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Predators going all in


yave1964

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  Credit the Nashville Predators for changing the complexion of the club.

 

  First, the only coach the club has ever know, Barry Trotz was shown the door, the defensive minded Trotz replaced by the more offensive oriented Peter Laviolette.

 

  Then a huge trade, Hornquist and Stalling for James Neal of Pittsburgh. Warts and all, Neal is a force on the wing.

 

 Then, today, Mike Ribiero, attitude and all has been brought in. Ribiero is a power play king and a solid center signed to a one year contract, a put up or shut up resuscitate your career deal.

 

  And now the rumor is they are still in on Derek Roy. The little center can still pass with the best of them and is a power play specialist. Along with Weber, the three new guys would make the power play in Nashville truly something special and almost impossible to defend against.

 

Anton Volchenkov, a steady, boring but solid blueliner was brought in to replace the erratic Del Zotto. Rinne is expected to be healthy this year. The two kids, Jarnkrok and Forsberg who came over for Legwand and Erat are solid forward prospects who now do not need rushed.

 

  Gotta credit Nashville for completely changing their look in one offseason. They look dangerous and ready to challenge for a playoff spot in the rugged western conference.

 

1404682249000-james-neal-7-6.jpg

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Seems to me they are putting together scraps from whatever is left....not sure how all these guys are going to fit into Lavy's system. Kind of reminds me of the ol day Flyer patch work with with scraps style....i guess we'll see.

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@radoran

 

Roy and Ribiero are both serious power play players, not much good at 5 on 5 but to me what the signings do is give them a power play to be reckoned with. The Predators are an improved team, Jokinen, Neal, Roy and Ribiero may not be the next coming of Malkin and Crosby, but it is a lot better than Martin Erat and David Legwand. With Rinne healthy and Jones a year of experience behind him and as always Weber, I see this club as a serious contender for a low end playoff spot in the West.

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@radoran

 

Roy and Ribiero are both serious power play players, not much good at 5 on 5 but to me what the signings do is give them a power play to be reckoned with. The Predators are an improved team, Jokinen, Neal, Roy and Ribiero may not be the next coming of Malkin and Crosby, but it is a lot better than Martin Erat and David Legwand. With Rinne healthy and Jones a year of experience behind him and as always Weber, I see this club as a serious contender for a low end playoff spot in the West.

 

yeah, but low end playoff spots don't really impress me, either, because that core simply isn't going to go far at all.

 

"Better than Erat/Legwand" is a pretty low bar to clear. :D

 

I saw enough of Derek Roy watching the Sabres when I lived in Buffalo. I know what the guy's got and, while he is a legit NHL player, it ain't much...

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@Hockey Junkie

 

Roy WAS a very good player, not great but he had his moments. Now he is a veteran who has lost a step or two but still can pick his spots, he is still a very good power play guy but at five foot eight he breaks down more often than before. Overall, like I said he and Ribiero are an improvement and with a healthy Rinne and Jones a season under his belt the Predators will be in the mix. Playing in the games toughest division doesn't help though.

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@radoran

 

Roy and Ribiero are both serious power play players, not much good at 5 on 5 but to me what the signings do is give them a power play to be reckoned with. The Predators are an improved team, Jokinen, Neal, Roy and Ribiero may not be the next coming of Malkin and Crosby, but it is a lot better than Martin Erat and David Legwand. With Rinne healthy and Jones a year of experience behind him and as always Weber, I see this club as a serious contender for a low end playoff spot in the West.

I agree with you. With Jones having a year under his belt, the Blue Line will be a force. I'm still unsure about the Neal deal. He is not gonna have Crosby and Malkin creating and putting the puck on his stick. I think Ribiero will help a little on the PP. But like you sad, the 5 on 5 isnt good. I could see them sneaking in to the 7 or 8 spot. Rinne will still be a force. That is as long as he is healthy.

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