Future of the preds

[TimmyTabasco]

Figured this team needed a thread, and since I am a big fan..decided why not.

The preds have a great future ahead of them. Young, speedy team, that goes to the net, and with depth at each position

Last season they really took a step forward, and I expect them to take another step in each season. They will be contenders in the next 5 years tops.

Look at the depth

Forward
-Walker(31)..gritty forward..excellent for leadership
-Johnson(34)..captain, good face off skills..solid on the PK
-Sullivan(30)..excellent paired with Walker..speedy winger
-Legwand(24)..speedy forward who is due for a breakout season
-Erat(23)
-hartnell(23)..power forward who will soon have a breakout season
-Hall(24)..power forward
-Orszagh(27)..speedy crash and banger
-Tootoo(22)..agitator..with offensive potential

Defense
-Timonen(30)..speedy offensive dman
-Zidlicky(28)..powerplay specialist
-Hamhuis(22)..solid all around defenseman
-Hnidy(29)..decent gritty defender
-Eaton(27)..defensive specialist

Goal
-Vokoun(28)..excellent No.1 goalie, due for a great season
-Mason(29)..capable backup
-Finley(23)..playing well in the minors, 1st round pick..should move up soon

They need maybe one more solid defenseman(without Bombardir, and York), and maybe one more forward(without Zholtok and Murray).

What do you guys think? :coffee:

[KB in Kelowna]

For what ever reason I have a soft spot for the Preds, many people disrespect them because they are in non-traditional market. I like their coach Barry Trotz and I think Davis Poile has done a very good job of building. Shea Weber of the Kelowna Rockets was a second round draft choice a couple of years ago ( one of 4 that year). Weber is a stud who paired with Dion Phaneuff at the past World Juniors.

Scot Walker one of my favourite ex-Canucks plays there as well.

[PDO]

The Preds have built a Special Teams MONSTER.

While teams like the Oilers have gone and built teams that can dominate at 5x5 play and suck it up 5x4.. the Preds have gone and done the exact opposite, and it's starting to work for them because it took a bit longer to start working and allowed them to get a very nice future to build around.

What you forgot to do, which makes them look even scarier Timmy.. is mention all of their solid prospects.

It all starts with Ryan Suter.. he's a franchise defenseman. He's got amazing hockey sense and is being compared to his uncle Gary Suter.. he'll be a great.

Not far behind him are Scottie Upshall and Shea Weber. Upshall is a bit older, but should be a lock to be a 2nd line player in the NHL similar to a guy like Ethan Moreau, with a bit more offense. Shea Weber will be a very solid #2 or #3 defenseman to play with Suter and cover him defensively.

They have a few other picks, but I'm not familair enough with them to praise them...

Radulov and Shishkanov would be the big two.

I'd say the only thing Nashville needs is an offensive game breaker. They have an All-Star in net, and amazing set of D corps, and all sorts of grinders. Give them the likes of a Marian Gaborik and they're a very scary team.

[TimmyTabasco]

The Preds have built a Special Teams MONSTER.

While teams like the Oilers have gone and built teams that can dominate at 5x5 play and suck it up 5x4.. the Preds have gone and done the exact opposite, and it's starting to work for them because it took a bit longer to start working and allowed them to get a very nice future to build around.

What you forgot to do, which makes them look even scarier Timmy.. is mention all of their solid prospects.

It all starts with Ryan Suter.. he's a franchise defenseman. He's got amazing hockey sense and is being compared to his uncle Gary Suter.. he'll be a great.

Not far behind him are Scottie Upshall and Shea Weber. Upshall is a bit older, but should be a lock to be a 2nd line player in the NHL similar to a guy like Ethan Moreau, with a bit more offense. Shea Weber will be a very solid #2 or #3 defenseman to play with Suter and cover him defensively.

They have a few other picks, but I'm not familair enough with them to praise them...

Radulov and Shishkanov would be the big two.

I'd say the only thing Nashville needs is an offensive game breaker. They have an All-Star in net, and amazing set of D corps, and all sorts of grinders. Give them the likes of a Marian Gaborik and they're a very scary team.

Yeah, I forgot about the prospects. Especially Suter and Upshall. Both are ones I shall be watching. Upshall will be very good.

Agreed on the extra offensive threat. Someone like Satan? :D

I still think they could do with a solid veteran defenseman too..someone reliable..

[PDO]

Yeah, I forgot about the prospects. Especially Suter and Upshall. Both are ones I shall be watching. Upshall will be very good.

Agreed on the extra offensive threat. Someone like Satan? :D

I still think they could do with a solid veteran defenseman too..someone reliable..

If only Nashville wasn't so thin at center... however:

To Nashville: Jason Smith
To Edmonton: Scott Walker, 2nd Rounder

Gives them some veteran presence on defense along with a solid defender who likes to throw his body around, gives us a 25 goal scorer on the right side.

I think that value would be about right?

[J.R.]

Defense
-Timonen(30)..speedy offensive dman
-Zidlicky(28)..powerplay specialist
-Hamhuis(22)..solid all around defenseman
-Hnidy(29)..decent gritty defender
-Eaton(27)..defensive specialistYou could eventually add the 20-year old from Kitchener, Kevin Klein, to that list too. He led the Guelph Storm (*spit*) to the OHL Championship and advanced to the Memorial Cup last season. He was also on Team Canada's 2004 World Junior squad, which won silver. He's very sound defensively, fundemental on the power play and surely will be the big club in a few years. Right now, he's in Milwaukee with their AHL club, defending their Calder Cup Championship.

Not to mentioned, I'm friends with a cousin of his. ;)

[TimmyTabasco]

If only Nashville wasn't so thin at center... however:

To Nashville: Jason Smith
To Edmonton: Scott Walker, 2nd Rounder

Gives them some veteran presence on defense along with a solid defender who likes to throw his body around, gives us a 25 goal scorer on the right side.

I think that value would be about right?

That would be a solid deal

The preds get the solid punishing defender they need to compliment the offensive defenseman, and the Oil get a capable gritty winger

It would benefit both teams

The sens also have a player who would fit with the Preds, and the sens could really use Walker..that player is DeVries

[PDO]

That would be a solid deal

The preds get the solid punishing defender they need to compliment the offensive defenseman, and the Oil get a capable gritty winger

It would benefit both teams

The sens also have a player who would fit with the Preds, and the sens could really use Walker..that player is DeVries

Yeah, I like it as an Oiler fan too, because we have several young guys coming up the pipe, and while losing Smith would hurt a bit.. it woudln't be the end of the world by any means. Apparently Hemsky has been playing LW in Europe... assuming that it's benefited him, there's some fun lines available..

Smyth - York - Walker - Gives Smyth someone with finish, and York some grit.
Hemsky - Horcoff - Dvorak - Gives Hemsky some defensively responsible players and a finisher in Dvorak
Moreau - Stoll - Pisani - Great checking line.
Torres - Harvey - Laraque - Energy line like no other.

That's not even including the imminent signing of a UFA forward. Things aren't looking good for Reasoner on the injury front, hence why he's not included. I hope I haven't forgotten someone.. been forever since I did this.

On D:

Brewer - Semenov (he's ready to make the step, and Brewer can help guide him into it, I think)
Staios - UFA
Bergeron - Lynch/Woywitka/Greene

I think we're a stronger team, assuming Lowe can find another perfect fit on D (see: Staios, Ulanov.. and Cross, to a point) which I believe he could.

[Matt Cooke]

If only Nashville wasn't so thin at center... however:

To Nashville: Jason Smith
To Edmonton: Scott Walker, 2nd Rounder

Gives them some veteran presence on defense along with a solid defender who likes to throw his body around, gives us a 25 goal scorer on the right side.

I think that value would be about right?

That'd be an absolute steal for Edmonton. Scott Walker is the most underrated forward in the league and despite what Edmonton fans claim, Jason Smith isn't anything special in most people's books. Big deal if he's supposedly this force to be reckoned with defensively, he obviously can't help keep pucks out of the net or the Oil would make the playoffs once every ten thousand years.

Perhaps PDO's bias is in full swing or perhaps I'm being too harsh. I've never been sold on Smith.

That being said, how would Jason Smith going to the Predators make an immediate impact? I'd much rather go after the likes of a Dan McGillis, Jiri Slegr or one of the better match-up defensemen in the league in Chris Therien. Hell, even roll the dice on underachiever Andy Delmore. They'll all add more than what Smith brings to the table.

Now to add to Nashville's prospects, Weber, Suter and Upshall are all locks to crack NHL lineups in the near or distant future. It's a coin toss on Shishkanov and for Radulov, it's too early to tell. Goaltender Brian Finley was the top netminder taken in the '99 draft, he too has some potential. Perhaps a late bloomer. Defenseman Kevin Klein is having a good minor league year and too could have an opportunity to step up. Brandon Segal is a guy I'd love to have in my system, as his quiet leadership and uncanny ability to spark his team is a quality that cannot be replaced.

[TimmyTabasco]

Leary,

You have made some solid observations..especially on how underrated Walker is(4th line in the WC, but Maltby is on the 3rd? :confused:) .

Smith is a punishing defenseman, and thats what Nashville lacks. Remember, this will have a hole to fill..with no Bombardir..or aging York around. They have excellent offensive dmen, and a few youthful steady defensive dmen. As I said, what they lack is that punishing, leading defenseman.

Smith could be it. Delmore? This guy is overrated. Did someone say cheap version of Sopel? If there is such a thing :laughing: Plus, you are adding more offensive defenseman..you already have Timonen, Zidlicky among others. Slegr is alright, and had a good year last year. McGillis too.

As I mentioned before, DeVries would be a nice fit. The sens could really use the grit of Walker, and the Preds could use the experience of Devries.

[Matt Cooke]

On Delmore, that's why I said:

Hell, even roll the dice on underachiever Andy Delmore.

I don't know what goes on inside this guy's head. One minute he's shaping into a very solid offensive punch, the next he's being shipped off to Rochester in the AHL. I guess there's a reason he went undrafted.

[PDO]

I think your Edmonton-hating bias is in full swing Cooke.. he's a #3 defenseman on most teams in the league, and a #2 on several others. He doens't add a lot offensively, but neither does Adam Foote. He is what he is, and that's a guy who you can feel safe to leave out for 20+ minutes against tough competition and make very few errors while being a very frustrating player to play against because of his love for hurting his opponents.

[leaferfan87]

The way this is going the future of the Nashville Predators will be the eventual winner of the Hockey Station NHL Team Vote-Off Game.

I hope I didn't speak too soon!

[Matt Cooke]

I think your Edmonton-hating bias is in full swing Cooke.. he's a #3 defenseman on most teams in the league, and a #2 on several others. He doens't add a lot offensively, but neither does Adam Foote. He is what he is, and that's a guy who you can feel safe to leave out for 20+ minutes against tough competition and make very few errors while being a very frustrating player to play against because of his love for hurting his opponents.

To even compare Jason Smith to Adam Foote is laughable. Perhaps you should just sit this one out, Brian. :]

Number three defenseman? I don't know about that, you have to be insanely good to play in the top four while not adding much scoring. That's what makes Adam Foote so great. He can play that top two role with a guy like Rob Blake and will blend in nicely. Jason Smith cannot and never will. I don't mind the guy, maybe I'd even want him on my team. I've always been one in favour of stay-at-home defensemen and I think they don't receive the credit that's due, but I don't want Smith crunching ice time over a guy who can add offensive power. Anyway, back to the topic. Jason Smith to Nashville? I don't see the point.

[PDO]

To even compare Jason Smith to Adam Foote is laughable. Perhaps you should just sit this one out, Brian. :]

Number three defenseman? I don't know about that, you have to be insanely good to play in the top four while not adding much scoring. That's what makes Adam Foote so great. He can play that top two role with a guy like Rob Blake and will blend in nicely. Jason Smith cannot and never will. I don't mind the guy, maybe I'd even want him on my team. I've always been one in favour of stay-at-home defensemen and I think they don't receive the credit that's due, but I don't want Smith crunching ice time over a guy who can add offensive power. Anyway, back to the topic. Jason Smith to Nashville? I don't see the point.

I compared their style, not their ability Mr. Cooke!

As far as being insanely good to play in a top 4 while not adding much scoring.. not sure what you're smoking, because almost every team in the league has atleast one guy that can.

Heck, just look at the 4 confrence final teams from last year:

Calgary had 1 defenseman with over 30 points.
Philly had 1 defenseman with over 30 points.
San Jose had 1 defenseman with over 30 points.
Tampa Bay had 2 defenseman with over 30 points.

There were 35 defenseman in the entire league that had over 30 points.. it's just not that big of a deal to have more than 1, in some cases two offensive defenseman. Put Jason Smith on most teams and he's a #3, if not a #2 on some teams. If you really want I'll run through a team-by-team basis, but it'd be pretty hard with all the FA's...

edit:

I got some time.. so here's some fun.

There's 120 "top 4" defenseman in the NHL. Let's cut that in half, so we only have playoff teams.. 60 players. Theoretically, the 60th best offensive NHL defenseman should still be contributing offensively quite a bit, according to you.

Tom Poti is the 60th most offensive defenseman last year in the NHL.. with a WHOPPING 24 points. That's 6 more than Jason Smith, and I challenge you to find a single team that'd take Poti over Smith.

[TimmyTabasco]

I don't know what goes on inside this guy's head. One minute he's shaping into a very solid offensive punch, the next he's being shipped off to Rochester in the AHL. I guess there's a reason he went undrafted.

Yeah, he played for Nashville before..was great on the PP..but has always been horrid on the plus minus..a defensive liability.

I think he may be signed by a lower seeded club, perhaps Atlanta?

Anyway, about the Preds..McGillis would also be a solid addition..brings size, and experience to the club..and is available

I've mentioned him in Canuck trade rumours, but Salei or Miller would also look good in a preds uniform..hard workers..seems to fit the style