Gary Bettman's "State of the Union" Transcript

Every year, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman uses the platform of the opening game of the Stanley Cup Finals to deliver a "State of the Union" address to the media and fans. It always provides good insight into how the league performed, business-wise, during the season, and offers a few insights into where the NHL is headed.

This year's address was no different with updates on the Phoenix situation as well as other ownership issues, the Olympics in 2014, and upcoming collective bargaining with the NHLPA.

Make the jump for the complete transcript, courtesy of NHL Media Services...

Predators sign defensive prospect Joonas Jarvinen

The Nashville Predators continue to stockpile young defensive prospects as they announced the signing of 23 year-old Joonas Jarvinen of Finland. The 6-3, 220 pound player was signed to a two-year, two-way entry level deal this morning.

Here is his career statistics from Elite Prospects. Make the jump for complete details from the Predators...

POTG Stanley Cup Finals Predictions

This year's playoff season has been one of the most unpredictable on record with the sixth seeded New Jersey Devils and the eighth seeded Los Angeles Kings making it to a final showdown that no one would have predicted at the end of the season.

Like most folks, we struggled with our predictions, going 5-3 in the opening round and 2-2 in the second round. Our 1-1 record in the Conference Finals is directly attributable to thinking the Coyotes were a team of destiny after they cruised past the Predators.

Hopefully, this will be a time of redemption with the pick for the finals. Make the jump for the final breakdown...

Pekka Rinne vs Claude Giroux in NHL 13 Final voting

Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators will face Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers in the final vote to who gets to don the cover of EA Sports NHL 13.

Rinne got past John Tavares in the semifinal while Giroux bested Evgeni Malkin on the other side of the bracket.

Voting runs until June 4 and the winner will be announced at the NHL Awards show at the Wynn Encore Theater on June 20, 2012. Go here to vote early and often for Pekka in the finals.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Vote for Pekka for NHL 13

Last Goalie Remaining:
Rinne In Semifinals of EA Sports Cover Vote

VOTE HERE

Preds goaltender Pekka Rinne moved on to the Semifinals round of the EA Sports NHL 13 Cover Vote, edging Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp in Round 1 and NY Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in Round 2.

Voting for the Semifinal Round runs NOW through Monday, May 28.

Rinne is matched-up against NY Islanders forward John Tavares in the semifinals. Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin are matched head-to-head in the other semifinal. Rinne is not only the lone goaltender remaining in the field, but the lone player representing a team from the Western Conference. Winners of the two semifinals will meet in a final voting to determine the cover player for the EA Sports NHL 13 game.

The winner of the cover vote campaign will be unveiled as the EA SPORTS NHL® 13 Cover Athlete at the 2012 NHL Awards™ on June 20 at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas.

There is no limit to how many times fans can vote so click here to vote now and vote often!

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Alexander Radulov named KHL MVP for third year in a row

For the third season in a row, the Nashville Predators' Alexander Radulov was named the Kontinental Hockey League's Most Valuable Player (a.k.a. The Golden Stick Award) for his regular season play with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Before joining the Predators in March, Radulov scored 25 goals and added 38 assist during the KHL regular season. In six playoff games he had six assists.

After joining the Predators, Radulov had three goals and four assists in nine regular season games and then had a goal and five assists in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Radulov becomes a restricted free agent on July 1 and it is unclear what his plans for next season are at this time.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Today is the last day to vote for Pekka Rinne for the NHL 13 Cover

Time is running out to vote for Predators' goalie Pekka Rinne for the cover of NHL 13 as he battles against fellow Vezina finalist, Henril Lundqvist. Go to the NHL 13 Cover voting page and register your vote. Peks needs your support to move on to the semifinal round.

Also, for those in Smashville wanting to get in one last skate on the Bridgestone Arena ice, tonight is the night as the Predators are hosting an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Go here for more details.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Predators to host open house on May 23

The Nashville Predators have announced another open house with a free open skate on the Bridgestone Arena ice before it is removed for the summer. There will be plenty of other activities including the always popular Predators Foundation garage sale as well as many other specials.

Here is the full release from the Predators with all the details...

Join us for a night of fun at Bridgestone Arena!


What a great season in Smashville! Though it ended too quickly, the 2011-2012 season was filled with great moments like the clinching victory over Detroit in Game Five of the first round and the franchise record 30 regular and post season sellouts at Bridgestone Arena. As a thank you for your support throughout the season we’d like to invite you to join us next Wednesday, May 23 from 5-8 p.m. for a night of fun at Bridgestone Arena.

This free event includes:

• Open skate with free skate rental. If you plan on skating, please click here to RSVP (even if you have your own skates).
• Free photo opportunity with Schenk Photography (5:30-7:30pm) 
• Concession specials
• Pro Shop specials
• Authentics game-worn merchandise sale
• Nashville Predators Foundation garage sale
• Free parking will be available in the Sixth Avenue (on the corner of Demonbreun and Sixth Avenue) garage for you when you arrive (based on availability).

We look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Austin Watson named OHL Player of the Week

Nashville Predator prospect Austin Watson was named the OHL Player of the Week today after his London Knights team captured the OHL crown, which advances them to the Memorial Cup.

Watson was also given the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award for being the MVP of the OHL playoff as he had ten goals and seven assist in 19 playoff games.

The 20 year old forward prospect is in his last year of junior hockey and hopes to compete for a position with Nashville in development camp this summer and in the preseason camp in September.

Make the jump for the full release from the OHL...

POTG NHL Conference Finals Predictions

After a mediocre 5-3 record in the opening round, we fared even poorer in the second round with our predictions, going 2-2, missing on the Predators and Flyers.

Obviously, if you are headed to Las Vegas, you may want to consider someone with a little better track record than we have had. Irregardless, we'll take another crack at our projection for the Conference Finals.

Both series are very difficult to size up and neither offer a team that would be considered a heavy favorite.

Western Conference

(2) Phoenix Coyotes vs (8) Los Angeles Kings - This series appears to be one that will go the way of which team ends up with the hottest goalie. At this time, Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith are running neck and neck as the favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP. On paper, the Kings would appear to have the advantage on the offensive side but that could be evened up by the tough defensive play of the stiff team defense of the Coyotes that stifled the Predators. Both teams should be well rested and this series is virtually impossible to predict. I've been on the Kings bandwagon, picking them in the first two rounds, but they may have finally run into this year's team of destiny. Coyotes in seven

Eastern Conference

(1) New York Rangers vs (6) New Jersey Devils - The Rangers will have little time to regroup after going sevn games with the Capitals, while the Devils should be well rested after surprising the Flyers in five. This will be a battle of high-end, experienced NHL goalies with Henrik Lundqvist, the favorite for this year's Vezina Trophy, facing Marty Brodeur, who holds many records that will hold for many years. The Rangers look stronger on paper but the Devils came together as a team in making quick work of Philadelphia. No one expected the Devils to go deep in the playoffs this year so they could be another surprise team. Devils in six

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOntheGlass

David Boclair appears on Smashville On The Glass (podcast)

This weeks edition of Smashville On The Glass Radio featured David Boclair, Predators' beat writer from The City Paper to discuss the abrupt ending to the season as well as the upcoming free agency period that involves the majority of the Preds players.

Listen to internet radio with SmashvilleOnTheGlass on Blog Talk Radio

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Partial schedule and arena availability for Stanley Cup Conference Finals

With the Eastern Conference series between the Rangers and Capitals dragging on with two off days before Saturday's decisive game seven, the National Hockey League has announced the schedule for the first two games in each Stanley Cup Conference Final series. It is as follows...


Sunday, May 13 Los Angeles @ Phoenix, Western Conference Final Game 1 (8 p.m., ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS)

Monday, May 14 Eastern Conference Final Game 1, @ New York or New Jersey (8 p.m., ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS)

Tuesday, May 15 Los Angeles @ Phoenix, Western Conference Final Game 2 (9 p.m., ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS)

Wednesday, May 16 Eastern Conference Final Game 2, @ New York or New Jersey (8 p.m., ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS)

Make the jump for the arena availability going forward for the time frame for the remainder of round three...

Ryan Suter faces tough career decision as free agency looms

In June of 2003, the annual NHL Entry Draft was held at the current Bridgestone Arena in the middle of the lower Broadway honky tonk row entertainment district. At the time, the Nashville Predators had just completed their fifth season and had never made the playoffs.

The Preds chose defenseman Ryan Suter with the seventh overall pick in the first round. In the second round, they chose fellow D-men, Kevin Klein (35th) and Shea Weber (37th) and the three have been together in the Predator organization ever since.

Since that draft, the Predators have made the playoffs seven of the last eight seasons and the three defensemen have become the cornerstone of a solid defensive core for which the team has become known.

Since making the Predators out of camp after the lockout in 2006, Suter has played 542 NHL games and 39 playoff games over the course of seven seasons, all in Music City.

Craig Smith added to Team USA at World Championships

Craig Smith of the Nashville Predators has been added to the Team USA squad that is competing at the IIHF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Smith, who just completed his rookie season in Nashville, will be playing in his second consecutive World Championship tournament after making his debut as a collegian last year.

Make the jump for the full release from USA Hockey...

Coyotes beat Predators 2-1 to take series and move on to the Western Conference Finals

Predators' General Manager David Poile put together the most complete group of players for a long playoff run that the Nashville Predators had every had.

However, in the end, it was Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes who stole the second round series that few gave the Coyotes a chance to win against the stacked Nashville squad. Smith has to be considered a leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Coyotes continue to advance.

Phoenix took the series 4-1 taking game five 2-1 on home ice at Jobing.com Arena.

It was a complete day of celebration in the desert with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announcing that former San Jose CEO, Greg Jamison would soon be buying the Coyotes from the NHL.

On the ice, players and fans celebrated the Coyotes first trip to the conference finals where they will face the Los Angeles Kings, most likely, starting this weekend.

For the Predators, they are left to wonder what happened and are looking at an offseason of free agency that will possibly reshape several key players of the franchise.

Phoenix got goals from Derek Morris and Martin Hanzal while the Predators' only goal came from Colin Wilson in the closing minutes that made the finis interesting.

Smith was incredible in net, stopping 32 of 33 Predator shots while Pekka Rinne was solid stopping 15 Coyote shots.

In the end, it was clear that Phoenix had outplayed the Predators and deserved to move on. The Predators could only be faulted for running into a hot goalie at the wrong time.

The postgame handshake like was as classy as you could see with two of the best coached teams in the NHL showing the character of their leaders with sincere congratulations up and down the line.

Make the jump for more details from the game...

Predators fail to bury chances as Coyotes win 1-0 in Smashville

For sixty minutes, the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes played as close a game as possible but Shane Doan's goal in the opening period was the only puck to find the net in a 1-0 win for the Yotes that gave then a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Time after time, the Predators had scoring chances from ideal locations that either missed the net or were stopped by Coyote goalie, Mike Smith.

The Predators were somewhat slow out of the box, only getting four shots on goal in the opening period, but skated much better in the final two periods and created plenty of chances.

The Phoenix defense play a solid game in front of Smith, giving him all the support that he needed in throwing the shutout at the hometown Predators.

As had been seen twice before in the series, in games one and three, an apparent Predator goal was waived off by the officials due to a whistle being blown. The play in question on Friday came with 7:12 left in the game when Mike Fisher nudged the puck over the line as Smith slid into the goal.

The official explanation from the league was that the goal was waived off due to the whistle being blown. There was also an indication in the postgame from Preds Coach Barry Trotz that the players were told that that Patric Hornqvist had pushed Smith into the net so it is obvious that there was confusion as to why the goal was disallowed.

Regardless of the controversy, the Predators are in a deep hole and are faced with winning three games in a row if they plan to advance to the next round.

After sticking with the same lineup in Friday's match as in game three, Trotz indicated that he would reevaluate and probably make changes for game five.

After sitting out the first six games of the playoffs, Colin Wilson has proven to be one of the better players on the ice in the last three games and picked up third star honors for his hustling two-way play. He has played well on a revamped line with Nick Spaling and college teammate Brandon Yip.

Patric Hornqvist was also a dominant force for the Preds as he appeared to have more scoring chances than anyone in the game as he launched twelve pucks toward the net but only three were credited as official shots.

Mike Smith stopped all 25 Predator shots while Pekka Rinne stopped 23 of 24 Yotes shots and could not be faulted for the lone goal as it appeared to have been tipped, possibly more than once.

Every game to this point, with the exception of the Predators' dud in game two, has turned on a break here or there, so anything is possible in the remainder of the series.

The Predators will have an off day on Saturday and then practice on Sunday before flying back to the desert  to face the Coyotes at 9 p.m. CDT at Jobing.com Arena on Monday.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Special start time for game four of Preds-Yotes - Don't be a straggler!

Game four between the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes has a special start time of 6:30 p.m. CDT so time is off the essence in planing your pre-game activities.

Few tickets remain and you best chance may be the 10 a.m. day of game lottery. Minimal tickets will be available at the Bridgestone Arena box office.  This offer is very limited (50 pairs, 100 total tickets) and will be conducted by lottery.

Attendees of Friday's game will receive gold out T-Shirts courtesy of Bridgestone. For those who cannot attend, the game will be on the NBC Sports Network with pre-game coverage leading in to the 6:30 p.m. main telecast.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and the Predators will also play host to a massive plaza pary beginning three hours prior to faceoff ( 3:30 p.m.) in front of Bridgestone Arena with live music, video screen, inflatables, gaming trailer, smash car, face painting, and a huge viewing party on Broadway.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOntheGlass

Predators, Rinne rebound with 2-0 win over Phoenix

The Nashville Predators played "Predator" hockey as they closed ranks and defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2-0 in game three of the Western Conference semifinals.

Pekka Rinne garnered his first career playoff shutout as he stopped all 32 Phoenix shots.

Playing without Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, the remaining players made up the difference and more as Nashville played the best game of the playoffs to date.

The Predators scored twice, 66 seconds apart, midway through the first period, and then shut down Phoenix with stellar defense the rest of the way. Goals from David Legwand and Mike Fisher was all Nashville needed in closing the gap  in the series to 2-1 with the Coyotes having the advantage.

Mike Smith stopped 24 of 26 Predator shots, taking the loss.

Game four in the series will return to Bridgestone Arena on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CDT.

Make the jump for all the details...

Predators maintain 2-0 lead over the Coyotes after two periods in Smashville (in game update)

At The Puck Drop...

In Goal: Nashville - Pekka Rinne  (4-3-1, 2.51, .919) and Phoenix - Mike Smith  (6-2-2, 2.03, .943).

Scratches:

Nashville - Jon Blum, Craig Smith, Chris Mueller, Brian McGrattan, Kyle Wilson, Jack Hillen, Andrei Kostitsyn, Alexander Radulov, Victor Bartley, Ryan Ellis, Jeremy Smith, and Chet Pickard.

Phoenix - David Runblad, Connor Murphy, David Schlemko, Paul Bissonnette, Chris Summers, Andy Miele, Michael Stone, Lauri Korpikoski, Matt Watkins, Raffi Torres, Brett MacLean, Alexandre Bolduc, Brett Hextall, Ethan Werek, Maxim Goncharov, Jordan Szwarz, Justin Pogge, and Louis Domingue.

First Period...

The revamped line-ups looked similar to the ones prior to the trade deadline without Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn. Hal Gill and Paul Gaustad would be the only additions in the line-up.

The Smashville crowd was as loud as ever and appeared to enjoy seeing Jordin Tootoo in the line-up with plenty of Tootoo whistles ringing out.

The Predators went on their first man advantage at 5:04 when Marc-Antoine Pouliot held Colin Wilson's stick. The Preds were unimpressive, getting only one shot while giving up two short-handed shots.

The Predators got on the board first at 8:10 when Smith left his net to play the puck and could not get back to defend as the puck was turned over to Gabriel Bourque who made a feed to Legwand who scored.

Sixty-six seconds later, Marty Erat stole the puck in the Predator offensive zone and passed it to Sergei Kostitsyn in the slot, who fed it to Fisher who then banked the puck into the net off of Smith's stick to give Nashville a 2-0 lead.

Phoenix went on their first power play at 11:04 when Fisher was called for interference on Martin Hanzal. Phoenix did not get a shot while the Preds has a couple of chances on turnovers while short-handed.

Another Predator goal was blown off at 13:49 when the play was blown dead prematurely. Video replay clearly showed the whistle blew after Smith let the puck leak into the net on the Legwand shot.

Legwand was whistled for hooking Antoine Vermette at 15:39 to put Phoenix on the man-advantage. With 10 seconds left in the penalty. Derek Morris hooked Mike Fisher to give the Preds a power play opportunity. The Coyotes had the best opportunities with a pair of short-handed shots in the odd man situation.

1st Period	Goals	Shots	Corsi	PIMs	Faceoffs
Predators	2	8	13	2-4:00	13-11 54%
Coyotes	0	10	20	2-4:00	11-13 46%

Second Period...

The Predators went on the power play at 5:58 when Adrian Aucoin was called for interference when he tripped Matt Halischuk sending him into a hard collision with the boards. Halischuk went straight to the dressing room. The Preds got a shot but no goals.

Hanzal took a hard hit from Fisher at 9:03 and he cringed as he left the ice.

Rinne made a pair of saves at 11:12 that were easily the saves of the game.

Halischuk returned to the ice for a shift at 14:11.

Nashville went back on the power play at 15:18 when Morris cross-checked Erat. Boyd Gordon left the game during the man-advantage after taking a Shea Weber shot to the arm. The Predators got a great scoring chance but did not not score.

2nd Period	Goals	Shots	Corsi	PIMs	Faceoffs
Predators	0	8	18	0-0:00	8-7  53%
Coyotes	0	12	18	2-4:00	7-8  47%

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Predators set open house at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday

Thursday may not be a game day at Bridgestone Arena but that doesn't mean that the building will be dark.

The Nashville Predators will hold an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. where you will be able to purchase tickets for next season and take part in a public skate for a small charitable donation.

Make the jump for all the the details from the Predators...

Limited Tickets Remain for Predators-Coyotes Game Three at Bridgestone Arena

The Nashville Predators will face the Phoenix Coyotes in game three of the Western Conference Semifinals on Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The contest is being brought to you by Nissan and all fans in attendance at Game Three will receive Rally Towels courtesy of Nissan.

Phoenix leads the series 2-0 as the Predators get their first shot on home ice. Puck drop will be at 8 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast on CNBC and carried 102.5 The Game and on the Predators Radio network

Despite the suspensions of Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, the cupboards are full with multiple players waiting in the wings wanting an opportunity to play. Matt Halischuk, Jordin Tootoo, and Craig Smith are possibilities as well as Colin Wilson who saw his first action of the postseason on Sunday in Phoenix.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the plaza party will start at 5 p.m.(weather permitting). Daily’s post-game radio show will broadcast from the 102.5 The Game studio outside section 119 on the main concourse after the game. Additionally, post-game festivities will continue on the plaza with live music, a beer garden and more.

A limited number of  Day of Game tickets for $10 each at the box office at Bridgestone Arena at 10 a.m.  This offer is very limited (50 pairs, 100 total tickets) and will be conducted by lottery.



Individual tickets are available for all possible second-round games and can be purchased at nashvillepredators.com, by calling 615-770-PUCK (7825), stopping by the Bridgestone Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by visiting ticketmaster.com.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn suspended for game three versus Phoenix

In a brief release with little detail, the Nashville Predators announced that Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn would be suspended for the Predators' game against Phoenix at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday night.

Make the jump for the full release from the Predators...

Predators recall Bartley, Blum, Mueller, Wilson and Smith from Milwaukee

The Nashville Predators recalled five prospects from the Milwaukee Admirals who completed their season last weekend.

Jonathon Blum, Victor Bartley, Chris Mueller, Kyle Wilson, and Jeremy Smith will finish the year in Nashville and experience the Stanley Cup Playoffs first hand.

Make the jump for the full release from the Predators...