Author Archive for David Singleton

Is Today’s CBA Better for Nashville?

Yesterday, I read a Twitter discussion between Lyle Richardson (Spector), Dirk Hoag (The Forechecker), James Mirtle, and Greg Wyshynski (Puck Daddy) regarding the current CBA and potential changes for the new CBA.  Lyle opined that the salary cap has not helped the Nashville Predators.  He expressed the opinion that they are the same today as [...]

Minor Penalty- Too Many Men On Ice

As of Tuesday, July 06, 2010, the Predators will have 24 players on one-way contracts if you count likely contracts for the yet-to-be re-signed restricted free agents Patric Hornqvist, Ryan Parent, Cody Franson, and Mark Dekanich (or some other backup goalie).  That excludes Nick Spaling, who spent 28 games in Nashville last season and was [...]

And So It Begins…

It’s been an interesting past few days for Predators’ fans.  Right now, David Poile has a number of options available to him at the moment as well.  But first, let’s review the recent actions to date.
First, David Poile re-signed Francis Bouillon for two years at a $1.375 million cap hit.  Given my attempts at impersonating [...]

Being David Poile

In my last blog, I detailed the tough job that this offseason will be for David Poile.  In order to understand my thought process, as wacked as one might think it is, please read that entry if nothing more than to confirm your suspicions.
In this missive, I’m going to pretend I’m David Poile and outline [...]

Now What?

Firstly, congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks for a well played series.  I’d like to wish them good luck and good health on their series with the Vancouver Canucks.
With the offseason ahead of them, David Poile and Barry Trotz must now turn their focus toward improving this team for next season.  They’ve got their work cut [...]

Game 5 Thoughts, the Fallout, and Game 6

After Game 5, I had to step away from the keyboard.  I didn’t even want to see the reaction from my fellow Predator fans until I had time to digest all that occurred in that game.  After pondering and stewing in my thoughts, here are my thoughts going into tonight’s game.
If Nashville can put the [...]

Opportunities

There are times in everyone’s life when they are presented with significant opportunities.  That could be a new job, new house, or the creation of a new family.  For the Nashville Predators, their opportunity is to grab a pretty firm grip on their series with the Blackhawks and retain home ice advantage while establishing another [...]

AC/DC Concert at Preds-Hawks Game

Tonight, down at 501 Broadway, the Nashville Predators and their fans did their best impersonation of the high voltage metal band AC/DC.  They covered several of the Aussie band’s greatest hits.  It proved to be music to everyone’s ears and particularly fitting given that AC/DC did the soundtrack for Iron Man 2 and my colleague [...]

They Rinne Did It

Tonight, the Nashville Predators completed another historic “first” for the young franchise.  With their 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, they won the first road playoff game in their 11th attempt.
Last time, I presented my keys for Nashville to win the game (and series).  Let’s grade how well they did on those.
Contain Chicago [...]

Keys to a Nashville Win

Back after another long absence due to my real job, let’s look at the Nashville-Chicago series from the perspective of the Predators.  How can Nashville win this game?  Read on.
Shots on Goal
During the entire regular season, Nashville was 12th in the League in averaging 30.6 S/G (Chicago was first with 34.1 S/G).  Chicago was also [...]

Midseason Grades

This has been an exciting season for Predators fans- perhaps the most exciting rollercoaster in the country.
The rollercoaster has reached heights that many across the league didn’t think possible in consistently staying around the 5th or 6th seed in the Western Conference.  For Nashville fans, a lot of the ride to this point has been [...]

For Real?

Are the Predators for real?  The team’s fans are starting to ask that question.  They want to believe.  Should they?  Even that curmudgeon Felder’s easing up (just kidding Brandon).  For me, I need to define “for real” first.  Does “for real” mean making the playoffs?  Absolutely, they are for real then.  They have the talent, [...]

Pity Party

You are cordially invited to a Pity Party on 501 Broadway in Nashville, TN.  This is a recurring party held the day after every loss by the Nashville Predators.
Thanks to Dirk Hoag, The Forechecker, I read a piece by Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Michael Russo today- Sunday Insider: A Nashville State of Mind.  Russo’s article [...]

Held In Check

Last night, the Nashville Predators hitched their wagon to Dan Ellis and rode him to a 4 – 1 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks.  After Jonathan Toews stickhandled around Dan Hamhuis and Dan Ellis to put Chicago up 1 – 0 in the first, Dan Hamhuis found his jock strap in time to rifle [...]

Balancing Act

The Nashville Predators are a team behind most other teams when it comes to talent and skill.  At least that’s what most forum jockeys and media members will attest since the Predators have an internal budget roughly $8 million below most other teams (meaning a budget at the midpoint of the salary cap).  Given the [...]

Six Straight

Last night saw the Nashville Predators skate off the ice with their 6th win in a row and their 11th in their past 14 games.  Pekka Rinne has ten of those eleven wins in that time frame.
Martin Erat led the way on the score sheet with two goals, while the leaders on this team continue [...]

Random Thoughts

After about a week of production hell at the office, followed by both kids having ear infections, I’m so glad to write another hockey blog.
Fortunately, Mark has been doing great work covering the Predators for HockeyIndependent.  Hopefully he and BD won’t realize they don’t need me, because I do enjoy it.
It’s been about two weeks [...]

In Search of Responsibility

On October 28, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appeared before Congress to answer questions regarding the correlation of football and sustaining concussions due to hits to the head.
On Friday, October 30th, Allan Muir of SI.com broached the subject of head-hunting in the NHL.
On Monday, November 2nd, Darren Eliot of SI.com wrote a column addressing concussions and [...]

Hard Times

It’s been a difficult time in Nashville, Tennessee for sports fans.  I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a successful active team in the city between football and hockey.  Among the NFL’s Titans, the NHL’s Predators, University of Tennessee football, and (recently) Vanderbilt University football there was always one, and usually many more, that [...]

NASHVILLE DEFEATS OTTAWA

 
This time, the headline is accurate.  No really.  The six game losing streak is really over.
What a Jekyll and Hyde game tonight- especially so for Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.
First two periods, Nashville plays aggressive forechecking, forcing turnovers and putting pucks on net.  Tonight they made their own luck early on.
Then there was this thing [...]

Regroup and Attack!

The past few games have seen many line combinations iced by Barry Trotz.  However, no line has looked exceptionally good for an entire game.  There have been players that have generally played well individually.  Patric Hornqvist, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Joel Ward and Colin Wilson have all generally played consistently well and to their potential.  [...]

You Make Your Own Luck

A successful team makes their own luck.  Tonight in Boston, the Bruins forced the puck to bounce their way.  An aggressive forecheck in the third period forced Nashville to play on their heels and turn the puck over and, with the assistance of the referee being in Shea Weber’s path to the puck, Boston capitalized [...]

Looking Back… and Forward

What We Saw Thursday
Thursday night saw a few changes for the struggling Predators in an effort to right the ship.  Mike Santorelli was sent to Milwaukee and was replaced by Cal O’Reilly.  J.P. Dumont returned to the lineup.  The top power play unit was modified by dropping Ryan Suter, adding Patric Hornqvist down low, and [...]

I Picked the Wrong Time to Watch Hockey

Last night was the first time I’ve really been able to set down and watch hockey for about a week given issues I’ve been having with DirecTV due to storm damage. During that time, I’ve been unable to see most of the game with Buffalo and was unable to see any of the game against [...]

Passion Is A Funny Thing

“…put NHL teams in cities where fans will embrace the teams and love them like they deserve to be loved.”
With all due respect to John Saqell and the many passionate fans that agree with that misguided notion, it’s not that simple.
Jim Balsillie purposely used the internet and the media to incite these feelings [...]

Nashville Defeats Dallas 3-2 (SO); JP Dumont Injured

Box Score
Full disclosure: I missed almost all of the first period, and all comments reflect what I actually viewed.
The Good

Jason Arnott – Arnott picked up where he left off by scoring a goal and adding an assist.  Nice physical game played by the captain.
Steve Sullivan – Gets off to a good start by scoring a [...]

Nashville Predators- 96pts, 6th Seed, 2010 Playoffs

Crazy?
While my wife might disagree, I don’t think so.  Of course, I certainly have them higher than most.
Last season, they finished with 88pts- three points from the eighth seed.  Most think they will not be better this year, but I disagree.
Before delving too much into this blog, I’ve already detailed much of the statistical information I’m [...]

Measuring the Impact – Steve Sullivan (Updated)

After Steve Sullivan’s return last season, the Predators had one of the highest winning percentages of the league.  Could Sullivan’s presence have that much impact?  Let’s see.
 There are several area’s I wanted to look at specifically to see the potential impact of Sullivan’s return: the statistics of line mates Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont; the [...]

Projecting the Predators’ Roster

Preseason is (thankfully) over and the regular season is set to begin with a visit to the Dallas Stars Saturday, October 3rd.
That said, there’s still some work to do in order to finalize the roster that will be making the trip.  Unfortunately for the coaching staff, some nagging injuries are probably making this more difficult [...]

A Fresh Start: Glancing At the Predators

It’s been nearly two years since I’ve blogged about hockey in general, and the Nashville Predators specifically.  Before I get too far, I have to thank Jay for giving me my first opportunity back in 2007 with PredNation.com (now defunct) and to B.D. for giving me my second opportunity here at HockeyIndependent.com.  My start was [...]