What does the Hal Gill signing really mean for Smashville?

The Nashville Predators announced a key signing on Thursday ahead of the July 1 fiasco that will go a long way toward adding stability to the teams defensive corps for next two years.

Signing Hal Gill to a two-deal deal at $2 million a year is just what the doctor ordered to stabilize a young group of blue-liners that will soon be transitioning from the known quantity of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to whatever combination it becomes in the next few days, weeks, or years.

I am assuming that Ryan Suter will be grazing on greener ice in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minnesota or one of 26 other NHL teams that are willing to offer stupid money for a D-Man with a fair market value of seven million dollars in a reasonable economy that he has not accepted from David Poile.


I, personally, am also wondering what Shea Weber is thinking when he lost the Norris Trophy to a clearly inferior candidate in Erik Karlsson that Adrian Dater claimed caused the biggest gasp in the room with the media when it was announced (truth be known, Amanda DiPaolo made a loud noise and this writer leaked an expletive, sitting beside Dater).

Was Karlsson's theft of a Norris enough to drive Weber away from the friendly confines of Smashville's Bridgestone Arena in favor of a more traditional market when he becomes a free agent next year or does it lead him to a double-down (as in the Saloon) situation to prove the pundits wrong and gut it out in Music City. That is a serious question that only he can answer.

The day before the award was handed out, Weber was clearly Mr. Smashville and said all the right things. Then, after the awards show he was the only Preds nominee not to face the media, so we don't know his thoughts, but I would assume (I'll make asses of you me and everyone else) that he was not pleased with the result and it could eventually lead to a relocation.

Therefore, at this point, Hal Gill is the only D-man other than Ryan Ellis signed on in to the 2013-14 season and is ready and committed to stand in front of Pekka Rinne in the Predators pursuit of the 2014 Stanley Cup and that should make him a hero among the Predator faithful.

Gill is a winner, and even at his age of 37, he is a player that Preds fans can rally around to lead the team forward. He is a leader on the ice, in the clubhouse, and he never fails to stand up for the team in the post game scrum.

When no one else is willing to lay the cards on the table, Hal Gill steps up and is all in. Congrats to the Predators, The fans, and Hal Gill on the new contract. Make the jump for the details...

Predators announce road-heavy preseason schedule

The Nashville Predators released their preseason schedule for the upcoming 2012-13 campaign and it features only a pair of home games at Bridgestone Arena while they will play five games on the road.

The Preds will play the St.Louis Blues on Tuesday, September 25 and the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, September 29 in Smashville, with both games starting at 7 p.m.

Rookie camp will open on Friday, September 14, while veterans will report a week later on the 21st.

Make the jump for the full schedule and all the details from the Predators...


PREDATORS TO KICK-OFF SEVEN-GAME 2012 PRESEASON SCHEDULE WITH A DOUBLEHEADER ON SEPT. 24
-Slate includes home games against Washington and Carolina-

Nashville, Tenn. (June 27, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the Predators will open their seven-game 2012 preseason schedule with a doubleheader at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., for the second consecutive season on Monday, Sept. 24.

Nashville’s preseason schedule includes a pair of home games: Tuesday, Sept. 25 against the Central Division rival St. Louis Blues and Saturday, Sept. 29 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Both games at Bridgestone Arena will start at 7 p.m. CT.

In addition to their doubleheader against the Florida Panthers, the Predators will travel to Raleigh to take on the Hurricanes for the seventh consecutive preseason (Sept. 28) and play their first preseason tilt at the Scottrade Center since 2003 on Oct. 2. Nashville will round out the seven-game slate on Oct. 5 at the Verizon Center in Washington.

The 2012-13 Nashville Predators rookie camp is scheduled to open Friday, Sept. 14, with veterans reporting on Friday, Sept. 21 for testing and physicals.  The Predators’ first day on the ice will be Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Centennial Sportsplex.

Season tickets for the 2012-13 Nashville Predators season in Smashville are on sale now and start at just $24 per game. Great interest-free payment plans are currently available for Full Season and Half Season packages.  You can also create your own ticket plan with the Dunkin’ Donuts Flex 12 Plan by selecting 12 games that fit your personal schedule. To order tickets to the Nashville Predators, visit nashvillepredators.com/seasonticket or contact a ticket representative at 615-770-7800. Information on ticket availability for individual games will be announced later this summer.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2012 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Day      Date            Opponent             Site               Time (CT)
Monday   Sept. 24      Florida Panthers      BankAtlantic Center 1:30 p.m.
Monday   Sept. 24      Florida Panthers      BankAtlantic Center 6 p.m.
Tuesday  Sept. 25      St. Louis Blues       Bridgestone Arena   7 p.m.
Friday   Sept. 28      Carolina Hurricanes   RBC Center          6 p.m.      
Saturday Sept. 29      Carolina Hurricanes   Bridgestone Arena   7 p.m.      
Tuesday  Oct. 2        St. Louis Blues       Scottrade Center    7 p.m.
Friday   Oct. 5        Washington Capitals   Verizon Center      6 p.m.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

It is your time to shine if you can come up with the Nashville Predators new catch phrase

Since 1998, the Nashville Predators have tad a "tag line" or marketing slogan each year and most have been pretty good. The term "Smashville" has been the most successful and is well known throughout the hockey world.

One of my favorites from the early years was "Fang Fever". The worst ever had to be the "My Town" theme based on the horrible ballad from the country act Montgomery-Gentry which allegedly brings down the house at their concerts.

It did nothing but drive the Preds out of the 2006 playoffs and kill any enthusiasm that the crowd could bring forth every time it was played. As far as towns are concerned, Smashville is more "Run This Town" than "My Town" eight days a week.

Anyway, we digress. Since Nashville has some of the brightest and most creative folks on the loose so the Predators are wanting each of you to come up with the coming year's slogan. Therefore they have released the #MySmashville contest that will give huge perks, including season tickets, to the person who can produce the best tag line.


Make the jump for all the rules, regulations and details from the Predators....

Predators Development Camp starts today and runs through Sunday

The Nashville Predators released the full details of this year's edition of their annual Summer Development Camp that will feature the team's top prospects as well as all nine new Preds that were drafted at last weekends NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh.

On ice sessions will be open to the public Today, Thursday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Centennial Sportsplex. The final day  with the battle for the coveted camp trophy will be on Sunday from 2 - 4 p.m.

Here is a full printable schedule as well as a printable roster of participants. Make the jump for all the other details of the camp.

David Poile speaks after the 2012 NHL Awards Show

The video starts with a poll of reporters on what they thought of Nickelback and then moves on to more pertinent matters at hand with the Predators representation at the 2012 NHL Awards show.


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Buddy Oakes for PredsOntheGlass

Predators make qualifying offers on some, send others to free agency

The Nashville Predators released the list of pending restricted free agents that they made qualifying offers to before Sunday's July first free agency period begins.

Players who earned less than $660,000 in the previous season must be offered 110 percent of last season's salary. Players making up to $1 million must be offered 105 percent. Players making over $1 million must be offered 100 percent of their salary.

The Preds qualified the following five players who are not arbitration eligible (2011-12 NHL base salary in parenthesis - from CapGeek.com).

Predators have high hopes for nine new draft picks

After trading away their own first and second round draft picks at the trade deadline, the Nashville Predators have to be pleased with the nine players that they picked up at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday at the CONSOL Energey Center in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

After sitting on the sidelines in round one on Friday night, the Preds made the most of their nine picks on day two of the draft picking up six forwards, two defenseman and a goalie.

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

Pekka Rinne finishes third in Vezina voting as Henrik Lundqvist wins

In spite of leading the league in wins, Pekka Rinne finished third in this year's Vezina Trophy balloting as Henrik Lundqvist was the clear cut winner. Jonathan Quick finished second.

Make the jump for the full announcement from NHL Media Services....

Mike Fisher wins NHL Foundation Award, Room at the Inn gets $25,000

With the Predators riding an zero for three losing streak at the NHL Awards, Mike Fisher came through in the clutch and was awarded the NHL Foundation Award to bring hardware to Smashville.

The big winner was Nashville's Room at the Inn shelter who will receive a $25,000 grant from the NHL to continue their work which Fisher supports.

Make the jump for the full release from the NHL media services...

David Poile finishes third in GM of the Year voting as Doug Armstrong wins

After having been nominated all three seasons that the GM of the Year award has been given, David Poile finished third in the voting as St Louis' Doug Armstrong took home the award. Poile actually received the second highest total of first place votes but did not garner as many second and third pace votes.

Make the jump for the full release from NHLMedia Services...

Claude Giroux defeats Pekka Rinne in NHL13 cover voting

For the first time ever, EA Sports turned the voting over to the fans for who would grace the cover of the NHL13 game that will be released in September.

With finalists, Pekka Rinne and Claude Giroux on the stage at the Wynn Encore Theater in Las Vegas, Giroux was unveiled as the winner. No vote totals were released but it was previously announced that less than a few thousand votes separated the finalist in the final hours.

Make the jump for the release from EA Sports...

Weber loses Norris in close vote for second year in a row

After being narrowly edged out for the Norris Trophy by hockey legend Nicklas Lidstrom last year, Shea Weber was narrowly beaten by Ottawa Senators youngster Erik Karlsson.

Only twelve points separated the two in another year of close voting. Zdeno Chara was a distant third, 107 points behind Weber. Ryan Suter was eighth in the voting and ex-Pred Dan Hamhuis rounded out the top ten.

Make the jump for the full story from NHL Media Services...

Shea Weber speaks before the 2012 NHL Awards Show (video)

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

David Poile speaks before the 2012 NHL Awards Show (video)

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Pekka Rinne speaks before the 2012 NHL Awards Show (video)

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Mike Fisher speaks before the 2012 NHL Awards Show (video)

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Predators to host NHL Awards Show Viewing Party Tonight

In celebration of the Predators' four nominees at the NHL Awards Show at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, the Nashville Predators will host a viewing party at the Patron Platinum Club at Bridgestone Arena tonight starting at 4:30 p.m.

Make the jump for all the details...

POTG Projects the 2012 NHL Awards Winners

As we make way to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards Show, we have plenty of time to opine who might be grabbing the hardware on Wednesday night at the Wynn Encore Theater. I will run through the nominees for the contested awards and pick the folks I would like to see win as well as attempting to project who will actually win.


I will mark my personal choices with an asterisk (*) and mark my projected winners with a (W).

Hart Trophy

This year's nominees all had great seasons but using the definition of  "the player most valuable to his team" would eliminate Steven Stamkos as the Lightning went nowhere with him this season. While Henrik Lundqvist was the Rangers' savior for the first four months of the season, he faded toward the end. Evgeni Malkin was the saving grace for the Penguins who were without Sidney Crosby for most of the year. I see no way that Malkin doesn't win the Hart

Henrik Lundqvist
Evgeni Malkin * W
Steven Stamkos

Vezina Trophy


The definition of the award is "the goaltender adjudged to be the best at at this position" as judged by the NHL GMs. If the voting had occurred at the end of February, Henrik Lundqvist would have been the hands down winner. As it was when the voting was actually done, it was probably a wide open race and may be the closest balloting of all the awards. I would have to go with the homer pick of Pekka Rinne since the Preds wouldn't have made the playoffs without him but I think that Lundquist may have had the votes to hang on for the win.

Henrik Lundqvist W
Pekka Rinne *
Jonathan Quick

Norris Trophy

Many folks have stated that Erik Karlsson should be the winner based on the season that he had with an over-achieving Ottawa Senators team. I think Karlsson will finish a close second to the Predators' Shea Weber who will finally claim the Norris this year as a defenseman who can dominate the game at both ends of the ice.

Zdeno Chara
Erik Karlsson
Shea Weber * W

Calder Trophy

Statistically, all three nominees were in a dead heat as far as points were concerned and each appears to have the ability to improve in future seasons. Adam Henrique had his coming out party with the Devils during the playoffs but that is not a consideration for the Calder. Of the three, Gabriel Landeskog had the biggest impact on his team and will probably walk away with the trophy.

Adam Henrique
Gabriel Landeskog * W
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

With Pavel Datsyuk not on the ballot this year, the voting will be a wide open affair. Picking a clear cut winner is impossible but I think Matt Moulson may be the winner. If I were voting, I would go with Brian Campbell since it appears no other Florida Panther will pick up any prizes in Vegas and they should receive something for the season they just completed.

Brian Campbell *
Jordan Eberle
Matt Moulson W

Selke Trophy

David Backes and Patrice Bergeron both had excellent seasons but as long as Pavel Datsyuk is on the ballot,  he will be the big winner and I agree and would be voting for him.

David Backes
Patrice Bergeron
Pavel Datsyuk * W

Jack Adams Award

I was really surprised that Barry Trotz and Kevin Dineen did not make the final three. If I had voted, I would have voted for Dineen for taking the Panthers to the playoffs with a bunch of players that had not played together previously. Paul Maclean will receive plenty of support from the Canadian broadcasters but Ken Hitchcock will have wide ranging support and bring home the bacon. John Tortorella will finish third.

Ken Hitchcock W
Paul Maclean
John Tortorella

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

The Masterton is a real crap shoot this year and any of the three nominations could win. I think that Max Pacioretty will rise to the top of the ballot and haul off the trophy.

Daniel Alfredsson
Joffrey Lupul
Max Pacioretty * W

Ted Lindsay

The Ted Lindsay Award differs from the Hart in that it is voted on by the players themselves and goes to the "most outstanding player." I would have to vote for Evgeni Malkin again but I think the players may reward Steven Stamkos for his 60 goals by giving him the award.


Henrik Lundqvist
Evgeni Malkin
Steven Stamkos

Messier Leadership Award

The Messier Leadership Award is an oddity among the trophies as it is voted on by Mark Messier himself. I have no idea who Messier will cast his vote for but in my opinion, the two best captains in the league are Dustin Brown and Shane Doan so I would split my vote between the two. With the Kings winning the Stanley Cup, that might tip Mark's choice toward Brown, so I will project him as the winner.

Dustin Brown * W
Ryan Callahan
Shane Doan *

NHL Foundation Award

There is no way to pick this award as all have made major charitable contributions in their communities. In my book they are all winners but I have to take Mike Fisher as the hometown pick.

Mike Fisher * W
John-Michael Liles W
Matt Moulson W

GM of the Year

From a Smashville perspective, David Poile is the GM of the Year every year and this season was no different. Since the vote was taken before the playoffs, he will finally be named the winner for bringing in Hal Gill, Paul Gaustad, Alex Radulov, and for having all the homegrown talent continuing to emerge into the NHL and helping lead the Preds into the playoffs.

Doug Armstrong
David Poile * W
Dale Tallon

NHL 13 Cover Vote

Finally, the fans of Smashville will really shine when it is announced that Pekka Rinne will grace the cover of NHL 13 when it is released in September.

Claude Giroux
Pekka Rinne * W

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Hellberg signed, Radulov bolts for KHL (again)

As we prepare to travel to Las Vegas to cover the NHL Awards, we have a pair of Predators items to mention.

Early today, Dmitry Chesnokov reported that Alexander Radulov, the ex-prodigal Predator, will be returning to the KHL to play for CSKA, the Red Army Team. He has one year remaining on his KHL contract but CSKA is hoping to sign him to a two or three year extension.

The threat of a lockout in the NHL in the fall weighed heavily in Radulov's decision according to the report.

The other news was the announcement by the Predators that they had signed goalie prospect Magnus Hellberg to an entry level contract.

Hellberg was the Preds highest pick in last summer's NHL Entry Draft in Minneapolis, when they took him in the second round with the draft's 38th pick. The 6-5, 185 pound Swede has yet to play in North America on the smaller rink but is expected to play in Milwaukee this season.

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

Lindback gets his chance to start in Tampa

Back-up Predators goalie for the last two year, Anders Lindback, will have his chance to come out from under the shadow of Vezina nominee, Pekka Rinne next season as he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of a multi-player deal on Friday.

The Predators traded Lindback, Kyle Wilson and a seventh round pick to the Bolts in exchange for two second round picks in this years NHL Entry Draft and a third rounder at next year's draft. The Preds also took on the Lightning's cast off goalie, Sebastien Caron who will become an UFA on July 1st and is not a part of Nashville's plans.

The Predators were without a first or second round pick in next week's draft and this move partially filled that void and will help the team restock the cupboard with more young talent.

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

NHL Awards adds more star power to this year's show

As we prepare to gear up for our trip to Las Vegas and the NHL Awards next week, I am thrilled with the star-studded lineup of celebrity presenters for this years event.

I am especially excited to see Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, Blow, Hannibal, and others) added to the list of presenters. I am also interested in asking Vince Vaughn about one of the great hockey scenes of all time in the movie "Swingers."

The Nashville Predators will be well represented with their own set of stars with Pekka Rinne (Vezina, NHL13 Cover Vote), Shea Weber (Norris), Mike Fisher (NHL Foundation Award) and David Poile (GM of the Year) as finalists in their respective categories.

Make the jump for the full release from the NHL with the complete list of presenters...

After long wait for return, Predators ready to say goodbye to Alexander Radulov

After patiently waiting for almost four seasons for wayward Predator Alexander Radulov to make a return to Music City, the Preds are now ready to send him on his way to another NHL team or the KHL.

According to Josh Cooper of the Tennessean, David Poile made it clear today that Radulov did not fit into the Predators future plans. He indicated that a trade or a release to a KHL team were both possibilities.

Radulov played nine regular season games with the Preds beginning in late March and picked up thee goals and four assists. In the playoffs, Radulov had a goal and five assists in seven games.

A key factor in Radulov's exit was the disruption caused when he and Andrei Kostitsyn stayed out past curfew the evening before game two of Nashville's second round series with Phoenix and the pair were subsequently suspended.

It will be interesting to see what type of deal that Poile can swing in disposing of Radulov's rights.

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Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

Today is the last day to vote for Pekka in the NHL 13 cover vote

Even if your fingers have grown numb from voting for Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators in his race against Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers in the final vote for who gets to be on the cover of EA Sports NHL 13, today is the day when the final sacrifice is needed.

Rinne has received endorsements from Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Sheen and others in his quest to win the popularity contest.


The Preds have set up a special voting place today at Dunkin’ Donuts (1500 21st Ave S, Nashville) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.where fans can get a free donuts  courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts, the Nashville Predators and Best Buddies (subject to availability).

Voting runs until 10:59 CDT tonight 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

Patrick Cehlin signs deal with Predators at deadline

According to multiple sources, the Nashville Predators avoided losing the rights to Patrick Cehlin by signing him to a three-year contract worth $525,000 per year at the NHL level. The signing took place on Thursday, just before the Preds rights were set to expire on June 1.

Cehlin was a 2010, fifth round choice at the NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles. Here is his career statistics from Elite Prospects.

Cehlin appeared excited by the signing and received plenty of congratulatory salutations on his Facebook page.

Make the jump for the official release from the Nashville Predators...

Predators sign Daniel Bång to one-year contract

The Nashville Predators continue to keep their European scouts busy as they have now signed free agent forward Daniel Bång to a one-year, two-way contract.

Here is Bång's career statistics from Elite Prospects. Make the jump to see the full release from the Predators...