Could Ruutu be going to Nashville?
By my estimation, the Predators need a scorer with some playoff grittiness, and perhaps more important, another defenseman who is hard to play against.
If the Carolina Hurricanes are planning to trade potential unrestricted forward Tuomo Ruutu, for example, he seem like they would perfectly fill one of Nashville's holes.
Of course that would be a short-term patch, and I'm guessing Suter would prefer to see long-term acquisitions. Probably Poile would prefer a long-term addition as well. But if you are Poile, you have to believe that the best way to make sure Suter returns is to make a lengthy playoff run. Acquiring rental players could help you do that.
Suter doesn't plan to talk contractThe Predators are going to have to make a decision on Ryan Suter at the NHL trade deadline.
The blue-chip defenceman, one of the best potential free agents this summer, told reporters during Friday’s NHL all-star weekend media day that he doesn’t have any interest in having contract talks until the se1/2ason is over.
The decision by the 27-year-old Suter is significant because it means Nashville GM David Poile risks losing Suter for nothing if he doesn’t deal him by Feb. 27.
Predators in position to add more playersThe best thing about the preseason in the NHL is that there's no wasting time before playing games.
Camp, happily short to begin with, started for the Nashville Predators with their first on-ice session last Saturday and then two days later they were suiting up for a preseason doubleheader in Florida.
All of which says that teams tend to know fairly quickly which players will make the opening night roster and which won't and, significantly, where their holes are.
Predators file for arbitration with Weber Basically, this buys the Predators time. Another team cannot give Weber — a restricted free agent — an offer sheet. Also, if the Predators and Weber cannot work out a deal before late July, he will go to arbitration and be given either a one- or two-year award. This means that Weber will most likely be a Predator next season.
The Shea Weber SweapstakesShea Weber will become a RFA at the end of the year. Although he is a restricted free agent, Weber's future is very much in his own hands. Weber has been solid offensively and defensively for Nashville since coming into the leauge in 2006. Over the last two seasons Weber has put up 96pts in 159 games, 39 of which were goals. Weber is only a year away from unrestricted free agency and with Nashville not being the strongest team financially, Weber's time as Preds Captain could be coming to an end.
Pesky Preds Hope For Playoff SuccessThe Nashville Predators have somehow continued to compete and contend for a playoff spot despite not having anywhere near the resources many of the league’s teams have. The pesky Preds just seem to find a way to do the most with the least.
Its perhaps due to the solid foundation off the ice with stability both in the front office and behind the bench. It could be also due to their solid ability to draft and develop good talent and have a steady stream of players coming through the organization and contributing to the team’s success.
The goal this year however will not be to just make the playoffs. The team would like to for the first time win a playoff round or more and that seems to be the goal this season. Although they have lost their captain and one of their top defenceman, it might still be hard to bet against the Preds from being a thorn in everyone’s side.
Hamhuis decision looms for Preds Will they or won’t they?
Predators general manager David Poile says the biggest decision the team will make leading up to the NHL’s March 3 trading deadline will be whether or not to move defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Predators may trade to improve depth John Glennon • THE TENNESSEAN With the NHL's March 3 trade deadline less than a month away, the Predators are facing a couple of questions that are not necessarily related.
