Bringing the cup to Nashville | A Predators BAGM

[GoldenJet]

Kind of unrealistic, seeing as Ottawa just locked up Spezza to a long term contract.

[nhl11buff]

Yeah but I've been thinking like Schneider is a really good goalie prospect, and Ottawa is in almost last and an extra 1st rd pick would be good, and another prospect for them would be good.

[nhl11buff]

Predators bring in Spezza


Predators GM snags one of the leagues top talents

Throughout the season Predators GM Ethan Ryan has been quiet, not making a lot of moves, simply picking of players from waivers. These players have helped to contribute, but one of the players he took has been sent to Ottawa in exchange

Promising goalie prospect Schneider has been traded, along with Hornqvist, a 2011 1st round pick and New Jersey's 2011 2nd overall pick, in exchange for Spezza and Michael Brodeur.

The Senators have been looking to shuffle the deck, and they have lost faith in their star center Jason Spezza. Through 50 games he has only scored 12 goals and 24 assists, a career low for the Canadian. Nashville gave the Senators a good prospect and a good winger, some draft picks in exchange for an AHL back up and a 7,00 million contract barely contributing to the campaign.

"It was a hard decision to let Spezza go, but with this trade we have a brighter future, especially with Schneider coming in to play net. We're hoping our goaltender problem has been solved for a nice long while."

Nashville fans have no qualms about Schneider and Hornqvist leaving. Hornqvist himself has been having a mediocre season, and Rinne has been rising to the challenge night and night out. He is becoming a franchise goalie, and it would've taken a lot of time to fully develop Schneider into a star goaltender.

Spezza was not available for comment, but it is known that the Senators did have a player meeting for Spezza to say good-bye to his team mates, and to his mentor in Daniel Alfredsson.

"I am very happy about this trade," said Ethan Ryan. "We've brought in a great center, who can dangle and shoot the puck. He's good at faceoffs, and we're hoping he'll have great chemistry with our club. And with the post-season approaching, and the off-season after that, we're hoping to bring in free agents to help give us more chemistry and help in our mission for the Stanley Cup."

[nhl11buff]

Nashville Predators Monthly Review
January
Playoff Position: 2nd
Record: 31-17-3




Predators got to celebrate home wins much more this month

If you said at the beginning of the season that 51 games into the 2010-2011 season Nashville was second in the Western Conference, most people would think you were crazy. Not that they weren't playoff spot caliber, but 2nd is a pretty admirable position. Well, with the right coaching, right players picked off waivers, and some brilliant goaltending, you can make it that far.

It's been a great New Year for Nashville. They got a great center in Spezza, who is locked tightly in a 5 year contract. They picked up Ohlund from waivers, which gave even more defensive depth, and Rinne has once again been brilliant.

The Good

Defence, defence, defence! They're first in the league with a mere 108 goals against them. Rinne has been a brick wall with everything that's gotten through, and it's usually kept around 20 shots a game. Nashville's defence has been their pride and joy, and is largely the reason they've been successful. Their offense is ranked 16th in the league, which is definitely an improvement, but it isn't as good as most people would want it to be.

Rinne is getting closer to a GAA of below 2.00, which is truly great to say the least. While all that wouldn't be owed to him, since his defence in front of has also been spectacular, he is still a large reason for it, and they should be happy they have such a brilliant starting goalie.

The Bad

It's getting harder to list things under the bad, and I have to keep repeating myself: offense! It is definitely improving, and it should get even better with Spezza on the team, but it should still be better. It is a strange position to be 2nd in the Western Conference, but among the bottom half of the league in goals for with 144 goals. But, if the wins keep coming in like they have been, this may become less and less of a factor as the points keep coming in.

The Verdict


8 out of 10

Nashville Predators Stats - 10-11
Skaters	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	GW	PIM	SOG	SPCT
W. Belak	21	2	3	5	0	0	12	18	11.1
Boullion	47	1	9	10	8	0	14	27	3.1
Doumont	51	11	18	29	9	2	21	112	9.6
Erat	51	17	12	29	12	4	26	98	17.3
Franson	51	2	13	15	10	1	16	35	6.5
Grebeshkov	51	2	16	18	8	0	17	50	4
Guerin	51	9	7	16	9	5	36	79	11.4
Kariya	51	11	12	23	11	5	36	94	11.3
Legwand	51	15	25	40	19	4	4	87	17
Lombardi	51	8	7	15	5	1	8	60	13.3
Ohlund	51	36	38	9	0	19	19	90	2.1
Prospal	51	12	25	37	8	2	12	98	12.2
Smithson	51	11	6	17	18	4	25	32	21.8
Spezza	51	12	24	36	13	2	71	122	9.6
Suter	51	4	17	21	9	120	24	55	7.3
Tootoo	51	4	3	7	-1	1	24	30	16.7
Ward	51	5	1	6	3	0	16	30	12.4
Weber	51	3	21	24	3	0	31	72	4.2
White	51	1	12	13	11	0	19	44	13
Wilson	51	12	11	23	13	13	1	28	13
Goalies	GP	W	L	T	GAA	TOI	SV	SV%	SHO
Rinne	48	28	20	0	2.17	2875		91.3

[nhl11buff]

Nashville begins another month with a loss


Weber's 3 assists weren't good enough for a win

Nashville Predators vs Philadelphia Flyers
Feb 1, 2011 1 2 3 F NSH (31-17-3) 0 1 2 3 PHI (22-24-3) 1 2 1 4 Three Stars Weber 3 Assists Spezza 2 Goals Stempniak 1 Goal 1 Assist	Team Stats Comparison NSH PHI Shots on Goal 24 24 Hits 23 8 Faceoffs Won-Lost 13 7 Penalty Minutes 4:00 0:00 Power Plays Converted 0/0 1/2 Power Play Opportunities 0 2 Time on Attack 7:24 6:58
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD PHI Grtere (19) Stempniak, Hartnell SECOND PERIOD PHI Van Riemsdyk (10) UA NSH Tootoo (5) White, Weber SH PHI Stempniak (14) UA THIRD PERIOD NSH Spezza (13) Weber NSH Spezza (14) Weber PHI Giroux (14) Carle, Timonen
Nashville Predators - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Rinne 24 20 83% 4.00
Philadelphia Flyers - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA Leighton 24 21 88% 3.00