DGX
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Post by DGX on Nov 14, 2007 23:54:34 GMT -5
Nashville Predators 2007 Franchise Head Coach: Barry Trotz Location: Nashville Tennessee Arena: Nashville Arena Captain: Steve Sullivan Game - NHL 08. Difficulty - Pro. Period Length - 10 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After compiling a franchise best record of 51-23-8 last season as well as establishing team records for points (110) and goals (274), this upcoming campaign is a pretty optimistic one. However, there are quite a few changes this year. What's Changed? Quite a bit, really. In fact, the Preds' roster has probably changed more than any other Western Conference team. They lose quite a few of those face of the franchise types in Vokoun, Kariya, Timonen and Hartnell, and for that reason, many are picking the Preds to sink to the bottom of the pack of playoff-bound clubs. Following being bounced in the first round again in embarassing fashion to the San Jose Sharks, Nashville owner Craig Leipold fired General Manager David Poile and has hired former Anaheim GM Johnny Valentino to fit the role. In four seasons as Anaheims GM before stepping down to be replaced by Brian Burke, Valentino took the Ducks to the playoffs all four seasons he was with them and brought them many of their present superstars including Teemu Selanne in blockbuster deals. When you have a sinking franchise, though very young Valentino has been known to work miracles. "I look at this Nashville team and I see a team that's getting away from it's identity. We have lost many critical elements over this last year due in large part to my predecessors inability to close deals we lost a great many important pieces to this franchise. Coming in with Mr. Leipold's blessing I plan to really shake this team up in the beginning and get back to what I believe is Nashville's identity, which is talented young prototypical forwards of tomorrow. I hope to make some moves before the season even starts. Keep your web browsers on NHL.com people, some major announcements should be forthcoming." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 0:08:18 GMT -5
2007-2008 Regular Season Schedule & Results OCTOBER
4th - vs Colorado W 5-1
6th - vs Dallas W 8-6
10th - at St. Louis W 12-4
11th - vs Pheonix W 9-3
13th - vs Calgary W 5-4
17th - at Anahiem W 9-4
20th - at San Jose W 9-0
23rd - at Los Angeles L 8-4
25th - vs Atlanta W 4-3 OT
27th - vs Florida
30th - at Calgary
NOVEMBER
1st - at Vancouver
2nd - at Edmonton
4th - at Chicago
7th - at Detroit
10th - vs Columbus
12th - at Columbus
15th - vs Chicago
17th - vs St. Louis
19th - at St. Louis
22nd - vs Detroit
24th - vs Minnesota
29th - at Ottawa
DECEMBER
1st - at Montreal
4th - at Toronto
6th - vs Vancouver
8th - vs Anahiem
10th - vs Detroit
13th vs Colorado
15th - at Colorado
18th - at Minnesota
19th - at Chicago
22nd - vs Los Angeles
23rd - at Columbus
26th - at Chicago
27th - vs Columbus
29th - vs San Jose
31st - at Dallas
JANUARY
3rd - vs Edmonton
5th - vs Minnesota
7th - at Anehiem
8th - at Los Angeles
12th - at Columbus
13th - vs Chicago
15th - vs Calgary
17th - vs Anahiem
19th - at St. Louis
21st - vs St. Louis
22nd - at Colorado
24th - at Pheonix
29th - at Boston
31st - vs Columbus
FEBRUARY
2nd - vs Pheonix
5th - vs Carolina
7th - vs Tampa Bay
9th - at San Jose
10th - at Pheonix
12th - vs Detroit
14th - vs Chicago
16th - vs St. Louis
17th - at Minnesota
19th - vs Edmonton
21st - vs Vancouver
23rd - vs Dallas
27th - at Buffalo
MARCH
1st - at Dallas
4th - at Edmonton
6th - at Vancouver
7th - at Calgary
9th - at Detroit
11th - vs San Jose
13th - vs Los Angeles
15th - at Detroit
18th - vs Washington
20th - vs Detroit
22nd - vs Chicago
25th - vs Columbus
28th - at Columbus
30th - at Detroit
APRIL
1st - at St. Louis
3rd - vs St. Louis
4th - at Chicago
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 0:10:14 GMT -5
NHL Central Standings (Season) Team -- Win-Loss-OT-OTL | Detroit Red Wings 0-0-0-0 | | Columbus Blue Jackets 0-0-0-0 | | St. Louis Blues 0-0-0-0 | | Chicago Blackhawks 0-0-0-0 | | Nashville Predators 0-0-0-0 |
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 0:29:32 GMT -5
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September 30th, 2007
Blockbuster Six Person Swap Announced![/u]
True to his word Nashville GM Valentino was barely in his office two full days before announceing a blockbuster six person deal with the Chicago Blackhawks that saw forward Peter Forsberg, defensemen Greg De Vries and goaltender Pekka Rinne head to the windy city in exchange for Stanley Cup winning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, young up and coming defensemen Brent Seabrook, and grinding forward Denis Arkhipov.
"This trade we feel benefits both franchises immediate needs," stated Chicago GM Dale Tallon, "Khabby has been struggling the last couple of seasons and with our new young core of players a veteran like Peter Forsberg is too tempting an asset to pass up."
"I think this is a great trade. We now have a proven Stanley Cup goaltender in Nik Khabibulin and assuming Mason keeps up his steller play we can easily split the games and allow Nik to adjust at his own pace. Also I'm very excited to see Seabrook in a Predators uniform, he's a young defensemen with a rocket shot that I think in a couple of years will very easily be a top four defensemen. This is more the direction I feel our franchise needs to head, young players of tomorrow."
The terms of the deal were as per club policies not fully disclosed.
Credit: NHL.com
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 0:46:34 GMT -5
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October 2, 2007
Four Person Deal Closed Between Florida and Nashville.
Far from resting on his laurels following a league shaking six person deal, Nashville GM Johnny Valentino struck again today announceing a four person deal that will see his Predators ship centers Radek Bonk and Scott Nichol to Florida in exchange for young centermen Stephen Weiss and Rob Globke.
"It's a fantastic deal for us," said Panthers GM/Head Coach Jacques Martin. "Bonk is a very crafty center who will bring veteran poise to our young core. And Scotty Nichol is as tough a forward as they come. He's not afraid to muck it up in the boards and we need a more physical forecheck."
"As I've said all along, the Predators are returning to their identity of young, talented prototypical forwards. Weiss is a young and hungry 24 year old center who is just barely tapping his potential. He'll be a huge asset to us on the ice. And Rob Globke is just a step or two behind Weiss in development but a season or two in the minors tops and I see that kid on our third line. It's exciting stuff!" said Nashville GM Johnny Valentino.
The terms of the deal were as per club policies not fully disclosed.
Credit: NHL.com
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DGX
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 1:51:29 GMT -5
Game 1 - Thursday October 4th 2007 Colorado: 1 - Nashville: 5 New Stars Shine in Season Opening WinNASHVILLE (AR)
The Predators opened their 2007-2008 season Thursday night in Nashville against the Colorado Avalanche. This season brings much hope to the city of Nashville much as last year. Newly aquired goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin got the start tonight, wearing his old 35 now that he is out of Chicago. And Khabibulin looked very much like the 35 that terrorized the East in 2004, recording 50 saves in his opening effort, including robberies on breakaways by Brad Richardson and Andrew Brunette.
Nashville newcomer Stephen Weiss opened the scoring for the Predators at 2:33 in the first, pulling a crafty move that beat Colorado netminder Jose Theodore over his glove to put the Preds up 1-0. Furious action followed the opening goal, but after that Theodore seemed to get settled and began to turn away the shots. Each team had a shot with the man advantage in the first and both failed to convert.
At the start of the second the Predators struck again. Weiss cleanly won a faceoff shoveling the puck to the point, where Greg Zanon dished to partner Ryan Suter who let loose a howitzer from the point. Though Theodore got a huge piece of it, it trickled through his pads putting the Preds up 2-0. Colorado would get on the board later in the period with Dan Hamhuis off for tripping Andrew Brunette fed an alone in the slot Joe Sakic who ripped the puck past Nik Khabibulin to draw the Aves within one at 10:30 of the second!
That however was as close as the Aves would get. The third period quickly swung all the momentum Nashville's way. Fuelled by Khabibulin's inspiring robbery of a streaking Andrew Brunette, the Preds got the puck deep and fed the point where Shea Weber loosed a rocket from the blueline! Theodore made the save but right on his doorstep was Jason Arnott who shoveled the rebound home for his first at 3:41. The Preds would go on to add two more goals from Alexander Radulov on a nifty deke after a forced turnover and a beside the net gift for another of Nashville's newcomers, Denis Arkhipov from Jed Ortmeyer and Marek Zidlicky.
"This was the start we wanted," said Coach Barry Trotz, "Khabby played the way a player of his calibre is supposed to play and alot of the new hires did their part. I love what Valentino is doing, but defensively we need to tighten up, fifty one chances shouldn't be happening."
The Predators will look to build off their strong opening effort when they host the Dallas Stars in two days. |
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 2:08:58 GMT -5
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October 5, 2007
Nashville Predators trade RW JP Dumont to New Jersey Devils for RW Dainius Zubrus.
Credit: NHL.com
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 3:25:26 GMT -5
Game 2 - Saturday October 6th 2007 Dallas: 6 Nashville: 8 Despite Defensive Meltdown, Preds Hang On to Defeat StarsNASHVILLE (AR)
Head Coach Barry Trotz is breathing a long sigh of releif at the buzzer that signified the end of Saturdays tilt against the slumping Dallas Stars, who have now lost three in a row. The score was alot closer than it should have been, and everyone on the bench should really know it.
On the surface the game started great for Nashville, Khabibulin again getting the start following his amazing performance against Colorado. With pressure in the Dallas end David Legwand played give and go with new Predator Dainius Zubrus and despite Turco turning away their initial attempts, it was only a matter of time before Zubrus found the back of the net at 3:14 to open the scoring for the Preds. Just two minutes later Martin Erat screamed into the Dallas zone attempting to drop the puck to linemate David Legwand but the puck hit the skates of one of the Dallas defenders, and Erat quickly gobbled up the loose puck ripping it under Turco at 5:17 to improve the Predator advantage to 2-0. Barely a minute after that Alexander Radulov left a drop pass at the blueline that Ryan Suter blasted over Turco's shoulder to stretch the lead to three. In the dying minutes of the period a desperate Dallas team got on the board when Brad Winchester beat Nik Khabibulin over the blocker at 14:48.
The second period started with more of the same from the Predators, with Jeff Halpern sitting for tripping Stephen Weiss slickly stickhandled to the side of the net drawing Turco and the Dallas penalty killers before dishing to a wide open Steve Sullivan who converted on the powerplay at 4:53. The Preds kept throwing it on the Stars, with Darcy Hordichuk sitting for elbowing Jordin Tootoo intercepted a pass in the Dallas zone in the slot and shoveled the puck past Turco ending his night with a shorthanded goal at 6:15 in the second. At this point the score was 5-1 for the Predators. However Dave Tippett in addition to swapping netminders put his top line on the ice and they came through for him, Mike Modano getting the goal at 8:04 from Morrow and Ribeiro. The Pred stormed back drawing a pentalty on Brad Winchester for tripping and made the most of the chance, big Jason Arnott converting from Radulov and Seabrook. 6-2 for the Predators after two.
Dallas opened the third with penalty trouble and paid for it, Nashville again converting with Legwand cashing from Suter and Weber at 2:23. Dallas again took a pentalty almost immediately following this but Dave Tippett made an on the fly adjustment putting Niklas Hagman on the ice and the speedster broke out of the zone in a two on one with Stu Barnes who neatly beat Khabibulin in a two on one he had no chance on to cut the lead to four with a shorthanded tally at 3:21. Dallas would add three more from Robidas, Morrow and Modano but that would be as close as they came before former Star Jason Arnott iced their hopes with an empty net goal at 19:34.
"I honestly don't know what to make of this," said a flabbergasted Trotz, "that was a completely unacceptable defensive collapse but our special teams are clearly improving. It's still early in the season, I guess we can take this as a lesson, 'no lead is safe in the new NHL.'"
The Predators were three for six on the powerplay and two for two on the penalty kill. The team appears to still be finding it's chemestry but Valentino is rumored to not quite be done with the wheeling and dealing just yet. He could not be reached for comment at the time of this article. |
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DGX
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Joined on: Sept 12, 2007 16:17:37 GMT -5
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Post by DGX on Nov 15, 2007 19:12:04 GMT -5
Nashville: 12 St. Louis: 4 St. Louis Left Singing the Blues as Predators Maul BluesST. LOUIS (AR)
On the surface, it looked like it was going to be St. Louis's night. The seats had barely been sat in and the beer hadn't stopped foaming from the tap by the time the first goal buzzer sounded, as a mere 25 seconds in Christian Backmen pinching fed defense partner Jay McKee at the blueline who ripped a shot over the shoulder of Nashville netminder Chris Mason to get the night started for the Blues. A mere minute later, St. Louis captain Doug Weight beat Mason to stretch the advantage to two from Cajanek and Backman. Nashville appeared sluggish and stunned by the two quick goals but quickly set to work and began a fast paced grinding style of hockey that they have come to be associated with. And getting back to basics paid off handsomely as seven minutes later David Legwand converted on a two on one cross crease pass from Martin Erat to cut the lead to one. The rest of the period saw furious back and forth action as Nashville tightened up defensively before in the closing moments Martin Gelinas tied it up from Arnott and Weiss at 18:44.
The second period saw Nashville carry forward it's momentum and put heavy pressure on St. Louis netminder Manny Legace, but Legace proved up to the task as four minutes in Jamal Mayers broke out of the zone narrowly behind Nashville's defense and bured the chance to restore the St. Louis's lead at 4:49. This however seemed to awaken a beast on the visiting bench as not one minute later Nashville stormed back tieing the game up again on a goal from Stephen Weiss at 5:27. But that proved to be the Preds warm up act as barely two minutes later defensemen Brent Seabrook ripped a slap shot so hard from the point he not only beat Legace but also put the puck through the netting of the net. Weiss struck again at 10:41 from Tootoo and Radulov and Legwand closed the second's scoring at 13:19 with his second of the night from Zubrus.
The third period saw the scoring machine Nashville morphed into continue to strike as they began to systematically pick apart St. Louis's defense and deconstruct Manny Legace. The Blues couldn't seem to get anything going on, as even with Jason Arnott sitting for elbowing, the Predators broke into their zone and had them chasing the puck before Dainius Zubrus cashed in shorthanded. Martin Rucinsky replied for the Blues but that would be it for them as Nashville again took the game over with Brent Seabrook tallying his second of the night in a pinching slapper from the slot from Denis Arkhipov. Arkhipov showed his skill and grit by muscling to the front of the net and shoveling in a hard pass from Hordichuk that spelled the end of Legace's evening. Barely twenty seconds later they did it again in a snapshot replay on replacement netminder Jason Bacashihua. Arkhipov kept rampaging however as he struck again barely a minute after that with a high wrister from the slot that deflected off the shoulders and back of partner Jed Ortmeyer and landed behind Bacashihua. And insult to injury at the end of the period Jordan Tootoo converted on a cross crease pass from Weiss to put the final tally on the board.
"The new hires are doing great!" exclaimed head coach Barry Trotz, who was obviously elated at his teams performance, "we stumbled a little at the beginning but boy did we finish."
"Arky and Seabreeze were just insane," Captain Steve Sullivan was quoted as saying, "the whole team just followed their lead tonight! It was a great night! We'll definately take the two points for this one."
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