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shinderhizzle84 · 07-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Getting Back Their Prowl -- Nashville Predators EHM 07
Rosters used: Lidasv1.1 (beginning of 2008-09 season)

The Nashville Predators, who play their games out of the Sommet Center, which holds up to 17,113 in Nashville, TN, were founded in 1998. They play in the NHL's central division, and hold a somewhat tenuous rivalry with the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have reached the playoffs, although they have never won a Stanley Cup, nor reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs Finals.

Middle Tennessee got it's first taste of ice hockey in 1962, when the Eastern Hockey League's Dixie Flyers came to town. The Flyers played for nine seasons before folding altogether in 1971. About ten years later, Nashville Sounds owner Larry Schmittou brought the Nashville South Stars to town. The South Stars featured Miracle On Ice team member (as well as current Predator Ryan Suter's dad) Bob Suter, as well as several of the Minnesota North Stars' top prospects. Howevver, the team still folded after just two seasons. In 1989, the ECHL's Nashville Knights, which was probably the most successful of the minor league franchises, came to Nashville. Coached by now Predators Assistant Coach Peter Horachek, the Nashville Knights featured a powerful offense that set a record for the ECHL by scoring 16 goals in a single game.

In 1995, the city of Nashville failed to acquire the New Jersey Devils, who were rumoured to have a desire to relocate to the southern city. Although they were unsuccessful in their quest for an NHL team, the city of Nashville's offer was not an all-out failure, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman took quick note of the Tennessee city, and put it on his list of "worthy NHL cities".

In January, 1997, a group of businessmen led by Craig Leipold made a formal presentation before the NHL requesting an expansion franchise in Nashville, Tennessee. When Bettman and other league officials visited Nashville to tour the arena, thousands of Nashville citizens came out on the Arena's plaza to greet them.

In June, the NHL granted franchises to Nashville, Columbus, Atlanta, and Minnesota, on the condition that they sell 12,000 season tickets before the deadline date of March 31, 1998.

All four cities did so, although Nashville was the only one with an already completed arena, so they began playing first. One month later, Leipold named former Washington Capitals general manager David Polie as the franchise's first GM. Ex Portland Pirates head coach Barry Trotz was named the team's first head coach on August 6th.

In their first season of existance (the 1998-99 season), they finished second-last in the Western Conference with a dismal 28-47-7 record, just barely ahead of the Vancouver Canucks. The next season would be an almost identical repeat of their first season, with the "Preds" finishing last in the Western Conference, just behind the Calgary Flames.

In 2000, the Nashville Predators faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in back to back games in Japan. With the hot goaltending tandem of Tomas Vokuon and Mike Dunham, the Predators managed to finish tenth in the West, 10 points out of a playoff spot.

In 2001, however, the Predators went back to their old ways, finishing last in the Western Conference with a 28-41-13 record.

The 2002-03 season was no different, with Nashville finishing 14th in the Western Conference.

Finally, in the 2003-04 season, Coach Barry Trotz led the Predators to their first ever playoff appearance, with the club nabbing the final seed in the Western Conference. However, they lost in six games to their Central Division rival, the powerful Detroit Red Wings.

In 2005, the Predators finally got "hot", finishing the year with 106 points, and clinching home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. However, they would lose in the first round once again, this time to the destructive San Jose Sharks in five games.

In 2006, the Predators acquired veteran center Jason Arnott from free agency on July 2nd. Arnott would be a key piece to the Predators organization for the year, with him and David Legwand racking up 27 goals each. Closer to the season's trade deadline, the Predators traded away two of their former 1st round draft picks, Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent for grizzled Philadelphia Flyer's veteran Peter Forsberg. They finished the season in fourth place with a tremendous 110 points, a franchise record. However, they were defeated by the Sharks once again in the first round for the second time consecutively.

2007 came by, and the Predators roster had been almost completely destroyed. Many of their star players walked or had been traded, including starting goalie Tomas Vokoun, who had been given to the Florida Panthers. Former backup Chris Mason was given the starting role, and he had a mediocre season, and ended up sharing the pipes with older rookie Dan Ellis. Ellis had been signed as a free agent from the Dallas Stars, and ended up recording the fifth longest shutout streak in the NHL, allowing 0 goals in 233 minutes and 39 seconds near the end of the season that helped the Preds squeeze into the playoffs. They faced off against the Presidents Trophy winning (and eventually, the Stanley Cup winning) Detroit Red Wings in the first round, and were eliminated once again in 6 games. It would be the Nashville Predators fourth straight first round knockout.

Now, as the 2008-09 season approaches, there is a new man sitting in the big, black, leather chair at the top of the Sommet Center. A new boss, a fresh start for a struggling team, a new coverboy that can (hopefully) lead the Nashville Predators out of the rough and onto the green.

Ex-Chicago Blackhawks hall of fame goaltender Mikko Lehtinen, a native of Oulu, Finland, has been named the new Nashville Predators General Manager.

"I love hockey so much," said the Finnish keeper, who's hall of fame career had been stymied by a severe achillees tendant injury that prohibits him from skating or running.

"I'm so thankful for this opportunity. I never thought an opportunity like this would ever arise. I thought my relationship with hockey was completely over."

"I'm going to make the best of this opportunity. I'm going to give it my absolute all."

"I can only hope that is enough."

shinderhizzle84 · 07-09-2009, 07:44 PM

The Nashville Predators are an incredibly young team with nowhere to go but up.

They have an insurmountable supply of youth, and some incredible prospects with huge upsides.

However, many of these prospects will take a while to reach their full potential, and as of now, the Predators have very little talent available at the NHL level.

HockeysFuture.com ranks the Nashville Predators as the 3rd most talented organization prospects wise.

However, good things take time, and a watched pot never boils. The Nashville Predators organization is going to have to wait quite a while for most of their organization's best prospects to develop if they want to win a championship eventually.

Let's take a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the NHL team, the Nashville Predators.

bluejacketsfan · 07-09-2009, 07:54 PM

.................................................. ...

Cant say I approve the Preds but good luck. Ill follow. I guess.

Go Jackets Preds Suck

shinderhizzle84 · 07-09-2009, 07:55 PM

We'll start with arguably the most important position to ice hockey, goaltending.

The Nashville Predators may or may not be set in between the pipes for years to come with young goaltender Pekka Rinne. However, he is far from ready for the NHL as of now, and will more than likely take a ton of time to develop.

Pekka Rinne may have made this save, but he is in no way ready for the NHL just yet.

As for the 2008-09 season, the Predators will have to deal with mediocre goaltending, with a starting goalie of Dan Ellis. Although Ellis had a great conclusion to the 2007-08 season, he is still not "great", and not viewed by many as "starting material".

Goaltending can be labeled as a WEAKNESS.

Next, we'll take a look at the Predators next line of defense, the...Defense!

At first glance, the Predators have an average blue line. Their anchor is an incredibly young, although incredibly talented man with a name of Shea Weber. However, there aren't too many more names that really stand out on the Predators blue line.

Shea Weber has it all--youth, speed, puck moving abilities, size, and grit.

Although they don't have too many superstars on defense, the Predators have a good amount of defensive depth. Dan Hamhuis is a solid puck moving defenseman, as well as Ryan Suter. Greg De Vries has got a good amount of grit, and Kevin Klein will be solid for years to come.

Defense can be labelled as a STRENGTH.

On offense, the Predators don't have a lot of depth. They have a great scoring winger in Steve Sullivan. However, even he is not that great, and he is getting up there in age, and has been prone to severe injuries lately. Jason Arnott has always been a great leader.

Offense can be labelled as either a WEAKNESS or a STRENGTH, depending on how you look at it. However, it is probably leaning more towards a WEAKNESS.

Coming soon will be the analysis of the Nashville Predators future, including their top prospects according to HockeysFuture.com, and their strongest positions, as well as the positions they need to work most on for the future.

GoldenJet · 07-09-2009, 08:04 PM

Great job Meeks, keep up the nice, amazing work.

shinderhizzle84 · 07-09-2009, 08:20 PM

The Nashville Predators have an almost never ending fountain of youthful and talented players. According to hockeysfuture.com, they are the 3rd best organization prospects wise, with the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens in front of them.

Although the Nashville Predators' situation in Nashville only seems to be getting worse and worse, their prospect situation only seems to improve--greatly.

Chet Pickard

It all starts with their tremendous prospect strength in the net and on the blueline. Goaltender Chet Pickard is "a goaltender who uses his size effectively". He stands at 6'2", and weighs 210 lbs. "...Pickard covers the net with efficiency and has become proficient in corralling the many pucks that inevitably come into contact with his upper body. He plays his angles well and is committed to improving his puck-handling skills."

Chet Pickard is the goalie for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. His 2007-08 stats are as follows:

GP	Min	GA	EN	SO	GAA	W	L	OTL	SV	SV%

64

3779

146

4

2

2.32

46

12

4

1639

0.918

Jon Blum

Perhaps the Predators greatest defensive prospect is Jon Blum, who was drafted 23rd overall in 2007. Jon is 6'1" and weighs 177 lbs, and can be described as an offensive defenseman. He "demonstrates outstanding mobility and often takes the initiative to carry the puck up the ice. What makes Blum so good is his explosive skating ability. Because he is not very large, he uses technique and a good poke-check to wrestle the puck away from opponents. He has amazing ice presence and is very rarely caught out of position." However, he still needs to improve his strength and body size, because his lightweight figure hardly bodes well for an NHL defenseman.

Jon Blum currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. His 2007-08 season statistics with the WHL Vancouver Giants are as follows.

GP	G	A	Pts	PIM

64

18

45

63

44

Colin Wilson

Up on the offensive side of the organization, the Predators are slightly lacking. They feature some great smaller talented forwards, but only have one larger powerful offensemen who can score, one of which is Predators top prospect, Center Colin Wilson.

Wilson stands at 6'1", which isn't overly huge. However, his heavyweigh figure of 215 lbs sets him apart from other forwards, making him more of a threat in front of the opposing net.

According to hockeysfuture.com, he is "an instinctive player blessed with a wonderful combination of size, power, and elite-level skill." "His greatest attribute is his tremendous hockey-sense. Wilson thinks and understands the game remarkably well for suck a young player. What sets him apart from other collegiate [players] is how he is able to utilize his hockey sense to better the team around him regardless of which zone he is playing in. His great on-ice vision and awareness allow him to anticipate and make very good reads on developing plays."

"Wilson also possesses superb hands. His great patience with and distribution of the puck is really something to marvel at. Although he can often be found setting up one of his teammates, Wilson will shoot the puck as often as the opportunities present themselves. He possesses a very good, hard shot and can get shots to the net. Wilson is equally comfortable playing on both offense and defense. The confidence that he exudes and his ability to step up his game when called upon are matched by his intensity and relentless pursuit of excellence."

Wilson currently plays for the Boston University Terriers and is entering his sophomore year.

His 2007-08 season with the Terriers was remarkable, and his statistics are as follows:

GP	G	A	Pts	PIM

37

12

23

35

22

According to hockeysfuture.com, this is the Nashville Predators organization's top 20 prospects list, in order from best to worst, 1-20.

1. Colin Wilson, C
2. Chet Pickard, G
3. Jon Blum, D
4. Kevin Klein, D
5. Cody Franson, D
6. Ryan Jones, RW
7. Antti Pihlstrom, LW
8. Patric Hornqvist, LW
9. Mark Dekanich, G
10. Cal O’Reilly, C
11. Roman Josi, D
12. Nick Spaling, C
13. Mike Santorelli, RW
14. Blake Geoffrion, LW
15. Ryan Thang
16. Konstantin Glazachev
17. Jeremy Smith, G
18. Alexander Sulzer D
19. Taylor Stefishen, LW
20. Ben Ryan, C

Bolts_26 · 07-09-2009, 09:12 PM

sweet Meeks. Good luck.

shinderhizzle84 · 07-09-2009, 09:18 PM

A firey Ray Emery could be exactly what this struggling franchise needs to draw in a crowd.

August 30th, 2008

Inside sources in the Nashville Predators organization are claiming that new general manager Mikko Lehtinen has already set to work, giving offers to hothead goaltender Ray Emery as well as an offer to Hall of fame star Paul Coffey for an undisclosed office position.

As per team code, information on both deals have not been disclosed. However, because of Emery's one year deal in Russia, it is speculated that the Predators have offered him a multi-year contract that is set to begin in the 2009-10 season, while bold rumors state that Paul Coffey might just be set to take on the role as Head Coach of the Nashville Predators.

07-09-2009, 07:37 PM	#1
shinderhizzle84 Banned OVR: 31 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westchester County, NY	Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty Getting Back Their Prowl -- Nashville Predators EHM 07 Rosters used: Lidasv1.1 (beginning of 2008-09 season) The Nashville Predators, who play their games out of the Sommet Center, which holds up to 17,113 in Nashville, TN, were founded in 1998. They play in the NHL's central division, and hold a somewhat tenuous rivalry with the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have reached the playoffs, although they have never won a Stanley Cup, nor reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs Finals. Middle Tennessee got it's first taste of ice hockey in 1962, when the Eastern Hockey League's Dixie Flyers came to town. The Flyers played for nine seasons before folding altogether in 1971. About ten years later, Nashville Sounds owner Larry Schmittou brought the Nashville South Stars to town. The South Stars featured Miracle On Ice team member (as well as current Predator Ryan Suter's dad) Bob Suter, as well as several of the Minnesota North Stars' top prospects. Howevver, the team still folded after just two seasons. In 1989, the ECHL's Nashville Knights, which was probably the most successful of the minor league franchises, came to Nashville. Coached by now Predators Assistant Coach Peter Horachek, the Nashville Knights featured a powerful offense that set a record for the ECHL by scoring 16 goals in a single game. In 1995, the city of Nashville failed to acquire the New Jersey Devils, who were rumoured to have a desire to relocate to the southern city. Although they were unsuccessful in their quest for an NHL team, the city of Nashville's offer was not an all-out failure, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman took quick note of the Tennessee city, and put it on his list of "worthy NHL cities". In January, 1997, a group of businessmen led by Craig Leipold made a formal presentation before the NHL requesting an expansion franchise in Nashville, Tennessee. When Bettman and other league officials visited Nashville to tour the arena, thousands of Nashville citizens came out on the Arena's plaza to greet them. In June, the NHL granted franchises to Nashville, Columbus, Atlanta, and Minnesota, on the condition that they sell 12,000 season tickets before the deadline date of March 31, 1998. All four cities did so, although Nashville was the only one with an already completed arena, so they began playing first. One month later, Leipold named former Washington Capitals general manager David Polie as the franchise's first GM. Ex Portland Pirates head coach Barry Trotz was named the team's first head coach on August 6th. In their first season of existance (the 1998-99 season), they finished second-last in the Western Conference with a dismal 28-47-7 record, just barely ahead of the Vancouver Canucks. The next season would be an almost identical repeat of their first season, with the "Preds" finishing last in the Western Conference, just behind the Calgary Flames. In 2000, the Nashville Predators faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in back to back games in Japan. With the hot goaltending tandem of Tomas Vokuon and Mike Dunham, the Predators managed to finish tenth in the West, 10 points out of a playoff spot. In 2001, however, the Predators went back to their old ways, finishing last in the Western Conference with a 28-41-13 record. The 2002-03 season was no different, with Nashville finishing 14th in the Western Conference. Finally, in the 2003-04 season, Coach Barry Trotz led the Predators to their first ever playoff appearance, with the club nabbing the final seed in the Western Conference. However, they lost in six games to their Central Division rival, the powerful Detroit Red Wings. In 2005, the Predators finally got "hot", finishing the year with 106 points, and clinching home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. However, they would lose in the first round once again, this time to the destructive San Jose Sharks in five games. In 2006, the Predators acquired veteran center Jason Arnott from free agency on July 2nd. Arnott would be a key piece to the Predators organization for the year, with him and David Legwand racking up 27 goals each. Closer to the season's trade deadline, the Predators traded away two of their former 1st round draft picks, Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent for grizzled Philadelphia Flyer's veteran Peter Forsberg. They finished the season in fourth place with a tremendous 110 points, a franchise record. However, they were defeated by the Sharks once again in the first round for the second time consecutively. 2007 came by, and the Predators roster had been almost completely destroyed. Many of their star players walked or had been traded, including starting goalie Tomas Vokoun, who had been given to the Florida Panthers. Former backup Chris Mason was given the starting role, and he had a mediocre season, and ended up sharing the pipes with older rookie Dan Ellis. Ellis had been signed as a free agent from the Dallas Stars, and ended up recording the fifth longest shutout streak in the NHL, allowing 0 goals in 233 minutes and 39 seconds near the end of the season that helped the Preds squeeze into the playoffs. They faced off against the Presidents Trophy winning (and eventually, the Stanley Cup winning) Detroit Red Wings in the first round, and were eliminated once again in 6 games. It would be the Nashville Predators fourth straight first round knockout. Now, as the 2008-09 season approaches, there is a new man sitting in the big, black, leather chair at the top of the Sommet Center. A new boss, a fresh start for a struggling team, a new coverboy that can (hopefully) lead the Nashville Predators out of the rough and onto the green. Ex-Chicago Blackhawks hall of fame goaltender Mikko Lehtinen, a native of Oulu, Finland, has been named the new Nashville Predators General Manager. "I love hockey so much," said the Finnish keeper, who's hall of fame career had been stymied by a severe achillees tendant injury that prohibits him from skating or running. "I'm so thankful for this opportunity. I never thought an opportunity like this would ever arise. I thought my relationship with hockey was completely over." "I'm going to make the best of this opportunity. I'm going to give it my absolute all." "I can only hope that is enough."

07-09-2009, 07:44 PM	#2
shinderhizzle84 Banned OVR: 31 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westchester County, NY	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty The Nashville Predators are an incredibly young team with nowhere to go but up. They have an insurmountable supply of youth, and some incredible prospects with huge upsides. However, many of these prospects will take a while to reach their full potential, and as of now, the Predators have very little talent available at the NHL level. HockeysFuture.com ranks the Nashville Predators as the 3rd most talented organization prospects wise. However, good things take time, and a watched pot never boils. The Nashville Predators organization is going to have to wait quite a while for most of their organization's best prospects to develop if they want to win a championship eventually. Let's take a look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the NHL team, the Nashville Predators.

07-09-2009, 07:54 PM	#3
bluejacketsfan Banned OVR: 16 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty .................................................. ... Cant say I approve the Preds but good luck. Ill follow. I guess. Go Jackets Preds Suck

07-09-2009, 07:55 PM	#4
shinderhizzle84 Banned OVR: 31 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westchester County, NY	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty We'll start with arguably the most important position to ice hockey, goaltending. The Nashville Predators may or may not be set in between the pipes for years to come with young goaltender Pekka Rinne. However, he is far from ready for the NHL as of now, and will more than likely take a ton of time to develop. Pekka Rinne may have made this save, but he is in no way ready for the NHL just yet. As for the 2008-09 season, the Predators will have to deal with mediocre goaltending, with a starting goalie of Dan Ellis. Although Ellis had a great conclusion to the 2007-08 season, he is still not "great", and not viewed by many as "starting material". Goaltending can be labeled as a WEAKNESS. Next, we'll take a look at the Predators next line of defense, the...Defense! At first glance, the Predators have an average blue line. Their anchor is an incredibly young, although incredibly talented man with a name of Shea Weber. However, there aren't too many more names that really stand out on the Predators blue line. Shea Weber has it all--youth, speed, puck moving abilities, size, and grit. Although they don't have too many superstars on defense, the Predators have a good amount of defensive depth. Dan Hamhuis is a solid puck moving defenseman, as well as Ryan Suter. Greg De Vries has got a good amount of grit, and Kevin Klein will be solid for years to come. Defense can be labelled as a STRENGTH. On offense, the Predators don't have a lot of depth. They have a great scoring winger in Steve Sullivan. However, even he is not that great, and he is getting up there in age, and has been prone to severe injuries lately. Jason Arnott has always been a great leader. Offense can be labelled as either a WEAKNESS or a STRENGTH, depending on how you look at it. However, it is probably leaning more towards a WEAKNESS. Coming soon will be the analysis of the Nashville Predators future, including their top prospects according to HockeysFuture.com, and their strongest positions, as well as the positions they need to work most on for the future.

07-09-2009, 08:04 PM	#5
GoldenJet MVP OVR: 35 Join Date: Jul 2008 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty Great job Meeks, keep up the nice, amazing work. __________________ Regrets Aren't Something You Did, It's Something You Didn't Do 1000 posts achieved on December 21st,2008 at 2:26 p.m in the "birth of the Mighty Blazers" thread.

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07-09-2009, 09:12 PM	#7
Bolts_26 MVP OVR: 37 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tampa	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty sweet Meeks. Good luck.

07-09-2009, 09:18 PM	#8
shinderhizzle84 Banned OVR: 31 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westchester County, NY	Re: Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty A firey Ray Emery could be exactly what this struggling franchise needs to draw in a crowd. August 30th, 2008 Inside sources in the Nashville Predators organization are claiming that new general manager Mikko Lehtinen has already set to work, giving offers to hothead goaltender Ray Emery as well as an offer to Hall of fame star Paul Coffey for an undisclosed office position. As per team code, information on both deals have not been disclosed. However, because of Emery's one year deal in Russia, it is speculated that the Predators have offered him a multi-year contract that is set to begin in the 2009-10 season, while bold rumors state that Paul Coffey might just be set to take on the role as Head Coach of the Nashville Predators.

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Getting Back Their Prowl -- A Nashville Predators EHM Dynasty