I’m a guy who understands decisions that Hockey GMs make. I act like a know-it-all, fans generally hate me, but when I engage in conversation with people who make a living via hockey, I generally come off as intelligent, and understanding. So, in conversation with the always intelligent Justin Bradford, I bring up two points tonight that get me riled up:   1) If you trade for Korbinian Holzer, a 32 year old big bodied stay at home defenseman, and state that he “shores up your 3rd pair,” why do you scratch him for four consecutive games and when you have the chance to throw him in the line ..read more

John Hynes is a breath of fresh air that inherited a stale unmotivated group of enigmatic millionaires and an aging goaltender who had hit a rough patch thanks in part to a horrendous lack of defensive responsibility from his skating teammates. When this all shakes out, only one team skates the cup around the ice (and I am fairly certain it’s not going to be Nashville) However, in leaving “predictions” to gypsies and fortune tellers, it is safe to say that MOST teams fan bases are going to be very disappointed by THEIR GMs acquisitions. There will be some bolting rentals, some guys that will c ..read more

Poile does re-up Grimaldi at 2×2… reasonable price, reasonable term, reasonable expectations…   Smith and Granlund still in play. Or not ..read more

You have three UFA’s up front that would certainly be considered “of value” by any number of contending teams to varying degrees. The affordable (to say the least) Rocco Grimaldi, who has absolutely (and deservingly) turned into a fan favorite for sure, but honestly, besides his hard work and commendable hustle, is more than replaceable with potentially similar results. I am in NO WAY advocating jettisoning him from the roster by tomorrow’s deadline, but it is likely, given GMDP’s history, that he will be over paid and over termed if re-signed by the Preds. He’s affordable and can play up and ..read more

Once again, Adam Vingan has authored an excellent article, this time on Preds center Ryan Johansen, the bane of my existence as a fan the past 4 years… His article is here and if you’re not a subscriber to The Athletic, your mileage may vary, but it’s worth the money to read incredible sports coverage daily. Follow Adam on twitter (@AdamVingan) or follow me (@mdnathan) or follow us both My comment on the article is posted below: In the music business, an unsuccessful record is labeled “a stiff.” This guy has been a stiff most of his career. Sure, the elements are there that make a great hocke ..read more

If you subscribe to the Athletic, the article may be found here You can follow Adam on Twitter @AdamVingan or me, @mdnathan OK, at the risk of sounding petty, I submit a list of observations that piss me off to no end. Adam, we haven’t physically met (that I recall) but you’ve said a couple of things “@” me on Twitter over the years, so I know you know who I am (my tweet last night about hearing a pin drop in the arena may have even inspired you on this article, but I don’t want to take that much credit…grin.) 1. Ford Keys OF The Game, or Ford Keys TO The Game. The entire season, Paul (McCann ..read more

Peter Laviolette and Kevin McCarthy are out. Dan Muse and Dan Lambert are seemingly still in. Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund and a host of others can check their bank accounts and smirk… …then give the Nashville press photocopied pages from the Book of Hockey Clichés, which can be regurgitated and spit out to a fan base that wouldn’t know bullshit if it was served up deep-fried with a catfish remoulade.   The problem here was only partially Laviolette, his staff and systems. I found fault with him for the better part of his tenure, but who could argue with the myriad of bann ..read more

At an annual salary of 8M, can there be a bigger bust in the NHL this season than the Preds’ Ryan Johansen? The guy has TEN even strength points in 28 games! To put that in perspective, Bonino (17), Grimaldi (14) Jarnkrok (14 and 2 SHG), Sissons (11 and 1 SHG), the injured Arvidsson (11), Ekholm (12 and 2 SHpts), Josi (14), Ellis (16) and of course Forsberg (15 in 6 less games) and Duchene (to an extent, another 8M paperweight at 15) can all raise their hands and say “I have more!” Even Mikael Granlund has ten even strength points and he’s hit the post about 20 times this season, LOL. This guy ..read more

via @mdnathan @twitter: The REAL factor was that for the first time all year, ALL of the offense came from the forwards. Yes, the D did their part in moving the puck up, but these goals were created by and for forwards. A strange Smashville sighting, and a welcome one. Prior to the start of last night’s game at Bridgestone Arena between the Preds and the Kings, I had the chance good fortune of running into old friend, and long-time Kings PR Director, Mike Kalinowski. We caaught up with our lives, as I had not seen him in the six seasons I had been in Tennessee, and gave our observations of our ..read more

Talking about the amount of games Cody McLeod is getting, I noted Tanner Glass getting waived out of Calgary (and the NHL for the xxth time)- I pointed out that the knuckledraggers are fewer and farther between. This guy disagreed… and when all is said and done, I disagree with him. Eric de Montarnal said: Given the fact that points are not at all related to the term enforcer like most think (ie: probert, iginla, etc.): this is a list of players with not only the mentality but also the statistics to prove that they are an enforcer (not pests ie: perry gallagher tkachuk). Some only just cracke ..read more