. But change is a constant for a club like Nashville, which doesn't have a true No. 1 goaltender at this point, either. Duties have shifted back and forth several times already, with Pekke Rinne now getting the bulk of time over Dan Ellis because he has had the hotter hand, but that could change again.

Trotz believes that the Predators are now playing with confidence and purpose. That might be enough for Nashville to get back to the playoffs again after barely missing last season for the first time in six years.

"We're keeping our heads above water level," he said.

Predators Score High at Work Ethic originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reflections on the Rash of Injuries

Susan Slusser — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, Sharks, NHL Injuries

SAN JOSE -- As many as one in five NHL players is injured, according to widely repeated estimates, but the athletes themselves would like to see how that breaks down, exactly. It's the names of the players who are out, rather than the body count, that is creating headlines, some say.

"Everyone usually has two or three guys out," Sharks center Joe Thornton said. "That's not unusual. I just kind of pay attention to who's out on our team, and we've got Rob Blake out, an All-Star, and Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski were out. Teams just learn to adjust."

"It seems to be a lot of the top guys who are out," Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle said, referencing injured players like Alexander Ovechkin (pictured) and Evgeni Malkin. "It's not good for anyone to have those guys out, because people are paying a lot of money to come to the games and they want to see those guys play, but it's just a fluke. I don't think there's anything else to it."

Predators coach Barry Trotz believes that there are more big-name players going down because in the modern NHL, there aren't any games in which stars can afford to take a breather -- they have to play big minutes regularly, and more ice time means a greater possibility of injury.

Plus, Trotz said, "Guys are shooting the puck harder and more guys are comfortable shot-blocking than ever before, there's no hooking, holding, guys are bigger, faster, stronger -- and bones aren't bigger. There used to be one guy who shot like Bobby Hull -- now there are 300."

"I think we've created this ourselves. The game is faster, there's far less obstruction, which is great, and guys are bigger and faster. ... But now we may have to look at changing the rules to protect players. Guys are getting hit a lot harder than they ever have."
-- Steve Sullivan on Big Injuries in the NHL San Jose coach Todd McLellan also cited players' greater willingness to get into shooting lanes as one reason injuries might be up. The equipment is terrific, but, he said, "When the puck is traveling 100 mph, it doesn't matter what you're wearing."

Nashville forward Steve Sullivan has put some thought into this, and he wonders if that one-in-five stat has surfaced in other years. The fact that players such as Malkin and Ovechkin are out has contributed to the focus on the issue -- "It's not just high-end players, but superstars, and especially in an Olympic year," Sullivan said -- but Sullivan also believes the most recent rule changes, those that opened up the game, have left players more vulnerable to injuries, particularly head injuries.

"I think we've created this ourselves. The game is faster, there's far less obstruction, which is great, and guys are bigger and faster," said Sullivan, who is 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds. "We've changed the rules to allow this kind of game, the way the game has evolved is outstanding, and the fans enjoy it. But now we may have to look at changing the rules to protect players. Guys are getting hit a lot harder than they ever have. It's definitely time to review open-ice hits, hits to the head."

Sullivan pointed out that the number of days lost to head injuries are going up simply because teams and players are more aware of the seriousness of concussions and post-concussion syndrome, so extra days are tacked on that weren't before. "I don't think anyone wants to take the risk of going back three days early now," he said. "People are more careful, which is good. No one should be playing with those kinds of injuries."

Increasing suspensions for shots to the head might be a solution, but the basic equation of bigger, faster, unchecked players would not change, and, Sullivan said, "We have to look at it as a whole. We all love the game, we love playing the game and if you're only one hit away from not being able to play again, is that worth the risk?"

McLellan said that the Sharks have talked about the increased number of head injuries as a group: coaching staff, management, players. "Blows to the head are certainly of concern," he said. "No one wants to see players leave the game because of it. If we could eliminate that, injury totals would go down dramatically."

There have been a fair share of strange accidental injuries, too, including the laceration that will keep Carolina goaltender Cam Ward out up to a month.

"I know all about those weird, skate-slicing things," said Boyle, who missed 50 games with Tampa Bay when a skate slipped off a hook and gashed his left arm and wrist. "That was not fun."

It's a dangerous sport, no bones about it. No matter what the injury totals, teams just have to deal. It always will be part of the game.

"It makes it tough on a coaching staff, playing through a lot of injuries," McLellan said. "But there's nothing you can do but carry on. You can't use it as an excuse, or say, 'Oh, now we'll have less chance of winning.' You've got to try to get through it."

Reflections on the Rash of Injuries originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Canucks, Ducks, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Sharks, Wild, NHL Fans, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

A light week on the card, but there was a relatively surprising bout and some pretty good ones to choose from. Highlighting it is our favorite former Princeton player, a gentleman who has made a name for himself by being a really good fighter. Of course, the big news of the week involved a team captain dropping the gloves with a random defenseman.

Huh? Fight of the Week: Marek Zidlicky vs. Sidney Crosby

Sometimes, guys are obviously planning to fight before they drop the gloves. Others are clearly spontaneous. This one falls under the latter. Crosby and Zidlicky had enough of using their sticks, and decided to use fists instead. Watch it here.

Beatdown of the Week: Kent Huskins vs. Jared Boll

Boll is one of the league's real up-and-coming heavyweights, and he dominated this scrap. It started with a hard hit on Huskins by Boll, and quickly became a fight. Just as fast as it started, Boll emphatically ended it. He then proceeded to stand over his conquest like a predator stands over lunch. Watch the fight here.

Runner-Up: Dane Byers vs. Tanner Glass

This was a little quick for most fans' tastes, but some really good punches were thrown. Byers got off to a quick start, but Glass got the last laugh, or "shot," if you prefer. Check it out here.

Fight of the Week: Wade Belak vs. George Parros

Parros is a top fighter, and he got all he could handle in this one from Thursday night. The Predators might not have done much to stay in the game, but Belak more than held his own against one of the best.

There is some solid back-and-forth between the two, and the ending is kind of a surprise. Too bad for the Ducks' TV people that the fight was over by the time they got the "Tale of the Tape" graphic ready.

Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Shutout for Martin Brodeur, But Devils Get a Win

Adam Gretz — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Predators, Rangers, Senators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Devils 4, Rangers 2: With a shutout on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur would have tied Terry Sawchuk's record for most career shutouts. While the future Hall of Famer will have to wait for another night to reach his next milestone, he still managed to stop 29 shots to help lead the Devils to a 4-2 win.

Zach Parise scored a pair of goals -- and assisted on another -- as New Jersey handed the Rangers their second straight loss. The Devils, meanwhile, have won five of their past six.

Also: Crazy game in Ottawa, video of the day, and more.

Predators 6, Senators 5: For the first time this season, Nashville scored more than four goals in a single game, lighting the lamp six times in Ottawa ... and it still almost wasn't enough thanks to a ridiculous third period that saw the Senators score five goals.

The Predators entered the third period with a 3-0 lead, only to watch Ottawa rally for three goals in 10 minutes. From there, the two teams exchanged goals, including each team scoring in the final minute of regulation. With the Predators leading, 5-4, and on a power play, Ottawa managed to get a shorthanded goal from Chris Phillips with less than two-seconds to play in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Fortunately for Nashville, Shea Weber scored a power play goal at the 2:11 mark of the overtime period (his second goal of the game), giving the Preds the win.

Nashville not only set a season-high with six goals, it also scored two goals with the man advantage. The Predators entered play on Thursday with only one power play goal on the season.

J.P. Dumont had five points, including four assists, in the win.

Thursday's Other Games

Atlanta tries to comeback against Washington, but comes up short. That fluke goal turned the entire game around. [Box Score, Jeff Schultz's goal]

The Flyers pick up a shootout win against Boston. [Box Score, Recap]

After finally earning a win on Wednesday, the Islanders get blown out in Montreal. [Box Score, Recap]

Steve Stamkos scores two for Tampa Bay. [Box Score, Recap]

How about the Coyotes? Overtime win against Detroit. [Box Score, Recap]

Edmonton gets a pair from Dustin Penner in a 6-4 win. [Box Score, Recap]

Hats off to Anze Kopitar [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- The Sergei Kostitsyn drama in Montreal keeps taking bizarre twists and turns. [TSN]

Video Of The Day

Ottawa Loses to Nashville in overtime, but Chris Phillips gets the Senators a point with this last-second shorthanded goal.

Friday's Key Games

Penguins vs. Panthers: Pittsburgh is, quite simply, on a roll right now and enters Friday's game against Florida with the best record in the league. It's the Penguins first game without Sergei Gonchar, who will miss four-to-six weeks with a broken bone near his hand. Brent Johnson is expected to make his second start for Pittsburgh. Florida has lost five of six.

Blues vs. Wild: The Blues return home after a three-game road trip that ended with a sour note in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. They're hosting a Minnesota team that has been struggling all season, losing six of eight games.

Hurricanes vs. Avalanche: Colorado enters play on Friday tied for the second-most points (14) in the league, having lost only one game in regulation. The 'Canes have lost four in a row, including two in a shootout.

No Shutout for Martin Brodeur, But Devils Get a Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Predators Offense Continues to Struggle

Adam Gretz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Panthers, Predators, Sabres

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Bruins 3, Predators 2: Entering play on Wednesday, the Nashville Predators, as a team, had scored as many goals (nine) as the league's leading goal-scorer (Alex Ovechkin). They have yet to score more than three goals in a game this season, and haven't scored more than two since October 8. That streak continued on Wednesday thanks to their 3-2 loss in Boston.

Through its first eight games, Nashville has scored just 11 goals, and because of their 0-for-3 showing on the power play, the Predators are now just 1-for-27 with the man-advantage.

Ouch.

Also: Scott Clemmensen's short night, Video of the day, and more

The Bruins, meanwhile, playing without the services of Marc Savard and Milan Lucic, pulled out the win thanks to goals from Michael Ryder, Patrice Bergeron and Steve Begin. Predators forward Colin Wilson, a 2008 first-round pick (No. 7 overall), scored his first career goal in the loss.

Sabres 5, Predators 2: Short night for Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen as he was pulled just two minutes into the first period after giving up two goals on three shots. Buffalo scored five goals in the first period on its way to a 5-2 win.

Clemmensen was making his second consecutive start after picking up the win against Philadelphia earlier this week, stopping 25 shots in a 4-2 win. Tomas Vokoun, who has struggled mightily so far this season, came on in relief and stopped 30 shots.

Ryan Miller picked up the win for the Sabres with 41 stops.

Wednesday's Other Games

The Islanders are on the board! [Box Score, Botta's Recap]

Minnesota knocks off Colorado in a shootout. [Box Score, Recap]

Dallas Beats Anaheim [Box Score, Recap]

Samuelsson's winner leads Canucks [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- Is there an upside to Sergei Gonchar's injury if you're a Penguins fan? [Pens Universe]

-- Cap relief for the Caps as Michael Nylander agrees to a conditioning assignment with the Grand Rapids Griffins. [Grand Rapids Griffins]

Video Of The Day

The Islanders get their first win, so let's give the video of the day to Frans Nielsen for his nifty shootout goal.

Thursday's Key Games

Capitals vs. Thrashers: Fantastic Southeast Division matchup as Atlanta hosts Washington. The Thrashers are off to a strong start, and they'll look to keep it going as two of the top goal-scorers in the league (Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk) square off.

Devils vs. Rangers: The Rangers had their seven-game winning streak snapped on Monday in a blowout loss to the Sharks. They'll look to get rolling again when they host their long-time rivals from New Jersey. It's also Sean Avery vs. Martin Brodeur, which should be fun.

Islanders vs. Canadiens: Can the Islanders start their first winning streak of the season? They have a shot in Montreal!

Predators Offense Continues to Struggle originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Flames, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Some weeks, this job is just too easy. Our search for the best hockey fights includes a couple dandies this week, including a classic heavyweight battle in Toronto. It's the kind of bout that makes Brian Burke smile. Check out our runners-up, along with video of this week's best fight, after the jump.

Runner Up: Matt Walker vs. Chris Neil

Video here. Walker got some good early shots in, but Neil had a rally in him. This went from being a one-sided affair to quite competitive very quickly.

Runner Up: Jared Boll vs. Brandon Prust

Boll is one of the more underrated fighters in the league. He's big and strong, and also happens to be tough as nails. Prust brought some intensity to this fight, and he didn't back down after Boll landed an early right that would have staggered a lot of guys. Watch Prust make an impressive comeback here.

Runner Up: Zack Stortini vs. Triston Grant

Last week, we showed you Stortini standing and watching as skilled teammate Sam Gagner got in a scrap. No more of that, as Stortini mixed it up Tuesday, as his Oilers were blowing out the Predators. Stortini is a lot bigger than Grant, but the Nashville youngster held his own, mainly by keeping a strong hold on Stortini and limiting his ability to punch. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: David Koci vs. Colton Orr

This is easy. You don't even have to watch the video to know it's awesome, because Koci and Orr have plenty of experience and are more than capable of putting on a show. The heavyweights wore each other down, and there were more than a few punches thrown. Apologies for the lack of sound, but the feed that night had audio issues throughout. It's too bad, because it would be worth money to hear Joe Bowen call a fight this good.

Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oilers Makes Most of Limited Chances

Adam Gretz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Bruins, Oilers, Predators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Oilers 6, Predators 1: Unlike the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers were able to build a 5-0 lead and hold on for a win, as they crushed the Predators on Monday night. The 6-1 score is impressive for Edmonton as it was outshot by a 2:1 margin (41-20) over the course of the game. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers stopped 40 shots for the Oilers, while Zach Stortini scored a pair of goals in the win.

After the jump: Colorado's special teams shine, video of the day, and more

Avalanche 4, Bruins 3: Craig Anderson and the Avalanche held off a third period rally from the Boston Bruins to improve to 3-1-1 on the young season. David Jones' shorthanded tally at the 16:50 mark of the second period proved to be the game-winner for Avalanche, which also received goals from Marek Svatos, Scott Hannan and Milan Hejduk. Colorado's special teams was the difference in the game as it went 2-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, including the Jones shorthanded goal.

Monday's Other Games

The Islanders lost their fourth one-goal game in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings. [Box Score, Recap]

Chicago's awesome comeback. [Box Score, Gretz's recap]

The Penguins improve to 5-1 on the season with a 4-1 win in Ottawa. [Box Score, Recap]

Toronto remains win-less thanks to its loss in New York. [Box Score, Botta's Recap]

New Jersey comes back against Washington. [Box Score, Recap]

Panthers lose their fourth in a row. [Box Score, Recap]

San Jose hosts the Coyotes. [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- We're not even three weeks into the season and Carey Price is already under the microscope in Montreal. A bit over the top, I'd say. [Montreal Gazette]

-- Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch is worth $1.4 billion according to Forbes Magazine. [Mlive]

Video Of The Day

Brent Seabrook scores the game-winner in Chicago's improbable comeback win.

Tuesday's Games

Flames vs. Blue Jackets: The Flames are probably looking forward to playing another game so they can forget about Monday's loss.

Red Wings vs. Sabres: The Red Wings have won two in a row and look to extend their winning streak against the Sabres in Buffalo.

Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs: Both teams are playing the second half of back-to-back games, while Toronto is still searching for its first win.

Oilers Makes Most of Limited Chances originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preds Look to Rebound Into Playoffs

Susan Slusser — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, FanHouse Exclusive

The Predators were part of the mad scramble for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference last season, but failed for the first time in five years. So going into Saturday's season opener at home against the Stars, the team is bent on preventing another near-miss.

Though Nashville made little news in the offseason, the Predators enjoyed a good preseason, winning four of six games, and head coach Barry Trotz likes what he sees.

"I think we've had a good camp," Trotz told FanHouse. "We've had good focus, our best players have been our best players, and I like the overall team play. We've been aggressive with the puck, and when we don't have it, we've been aggressive to get it back."

There are areas Trotz would like to see some improvement, particularly the team's power play, but he said it's coming along and he likes the team's depth and the fact that there have been some good battles for spots.

There was one disappointment for Trotz this past month. The club, which needs to add some firepower, lost out on Phil Kessel when the Bruins traded the winger to Toronto. Nashville was in the picture but couldn't match the Leafs' offer.

"We were really close on (acquiring Phil Kessel), yeah. I was dreaming about it. Now we'll have to do something else. Someone will have to be the next Kessel." "We were really close on that, yeah," Trotz said. "I was dreaming about it. Now we'll have to do something else. Someone will have to be the next Kessel."

Could that man come from a nice group of youngsters the team has highlighted during September? Mike Santorelli, 23, is among those who have stood out after moving from a center spot to left wing on Nashville's No. 2 line. He scored two goals -- on seven shots - and had three assists during the preseason.

Then there's Patric Hornqvist, 22, who led the team with seven preseason points and took a whopping 25 shots; Trotz described him as "taking it to the next level." Boston University's Colin Wilson, 19, also has a shot at a roster spot.

Forward Steve Sullivan, meanwhile, looked especially good, according to Trotz. Though sidelined with a groin injury the latter part of the preseason, Sullivan's back troubles of the past few years appear completely gone.

"Sully was fast (last year)," Trotz said. "What he's got back now is his quickness. Your back really affects quickness, and now he has it in tight spaces to go along with how fast he is."

Shea Weber -- already good and getting better -- heads up a defensive unit that Trotz feels very good about; he thinks the team is eight-deep there, at least.

"Shea gets more confident every year and then his natural ability takes over," Trotz said. "He's become one of the top defensemen in the league, because he's more poised. In chaotic situations, the game slows down, his reads are better."

Pekke Rinne is the top goaltender, Dan Ellis is No. 2. "We're set there," Trotz said.

In a league that features frequent coaching changes, Trotz is a fixture. He's been the Predators' coach since the team started in 1997. Nobody knows better how tough life can be in the Central Division after years of chasing after the Red Wings and now having to deal with stronger clubs in Chicago, St. Louis and even Columbus.

"Our division is now probably the tough division in hockey," Trotz said. "All those teams are capable, there will be absolutely great hockey in the Central Division this season. Every game is a huge challenge. That will make us better, too, because those will be the kinds of games that get you playoff-ready.

"Now we've just got to get to the playoffs, get beyond the first round and see how far we can go."

Preds Look to Rebound Into Playoffs originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel

Christopher Botta — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Rangers, Sharks

Dany Heatley has now been traded, but Phil Kessel is on the market. Here's a look at where the latter could end up by the start of the regular season.

Edmonton Oilers - The Oilers surprise us sometimes. The Western Canadian rebels have signed restricted free agents to offer sheets and leaped into the Heatley sweepstakes. Since free agents don't line up to sign there -- a darn shame, if you ask me -- the Oilers must acquire any big guns like Kessel through trades.

GM Steve Tambellini has cap space and some good, young, inexpensive players he can move. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli can also say to the young American, "Okay, Phil. You wanted out? Best wishes in Alberta." When Kessel scores in bunches on the fast track in Edmonton, at least it will be in a galaxy far from Beantown.

Nashville Predators - The Predators have the assets and interest, so they cannot be left off this list. Making a move for Kessel would be a bold stroke for the Predators, who could use one to break through as a serious contender in the West.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Bossman Brian Burke is in a jam. He's talked big -- man, I love this guy -- but hasn't delivered. He was public in his passion for John Tavares (he couldn't move up in the draft). He blustered about how every player on his team could be traded (actually, not really). Burke has been very successful wooing free agents from the NHL, college and Europe with Maple Leafs loonies.

Still, he's John Wayne without making the big score. The Leafs are without question a leading contender for Kessel. The biggest reason why it may not happen? Burke has been so loud about it, Chiarelli may be telling himself he'll trade Kessel anywhere except Toronto. Still, if it's his best offer, the Boston GM can't refuse.

New York Islanders - Garth Snow's rebuilding club may not have the key NHL player to satisfy Boston, a contender in the present. Kyle Okposo -- with his large shoulders and relentless approach, he looks and plays like a Bruin -- is not available. What the Islanders do have is about $137 million in cap space and enough collegiate and junior prospects and future draft selections to make two Kessel trades if they wanted to.

Acquiring Kessel wouldn't exactly blow the Islanders' rebuilding program. He turns 22 the day before the team's season opener. The Islanders drafted his brother Blake, a defenseman at the University of New Hampshire, in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

New York Rangers - GM Glen Sather does not have much cap space. He also does not have a true No. 1 center, making a team with Marian Gaborik and potentially Phil Kessel on it ripe for a lot of bagel analogies. Still, since the beginning of time, the Rangers have always been in the mix for star players. As Sather proved with his Houdini-esque, somebody-had-pictures unloading of cap anchor Scott Gomez on Montreal (for assets!), you can't count him out of the Kessel Watch.

Boston Bruins - History illustrates that in nine out of 10 perceived stalemates like this, the team and its young star eventually realize they need each other. Here is Chiarelli last week: "I want Phil to be on our team. If it means moving players, I'll do it. If it means matching offer sheets, I'll do it."

This may take a while -- and could get nastier -- but don't be surprised if Kessel and the Bruins renew their vows.

Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Luongo Sets Deadline for Extension; Predators Interested in Chelios?

Adam Gretz — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Canucks, Predators, NHL Free Agency

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, it's our link dump that looks at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

The Vancouver Canucks have, arguably, the best goaltender in the NHL in Roberto Luongo, and they now have just under three weeks to sign him to a long-term contract extension or they risk losing him. Luongo is set to become a free agent following the season, and while the two teams have had talks, a deal has yet to be reached. According to the Globe and Mail, Luongo has set a deadline for September 13 for a new contract to be signed as he will not negotiate once training camp begins.

From Matthew Sekeres and Erik Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail:

"We're trying to get it done before camp," Luongo said in Calgary yesterday. "If it doesn't happen before camp, I will not be negotiating during the season. I don't want to have that distraction." Yesterday, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said a contract extension is not finished, but he is confident the sides will arrive at terms over the next 18 days. "I'd prefer that we have it wrapped up [by camp]," Gillis said. "We're all confident that we're moving in the right direction."

The 30-year-old Luongo is coming off a 2008-09 campaign that saw him post a .920 save percentage in goal for the Canucks, despite missing several weeks with a groin injury. While Luongo's intention here is to avoid a distraction, Sean Zandberg of Nucks Misconduct sees the deadline as a double-edged sword:

On one side, I can appreciate that Lou wants to completely focus on this season and he wants the team to succeed plus be the starting goalie for Canada in at the Olympics. Unfortunately, if a deal does not get worked out you know what's going to happen: many of the media and the fans are going to hound him for answers regardless and the "trade Luongo" freaks are going to come back out in full force. Distraction is imminent if a deal doesn't get done. Especially in a hockey-mad, hungry and even cruel-as-hell market like Vancouver. I would really prefer the extension to get done soon given those circumstances.

Nashville Might Have Some Interest In Chris Chelios

Even at the age of 47, Chris Chelios is still drawing interest from teams around the NHL, including the Nashville Predators. The money line from Thursday's John Glennon article in the Tennessean discussing the possibility: "I said, 'Chris, are you sure you'd have the interest of playing in Nashville, because you're not exactly well-liked here?' '' Trotz said. "He said, 'Trotzy, trust me, I'm not well-liked anywhere.' I said 'Yeah, I guess you're right.' '' [The Tennessean]

Loose Pucks

... Mike Sillinger announced his retirement on Wednesday, ending a career that saw the 17-year veteran play with 12 different teams, or, 40 percent of the league. Impressive. [TSN]

... Senators head coach Cory Clouston responds to Dany Heatley's claim that a diminished role is the reason for his trade demands. [Ottawa Citizen]

... Randy Youngman tries to explain where that random Patrick Marleau rumor from Tuesday came from. [OC Register]

Luongo Sets Deadline for Extension; Predators Interested in Chelios? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Nashville Predators Defenseman Shea Weber

Adam Gretz — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, Olympic Hockey, FanHouse Exclusive

Shea Weber is one of 46 players -- and 16 defensemen -- selected to take part in team Canada's Olympic camp in an effort to suit up for the 2010 winter games in Vancouver. Weber, a native of nearby Sicamous, British Columbia, is looking forward to the opportunity to represent his country.

We had a chance to speak with the 23-year-old on Wednesday afternoon about the Olympics, playing in Nashville, the possibility of a defenseman ever reaching the 100-point plateau, and being the No. 44 player on the FanHouse Top 50 -- something that seemed to leave him surprised and excited.

I guess the first thing I want to ask you about is the possibility of playing in the Olympics since you were invited to the team Canada tryout camp. Are you looking forward to the opportunity?

Yeah, definitely. Every kid up here dreams about playing for their country and putting on that sweater. And the fact the Olympics are in Canada, and in Vancouver where I grew up, that makes it that much more special of an opportunity.

Do you like the idea of the NHL players playing in the Olympics? I know it's kind of up in the air for future years. Is it something you would like to see continue?

Yeah, I think I do. You want to have the best players in the world in each sport, no matter what it is. I just think the best players should be participating and playing for the Gold Medal.

Do you get the sense that other players around the league feel the same way?

I can't speak for anyone else just because I don't know. I mean, It's not like we really sit around and talk about it all the time, but I'm sure most guys would enjoy the opportunity.

Changing subjects, I'm currently counting down my top 50 players in the NHL for the site, and I have you at No. 44. What do you think about that? Too high? Too low? Just about right? Critique me.

(Laughs) Oh, wow. I don't know, that's kind of surprising. I don't like to think about that stuff too much, but that's something that's definitely nice to hear. You know, there's a lot of great players in the league, and I'm just trying to get better every day and work hard. I'm still young, still have a lot to learn, and hopefully I can continue to get better.

A couple of weeks ago I questioned whether or not we would ever see a defenseman score 100 points in the NHL again. Since offense is a big part of your game, I was wondering what your thoughts were. Do you think we'll see it, or is that an unreachable mark with the way the league is right now?

That's really tough to say. You look at last year and Mike Green scores 30 goals. That's pretty special for a defenseman to do. I think there's some guys out there that probably could do it, but it's going to be tough because of the way the NHL is right now. Especially with how systematic everyone is and how tough it is to get through a lot of team's defense.

You said you grew up near Vancouver, were you a big Canucks fan growing up?

A little bit. My family was all huge Canucks fans, but sometimes I think I just tried to go against them, so I was more of a Montreal fan. I did like the Canucks, but maybe just because everyone else was all about the Canucks, I just wanted to pick somebody else.

Have you tried to model your style after any players? Or any players that you might have looked up to growing up?

There was a couple of guys. It's tough because I started out as a forward when I started playing minor hockey, so I was a big Eric Lindros fan. Once I changed over to defense I kind of looked up to guys like Rob Blake and Ed Jovanovski and those guys that played a physical style of game, but could also put some points up.

I talked to Steve Mason from Columbus the other day, and I asked him this same question since you both play in "new hockey markets," but what's your take on hockey in Nashville? That's one of the places people always seem to point to as an example of a market that hasn't worked, or won't work. You've already played four years there and have seen it first-hand, is it a market that you think can succeed?

Yeah, I do. I definitely think it's a great place to play hockey. The fans there are fantastic. Our fans have to be some of the best, and the loudest, in the league if you ask me. They're constantly crazy and from the time that the Predators have been there they've learned so much. They've really come around to the game, and it's definitely a place that hockey can exist and people are going to love it. I know (players) that go there for a reason, they love the city and the fans are great.

You guys fell just short of the playoffs this past season, and seemed to lose some steam down the stretch. What do you need to do differently as a team to avoid that this season and get back into the playoffs?

I think we really need to get off to a better start, we dug ourselves into a deep hole, especially before the All-Star break. We played our best hockey after the All-Star break, but it just wasn't enough. We couldn't battle out, and we were right there down the stretch, but at the end, like you said, we lost some close games that we really needed, especially against St. Louis and some other teams, but it pushed us back and left us out of the playoffs.

Favorite hockey movie?

Yeah. Slap Shot.

That's what everybody says.

It's a classic.

Is there a player in the NHL you don't want to see on the ice against you, or do you kind of look forward to the challenge of going up against the best?

That's a tough question. I don't know, there's a lot of good players, but most guys thrive on that, playing against the best players in the league, whether it's shutting them down or whatever. I just look forward to the challenge.

FanHouse Talks to Nashville Predators Defenseman Shea Weber originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL's Top 50: Shea Weber (No. 44)

Adam Gretz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 44 is Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber.

The 2003 NHL draft is shaping up to be one of the best classes ever, and I don't think that's an exaggeration. Take the first round for example, where 27 of the 30 players selected have already played at least 100 games in the NHL. Hugh Jessiman, selected 12th overall by the New York Rangers, is the only player that has yet make his debut.

With four of the top 50 picks that year, the Nashville Predators emerged with two building blocks along the blue line -- defensemen Ryan Suter in the first round (seventh overall) and Shea Weber in the second round (49th overall). Weber has already established himself as an elite defenseman, finishing fourth in the voting for the Norris Trophy in 2008-09, while he's combined with Suter to form one of the better defensive pairings in the league.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

According to Dirk Hoag of On The Forecheck, Weber and Suter were the second highest scoring defensive pairing in the league, finishing behind the Nicklas Lidstrom-Brian Rafalski duo in Detroit.

This past season was the best of Weber's young career, as the 23-year-old rearguard tallied 23 goals, which was tied for second among all defensemen in the NHL, trailing only Washington's Mike Green. He led the team with 192 hits, and was one of only two defensemen (Edmonton's Sheldon Souray being the other) to lead his team in shots on goal, registering 251.

The Numbers: Shea Weber
Shea Weber	Goals	Assists	Points	PIM
Career Totals	48	75	123	231
Average Per 82 Games	16.4	25.4	41.8	77.9

Draft Year: 2003

As already mentioned, the 2003 draft was simply loaded with All-Stars and franchise-type player. Weber was selected 49th overall, one spot before Ivan Baranka and one spot behind Dmitri Chernykh. Just as an example as to how deep the talent pool was in '03, here's a quick list of the other players selected in the second round: Loui Eriksson, Patrice Bergeron, Matt Carle, B.J. Crombeen, Patrick O'Sullivan, Maxim Lapierre, and David Backes.

Why He's On My List

A top-pairing defenseman that can score, hit and fight. He has a booming slap shot from the point, and is extremely physical (sometimes to a fault). He's not only emerged as a top-shelf player in the NHL, he's also dominated on the International stage, scoring four goals to go with eight assists during the World Championships.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Shea Weber vs. R.J. Umberger

Note: Check back on Thursday for an interview with Shea Weber.

NHL's Top 50: Shea Weber (No. 44) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Draft Preview: Best Player Available vs. Drafting for Need

Adam Gretz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Predators, NHL Draft

While talking to Jeff Kealty, chief amateur scout of the Nashville Predators, and Tod Button, Calgary Flames director of scouting, about the NCAA vs. Major Junior debate a couple of weeks ago, we also briefly discussed the mindset behind taking the best available player in the draft vs. drafting for a specific need.

Unlike the NFL and NBA drafts, you're not going to get immediate returns on your picks in the NHL. It happens, sure, but for the most part, you're going to be waiting two, three, or sometimes even four years before a player makes the NHL and actually makes a sizable impact for your team.

Going back to the 2005 draft, only 21 of the 865 players selected made their NHL debuts in their draft year. Twelve players selected during the 2008 draft went directly to the NHL, including eight of the top 10 picks.

Recent Draft Picks Making Their NHL Debut
Draft Year	Total Picks	First Year	Second Year	Third Year	Fourth Year
2005	230	3	19	29	25
2006	213	2	19	22	N/A
2007	211	4	17	N/A	N/A
2008	211	12	N/A	N/A	N/A

Obviously, it's difficult to peer into the crystal ball and know exactly what your team will look like in three years, or what your strengths and weaknesses will be, so it makes quite a bit of sense to simply take the best available player, regardless of position, and sort the prospects out down the road.

"At the end of the day, it's a process that takes time for that pick to play for your team," said Kealty. "It takes, three, four, five years in some cases, and you don't know what the landscape of your team is going to be at that time. So I don't think you can ever go wrong by drafting the best player available."

"We've always gone by the motto of trying to draft the best player available," he continued. "Given where we're picking in the draft and what players are going to be in our wheelhouse at a certain point, that's not to say we would never say never that we won't deviate from that, but we always go into every draft and every scenario and say that we want to draft the best player available."

When talking about the Flames' strategy, Button echoed a similar sentiment, but also made mention of the fact that if they already have a number of prospects at a certain position it could definitely impact what they do on draft day. Especially if that position happened to be goaltender.

"In goal, we try not to," said Button. "We wouldn't pick the best player available if he was a goalie if we already had a lot of goalies in the system. Because, you know, there's only one goalie on the ice at a time. So, in that situation, we wouldn't draft the goalie even if he was the best player."

"We always, early in the draft, say, and we don't have a set number in the first round or second round, we always try to take the best player available, and then if we need to address a depth position we'll do that later in the draft."

That said, with Miikka Kiprusoff cemented in as the starter for the past five seasons -- and signed for the next five -- the Flames haven't had much of a need in goal in recent years. As a result, they haven't selected a goalie since they used a first-round pick (26th overall) on Leland Irving in 2006, which is the only time they've used a pick in the first three rounds on a goalie since 2001.

Button also explained that what a team does in the draft isn't always determined by what's already in the system, but also by what the team has done earlier in the draft.

"If you draft two defensemen with your first two picks you might not take a defensemen with your last five, or vice versa, said Button. "So it's not only what you have in your organization, it's what you do early in the draft which determines what you do later in the draft."

While I see Button's overall point, I'm not sure I agree with ever really drifting away from the best player approach. Not only do you not know what your team will look like in three years, you don't know how the individual prospects you already have are going to develop. Just because you have, say, six goalies in your system, there's no guarantee that any of them will ever play in the NHL, especially when you're talking about a position that is as hit-or-miss as goalie.

"Well, there's a lot that goes into it," said Button. "You know, we could be sitting late in the draft and our general manager might come in and say, 'hey, we really need a couple of young defensemen here, let's pick one up. So, as much as you want to stick to it, it's not always about the best player. Sometimes you simply need to fill out your depth, especially in the later rounds."

NHL Draft Preview: Best Player Available vs. Drafting for Need originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Offseason Roadmap: Central Division

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Predators, Red Wings, Western

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Central Division.

The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to build off a magical season. Columbus got its first taste of playoff hockey, while St. Louis returned to the playoffs after a far-too-long absence. Meanwhile, Nashville is trying to rebound after just missing the cut for the Western Conference playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks: After a great season that saw this young group take a huge step forward, it's time for Chicago management to figure out how to get this team to take that final leap. The Blackhawks earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, then won six-game series against Calgary and Vancouver to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It was there that Detroit dispatched of Chicago in five games.

The Blackhawks have strength all over the ice, thanks to young stars like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook. While the Blackhawks have plenty of cap room (14 players signed for just over $36 million), they have some important decisions to make, most notably unrestricted free agent Martin Havlat and goalie Cristobal Huet. While Huet is signed for over $5.5 million a year through 2012, he was a disaster in his first playoff start against Detroit, and the main starter during the playoffs, Nikolai Khabibulin, is a free agent.

If Chicago wasn't already forking over $7 million a year to Brian Campbell, I'd suggest they get seriously involved in the Jay Bouwmeester sweepstakes. Instead, they need to look for cheaper ways to fill a couple defensive holes while continuing to build impressive forward depth.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Finally, Columbus got a taste of playoff hockey. The Jackets were in the race for much of the winter, and they got in as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. In the end, it was just a taste of playoff hockey, as Detroit dispatched of them in a four-game sweep.

Columbus has successfully built a young team around star forward Rick Nash for the first time. Nash has thrived as team captain, continuing to put up great numbers despite being the only truly great offensive threat on the team. He gets support from the likes of Kristian Huselius, R.J. Umberger, Fredrik Modin, and Jakub Voracek, but no one besides Nash is a true star. Of course, young goalie Steve Mason has become the defensive backbone of the Blue Jackets, and he will continue to get help from the likes of Mike Commodore, Rostislav Klesla, and Fedor Tyutin next season.

With 18 players signed for just under $41 million next season, there is some flexibility for the Blue Jackets. They're in a position to be aggressive on the free-agent market, and perhaps try to reel in a goal-scorer like Marian Gaborik, or get involved in a potential trade for Dany Heatley. While it's unlikely that Columbus will want to hand over $8 million or so per year for Gaborik or make an expensive trade for a big-money guy like Heatley, the Blue Jackets would be smart to think outside the box, as Nash is entering his contract year.

Detroit Red Wings: In case you missed it, here is Susan Slusser's piece outlining the upcoming offseason for Detroit.

Nashville Predators: Down the stretch in April, the Predators weren't quite good enough. A 2-4 finish to the regular season doomed Nashville, and a promising season went up in smoke.

However, there is plenty of reason for hope in the Music City. Pekka Rinne emerged as a top goaltender, and he should benefit greatly from the fact that the team's core is already signed for next season. The most prominent defenseman set to be a free agent is 36-year-old Greg de Vries, who had a very so-so season and probably shouldn't be expected back.

The Predators have just under $34 million locked up with 14 players for 2009-10, so they should be able to bring back veteran forwards Radek Bonk, Vernon Fiddler, and Steve Sullivan at reasonable prices. Under-30 forwards David Legwand and Martin Erat are locked up long-term, and captain Jason Arnott, 34, has two years left on his contract.

It might be a dream scenario, but Nashville would be smart to pursue free-agent forward Mike Cammalleri. He's only 27, is capable of putting up big numbers, and wouldn't be expected to be the main star in Nashville. His signing would give the Predators three front-line centers. Nashville also needs to get a bit stronger defensively, and it may be worth it for them to take a run at a second-tier guy like Jordan Leopold.

St. Louis Blues: It may have been a year sooner than people thought, but a wonderful stretch run by the Blues put them in the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Blues, it wasn't a long stay, as Vancouver swept them out of the postseason.

There were plenty of positives in the Blues' surge. Forwards T.J. Oshie and David Backes may have emerged as real stars for this team. The defense held up nicely, even though captain Eric Brewer and youngster Erik Johnson combined to play just 28 games all season (Brewer played in 28, while Johnson missed the entire season with a knee injury). Any kind of contribution from those two will significantly improve St. Louis' play on the blue line (not to mention Johnson's presence only helps an already-lethal power play).

It's not likely that the Blues will do much in free agency, given that they already have over $47 million locked up in 20 players. There are a lot of backup-quality goalies the Blues could sign to spell Chris Mason, assuming they don't want Ben Bishop on the big club so he can play 20 games.

The future is quickly becoming "Now" in St. Louis, as smart drafting and solid player development are paying off.

Offseason Roadmap: Central Division originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper Might Return For Game 4

Adam Gretz — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, Red Wings, NHL Injuries

After missing six consecutive games with a foot injury, Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk appears to be inching closer to a return, as he's expected to be a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 4 in Pittsburgh. In the past three games, he had yet to make it to "game-time decision."

UPDATE: Datsyuk's Game 4 Return Suddenly Looks Bleak

According to Bruce MacLeod, Datsyuk took part in all team drills on Wednesday, while the Hart Trophy and Selke Trophy finalist admitted he's healthy, and that the team would make a decision on his status prior to the drop of the puck at Mellon Arena.

Through the first three games, the Red Wings haven't really missed Datsyuk all that much, as the team took the first two games in Detroit and played, perhaps, its best game of the series (if nothing else, the second period was its best period) in a Game 3 loss in Pittsburgh. After registering his second consecutive 97-point season, and finishing in the top two in the league in takeaways for the third straight season, Datsyuk's offensive production took a sudden drop in the postseason.

Prior to missing the final three games of the Western Conference finals, and the first three games of the Stanley Cup finals, Datsyuk had registered just one goal and six assists in 13 playoff games.

While Sidney Crosby has been held to just one assist thus far, Evgeni Malkin has seen a drastic improvement in his production compared to last year's performance against Detroit, as the league's leading scorer has five points, including a three assist effort in Pittsburgh's Game 3 win on Tuesday. While Crosby has been matched up against Henrik Zetterberg much of the series (Pittsburgh managed to keep the two apart on Tuesday, for the most part) the Red Wings have not been able to contain Malkin the way they did a year ago.

The Red Wings are also expected to get Kris Draper back on Thursday night, as the veteran has played in just four postseason games. We've been keeping a close eye on the face-off battle this series, and this is an area where Draper can excel, if not dominate. The Wings have done well in the circle in his absence, while the 37-year-old center put on a clinic against the Penguins a year ago, winning 72 of 107 face-offs, including a 35-for-45 performance in Games 5 and 6.

According to Mlive.com, Datsyuk was centering Valtteri Filppula and Marian Hossa at practice on Wednesday, while Draper was working with Ville Leino and Kirk Maltby on the fourth line, meaning younster Justin Abdelkader will likely be taking the night off.

If nothing else, this is an impressive testament to the depth this Red Wings team currently has. After all, they're up 2-1 without the services of their best player on a team that has gone 24-7 against the Eastern Conference in the playoffs the past two years, and a 22-year-old forward that has two goals in the first three games of the Stanley Cup final is likely to be a healthy scratch for Game 4. That's just crazy.

Regardless of who plays and who doesn't play, the stage is set for what should be an incredible hockey game.

Here are some keys to watch for in Game 4:

Both teams must continue to stay disciplined

Not that staying disciplined has been a problem in this series because anything goes (literally ... anything), but Detroit's power play has been lethal the entire postseason, while Pittsburgh's has slowly worked its way up the ranks after a sluggish start against Philadelphia and Washington. Meanwhile, Detroit's penalty kill has been simply dreadful. The Penguins were 2-for-3 on the man advantage on Tuesday, including the game-winner from Sergei Gonchar midway through the third period, helping to drop the Red Wings' penalty kill to just a 71 percent success rate. Only Calgary and Columbus were worse in the playoffs. There's still only been 11 power plays issued in the three games.

Sidney Crosby vs. Henrik Zetterberg

During the first two games in Detroit, Crosby saw Zetterberg nearly 80 percent of the time he was on the ice. In Game 3, when Pittsburgh had the luxury of the last line change, the Penguins managed to get more favorable matchups, while Crosby only had to take one five-on-five face-off against Zetterberg (compared to 23 in Games 1 and 2). Can Mike Babcock figure out a way to get Zetterberg out there against Crosby more often despite not having the last change? Can Dan Bylsma continue to avoid it?

What can Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper bring to the table?

It's still not a given at this point, but it's looking like Datsyuk will be making his Stanley Cup final debut this year, and while he's not 100 percent (he can't be, if he were, we wouldn't be asking this question) he can still play defense and puck-handle with the best of them. Will his foot injury be a problem? Will he offer the Wings some sort of emotional boost? Will he even play?

As for Draper, the Penguins have closed the gap in the face-off battle the past two games, while Draper returns to the lineup as a guy that has won over 60 percent of his draws dating back to the start of the 2007-08 season.

Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper Might Return For Game 4 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calder Trophy Nominees Announced

Adam Gretz — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Ducks, Predators, NHL Awards, NHL Videos

The nominees for this year's NHL awards are starting to be announced, and on Wednesday we learned that Columbus' Steve Mason, Anaheim's Bobby Ryan and Chicago's Kris Versteeg were the top vote-getters for the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year.

There's no surprises here, as it's been assumed for much of the season that Mason, Columbus' 20-year-old goalie, is a slam dunk winner. Despite his struggles in the playoffs (awards are voted on before the postseason begins, by the way) no goalie recorded more shutouts during the season (10) while he also finished second in the league with a 2.29 goals average and 12th with a .916 save percentage. He is, perhaps, the biggest reason Columbus made its first trip to the postseason in franchise history.

Ryan, the second overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, burst onto the scene with the Ducks and led all rookies with 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) despite playing in just 64 games. He's also responsible for one of the best goals of the season, capping off a hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings with this series of moves:

The Blackhawks acquired Versteeg from the Boston Bruins on February 3, 2007, in exchange for Brandon Bochenski in what can only be described as highway robbery for Chicago. He finished the 2008-09 season with 53 points, trailing only Ryan in the rookie scoring race.

So, now that we've seen the list, let's begin the griping. Puck Daddy would have liked to have seen Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty make the cut, while I'll make a brief shout for Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. An eighth-round pick in 2004 (258th overall), the 26-year-old posted a 29-15-4 record, while also finishing in the top-10 in goals against average and save percentage for a Predators team that narrowly missed out on the postseason.

At the end of the day, however, it's a one-horse race with Mason.

On Thursday, the NHL will announce the nominees for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. The winners will be announced at the NHL awards ceremony on June 18, 2009, in Las Vegas.

Calder Trophy Nominees Announced originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Predators Sign BU Star Colin Wilson

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, Western, NHL Draft, College Hockey

When the Nashville Predators selected Boston University star Colin Wilson in the first round of the 2008 draft, speculation was that he would sign. Instead of foregoing his last three years of college eligibility to turn pro when he may not have been able to play in the NHL, Wilson returned to school.

It turned out to be a great decision. Wilson grew into the sport's top offensive player, his team won a national championship, and he has gotten a big payday from the Predators to turn pro now.

Wilson made his decision on Friday, signing a three-year deal with the Predators. The Tennessean reports the deal could be worth more than $5 million.

Predators general manager David Poile says Wilson will play in the upcoming World Championships in Switzerland. At 19, he'll be the youngest player on the United States team, and he's the only one who comes in without having any experience in professional hockey.

"As I said to him, 'You've been a pretty big boy playing against college guys these last couple years. Now you're going to be hopefully a big boy, but playing against men in the World Championship. So this will be a real challenge to you and certainly should give you and us a good feel of whether you're ready to play here in Nashville next year,'" Poile said.

Wilson could win a spot on the Predators' roster for next season, but he'll need a strong tournament and a better summer to do it. Nashville isn't loaded with NHL stars, but they have shown a willingness to be patient with young prospects in the past. There's no reason to buck that trend now and rush Wilson.

Predators Sign BU Star Colin Wilson originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blues, Ducks In; Wild, Predators Out

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Bruins, Canadiens, Canucks, Capitals, Devils, Ducks, Flames, Flyers, Hurricanes, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Sharks, Wild, Red Wings, Eastern, Western

The Stanley Cup won't be handed out until June, but this is the time when we see teams making runs at the playoffs. And you can't win the Cup if you don't make the playoffs. Race for the Cup is your daily check of where your favorite team stands as the season dwindles.

The field is set for the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Western Conference teams were determined Friday night, as both the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks clinched spots with victories. Despite tying a franchise record for goals in a win over the Nashville Predators, Minnesota is out.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 4/10
1.	z-Boston Bruins	114 pts
2.	y-Washington Capitals	108
3.	y-New Jersey Devils	104
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	97
7.	x-New York Rangers	93
8.	x-Montreal Canadiens	93

Eastern Conference, 4/11
1.	z-Boston Bruins	114 pts
2.	y-Washington Capitals	108
3.	y-New Jersey Devils	104
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	97
7.	x-New York Rangers	93
8.	x-Montreal Canadiens	93

There were no games involving Eastern Conference teams Friday night.

In the West

Western Conference, 4/10
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	112
3.	x-Vancouver Canucks	98
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	100
5.	x-Calgary Flames	96
6.	x-Columbus Blue Jackets	92
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	St. Louis Blues	88
9.	Nashville Predators	88
10.	Minnesota Wild	85

Western Conference, 4/11
1.	z-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	y-Detroit Red Wings	112
3.	x-Vancouver Canucks	98
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	100
5.	x-Calgary Flames	96
6.	x-Columbus Blue Jackets	92
7.	x-Anaheim Ducks	90
8.	x-St. Louis Blues	90

Despite an 8-4 win over Nashville, Minnesota is eliminated because both St. Louis and Anaheim won. Nashville, whose regular season is over, is also out.

The Blues make the playoffs for the first time in three years, and they did it with an amazing run of 40 points in their final 28 games (18-6-4 record).

Calgary's listless 5-1 loss to Edmonton means Vancouver can win the Northwest Division with a victory over Colorado Saturday afternoon.

******

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What's Next

Thirteen games on the schedule Saturday, many of them with some sort of significance when it comes to playoff positioning.

In the East, Carolina visits New Jersey, Philadelphia takes on the Islanders (who have clinched the league's worst record), and Pittsburgh travels to Montreal. The Hurricanes, Flyers and Penguins are trying to sort out the fourth, fifth, and sixth seeds. The Canadiens need to win to keep pressure on the Rangers, who sit in seventh place right now.

Out West, Vancouver wins the Northwest if it beats the Avalanche in Denver. Columbus needs a point out of its game with Minnesota to clinch the sixth spot. San Jose needs to beat Los Angeles to win the President's Trophy. An Anaheim win over Phoenix means it finishes seventh, otherwise the Blues can finish seventh with a win over Colorado Sunday.

x - Clinched Playoff Spot, y - Division Champ, z - Conference Champ; green - Rise in the Standings, red - Fall. The top three teams in each conference are division leaders.

Blues, Ducks In; Wild, Predators Out originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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East Playoff Field Is Set

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Bruins, Canadiens, Canucks, Capitals, Devils, Ducks, Flames, Flyers, Hurricanes, Panthers, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Sharks, Wild, Red Wings, Eastern, Western

The Stanley Cup won't be handed out until June, but this is the time when we see teams making runs at the playoffs. And you can't win the Cup if you don't make the playoffs. Race for the Cup is your daily check of where your favorite team stands as the season dwindles.

The field of eight for the 2009 NHL Eastern Conference playoffs is set. Now, the jockeying for position can begin. The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens clinched the last two spots in the playoffs Thursday night, leaving the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres out in the cold, despite victories in their respective games.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 4/9
1.	z-Boston Bruins	112 pts
2.	x-Washington Capitals	106
3.	x-New Jersey Devils	102
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	95
7.	Montreal Canadiens	92
8.	New York Rangers	91
9.	Florida Panthers	89

Eastern Conference, 4/10
1.	z-Boston Bruins	114 pts
2.	y-Washington Capitals	108
3.	y-New Jersey Devils	104
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	97
7.	x-New York Rangers	93
8.	x-Montreal Canadiens	93

Florida won Thursday, but it doesn't matter. A win by the Rangers (2-1 over Philadelphia) clinched them a spot, and Montreal's 5-4 overtime loss to Boston got them the point they needed to clinch.

Buffalo's 5-1 win over Carolina ultimately kept the Hurricanes from taking over fourth place because of the Philly loss. Pittsburgh walloped the Islanders 6-1, forcing a three-way tie for sixth.

The Devils have won the Atlantic Division, and tacked on a shootout win over Ottawa for good measure.

In the West

Western Conference, 4/9
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	111
3.	x-Calgary Flames	96
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	100
5.	x-Vancouver Canucks	96
6.	x-Columbus Blue Jackets	92
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	St. Louis Blues	88
9.	Nashville Predators	86
10.	Minnesota Wild	85

Western Conference, 4/10
1.	z-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	y-Detroit Red Wings	112
3.	x-Vancouver Canucks	98
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	100
5.	x-Calgary Flames	96
6.	x-Columbus Blue Jackets	92
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	St. Louis Blues	88
9.	Nashville Predators	88
10.	Minnesota Wild	85

Vancouver knocked off Los Angeles, 1-0, giving the Canucks the Northwest Division lead. The Flames, however, will win the division if they can sweep the Oilers in a home-and-home that starts Friday in Edmonton.

Nashville rallied to beat Detroit in a shootout, meaning the Predators are still very much alive for a playoff spot. Nashville, however, only has one game left, while Anaheim and St. Louis each have two, as does Minnesota.

Phoenix beat San Jose, 4-1, which kept the Sharks from clinching the President's Trophy. They have sewn up the top seed in the West.

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What's Next

Calgary visits Edmonton, with their shot at the Northwest title on the line over their last two games. That's far from the only significant game in the West.

Nashville plays their season finale at Minnesota, with both teams needing a win (Minnesota needs a regulation win, actually) to have any shot at the playoffs. Dallas tries to play spoiler at Anaheim, who still needs a win to guarantee themselves a spot. The Blues, meanwhile, host Columbus Friday night, needing a win to stay in good shape.

In the East, it's all about position now. The conference has Friday off, with some important games being played Saturday to decide who plays who in the first round.

x - Clinched Playoff Spot, y - Division Champ, z - Conference Champ; green - Rise in the Standings, red - Fall. The top three teams in each conference are division leaders.

East Playoff Field Is Set originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four Playoff Spots Remain

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Bruins, Canadiens, Canucks, Capitals, Devils, Ducks, Flames, Flyers, Hurricanes, Panthers, Penguins, Predators, Sharks, Wild, Red Wings, Eastern, Western

The Stanley Cup won't be handed out until June, but this is the time when we see teams making runs at the playoffs. And you can't win the Cup if you don't make the playoffs. Race for the Cup is your daily check of where your favorite team stands as the season dwindles.

Thanks to a shootout win over Chicago, Columbus is in, leaving us with four playoff spots to decide over the regular season's last four days. Teams like Montreal, the Rangers, Florida, Anaheim, St. Louis, and Nashville are playing with tons of pressure, trying to secure the final spots.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 4/8
1.	z-Boston Bruins	112 pts
2.	x-Washington Capitals	106
3.	x-New Jersey Devils	102
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	95
7.	Montreal Canadiens	92
8.	New York Rangers	91
9.	Florida Panthers	89

Eastern Conference, 4/9
1.	z-Boston Bruins	112 pts
2.	y-Washington Capitals	106
3.	x-New Jersey Devils	102
4.	x-Philadelphia Flyers	97
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	97
6.	x-Pittsburgh Penguins	95
7.	Montreal Canadiens	92
8.	New York Rangers	91
9.	Florida Panthers	89

There were no games involving Eastern playoff contenders Wednesday.

In the West

Western Conference, 4/8
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	111
3.	x-Calgary Flames	96
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	99
5.	x-Vancouver Canucks	96
6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	90
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	St. Louis Blues	88
9.	Nashville Predators	86
10.	Minnesota Wild	83

Western Conference, 4/9
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	117 pts
2.	y-Detroit Red Wings	111
3.	x-Calgary Flames	96
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	100
5.	x-Vancouver Canucks	96
6.	x-Columbus Blue Jackets	92
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	St. Louis Blues	88
9.	Nashville Predators	86
10.	Minnesota Wild	85

Lots of significance to the Columbus win Wednesday. It's their first playoff berth ever, and the point Chicago got put them at 100 points for the season. They're in fourth place and can lock up that seed with one more point in their remaining two games.

Columbus needs one more point to assure a sixth-place finish. The Blue Jackets cannot move up.

******

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What's Next

There are four "game days" left in the 2008-2009 regular season. There are a number of big games on Thursday. Nashville's playoff life is likely on the line at Detroit. Carolina tries to keep their home winning streak (currently 12 games) going against Buffalo. Philadelphia visits the Rangers, trying to hold off the Hurricanes for fourth in the East.

Montreal, once again in a bit of a slump, heads to Boston.

Finally, San Jose can clinch the President's Trophy by beating Phoenix.

x - Clinched Playoff Spot, y - Division Champ, z - Conference Champ; green - Rise in the Standings, red - Fall. The top three teams in each conference are division leaders.

Four Playoff Spots Remain originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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