Former Nashville Predators defenseman Marek Zidlicky could both delight and frustrate fans during his time with the Preds, and that kind of roller-coaster characterization appears to have caught up with him in Minnesota, as well. Our afternoon hockey notes get rolling today with Zidlicky venting his frustration over several recent scratches...
Smashville 24/7: Know the Enemy: Smithson previews road trip
Smitty talks up the challenge this week.
Red Light District Hockey: Bold predictions for second half
I'm gonna say Ryan is going to be wrong on one of these quite quickly: "Whether Poile makes a big or small splash, he will improve the Predators’ lineup this month." It's January 31st, and David Poile only has a few hours left...
Unhappy Wild defenseman Marek Zidlicky: "I can't be quiet" | StarTribune.com
The former Pred is ready for a ticket out of town, and spoke candidly with Mike Russo earlier today about his frustrations with his coach.
Is Jeff Carter’s unhappiness in Columbus scaring off trade partners? | Puck Daddy
Do ya think? Remember, he has a no-trade clause which kicks in next season, so whoever ends up with him had better be confident that it will work out. Do we have the next Alexei Yashin in the making?
Claude Giroux and Evgeni Malkin – A Study of MVP Candidate Contrasts " The Hockey Guys
Will the MVP battle come down to a race between a Penguin and a Flyer?
Agents of Change: Ritch Responds - The Press
Player agent Ritch Winter perhaps goes a bit overboard responding to a blog post at the Vancouver Sun, but there's a lot of extra meat on these bones, about the nature of sports reporting. This, for me, is pure gold - "Write objectively about management in a critical way and you will be cut off. The bias of the beat reporter is everywhere. And it’s important for fans to see through that. The local columnist less so because he is not on the team beat, but if you don’t realize all this, you are going to waste a lot of time around the water cooler talking management perspectives that have no real basis in fact. And it’s not every sports’ reporter’s fault. They are biased like the rest of us." When access to players and management is your prime selling point, you have to preserve that relationship above all else.
Journalism and the ethics of hockey blogging - Backhand Shelf
Daniel Wagner, in turns, walks through the issues of journalistic standards and how they apply (or don't apply) to bloggers of various forms.
Islanders To Play Preseason Game in Brooklyn; Ironic Glasses Optional - Lighthouse Hockey
Verrrrrrry interesting...
Joel Ward struggling to find his scoring touch - Capitals Insider - The Washington Post
Obviously Washington Capitals head coach Dale Hunter doesn't know Ward's secret offensive activation command word.
Down Goes Brown: Great moments in all-star weekend history
"1994 - After over a decade of mass confusion caused by impossibly obscure terms like "Wales" and "Campbell" the league switches to an East vs. West format that finally allows hockey to explode in popularity, according to Gary Bettman's imagination."
How has Brendan Shanahan performed as the NHL’s chief disciplinary? | Puck Daddy
I give him pretty high marks.
Flyers tell Zac Rinaldo to hit less: Is that happening, and is it a good thing? - Broad Street Hockey
Maybe they're angry at him for hitting Ryan Suter?
Jay's Gems or Feaster's Follies: A Look at 13 Months as Flames GM | The Hockey Writers
Since taking over as GM, Feaster has slowly but surely made changes in Calgary. But have they gone deep enough?
Apple Valley Man Arrested for DUI on Zamboni - Hockey Wilderness
Presented without comment.
So everyone agrees that real-time stats are pretty useless, right? - Backhand Shelf
Say it again with me - Hits, Giveaways & Takeaways are completely worthless stats. The NHL is wasting their money recording them right now, and if they want to continue, they should at least establish standards from rink to rink.
Stat-Mining: 10 fun stats from the 2011-2012 season - Backhand Shelf
A collection of oddball numbers.
The Whiteboard: what’s your responsibility on a lost d-zone faceoff? - Backhand Shelf
No, not "chicken with head cut off" isn't it.
Red Light " Injury questions clouding NHL
Are injury rates in the NHL perhaps tied to team-specific factors? Stu Hackel looks at a number of possible explanations.
0 recs | 33 comments
Can anyone really blame Carter for being unhappy in Columbus? Have you been to Columbus? The best thing to see in Columbus is it in your rearview mirror
Creeping Death - January 31, 2012
Oh boy...
A zamboni DUI?? Hahaha, wow.
davisca - January 31, 2012 via Android app
Trade Hillen for Zidlicky back?
DonBorvio - January 31, 2012
yes!
Creeping Death - January 31, 2012
Noooooooooooooooo!!!
The Zman is #1 on my least favorite Pred of all time list. Let him continue to turn the puck over for a conference foe. :)
Grizzledbear - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Then we should definitely take him back!
DonBorvio - February 1, 2012
REC'D!
Shawn Kehoe - February 1, 2012
If GMDP did that,he’d face a mob of 17,191 storming out of Bridgestone Arena carrying torches and pitchforks.
Hockey Hillbilly - January 31, 2012
Apparently a mob of just one, GB up there.
DonBorvio - February 1, 2012
I’ll bring my posse. :)
Grizzledbear - February 1, 2012 via mobile
I wish!
Klein(er) - January 31, 2012
Oh, and in other news:
Nashville didn’t get the ASG next year because the Music City Center will not be finished in time. Bettman’s on record saying we’d get it soon – so probably 2015 after the Olympics.
They made a joke on NHL Home Ice saying if Columbus is hosting an All-Star Game, will they want an NHL team there too? (sick burn)
DonBorvio - January 31, 2012
Not sure if the nhl would do two central teams back to back (minus the Olympics)
Unless their is no more central division then
IG-PRED8 - January 31, 2012
But Bettman loves playing hockey in markets that annoy Canadians!
Stormyt - January 31, 2012
I actually like Zidlicky
I think he could be a good addition to the team. They need at least another D-Man who is pretty consistent. Maybe give the Wild a young ok prospect?
TootooReigns - January 31, 2012
Z still has another year on his contract at 4 mill. Zanon would be a better fit
grassman - January 31, 2012
I'd love to aquire Zanon
Our penalty kill will be in top shape, we can make a deep run and take some pressure off of our top two defensemen. One of the best defensive defenseman in the league on our blue-line again would be great, plus he’s a veteran.
Klein(er) - January 31, 2012
He might be a fit for the flyers?
Has already played with Timonen
IG-PRED8 - January 31, 2012
Zidlicky is a terrible hockey player. I will disavow all loyalties to the Preds and become a Wings fan if we make that boneheaded move.
Shawn Kehoe - February 1, 2012
It's kindof sad to read through the remarks in the Joel ward Piece
fans calling for his head and such
Herzausstein - January 31, 2012
He got (over) paid, the preds were the perfect for Joel. He will be back when Smithson retires.
grassman - January 31, 2012
He got paid for his performance in the playoffs
they were hoping he could maintain that but history and his career have shown otherwise…but still sad
Herzausstein - January 31, 2012
This is a big boy job with big boy pay. He should put up points equivalent to his contract or expect the venom.
Shawn Kehoe - February 1, 2012
Where's the game thread?
Klein(er) - January 31, 2012
usually shows up about 1/2 hr before game
so prob around 7
Herzausstein - January 31, 2012
I’m getting a little worried. I need my hockey fix. If it doesn’t show up should we post here?
jerseypredsfan - January 31, 2012
i agree
i’ve been going crazy waiting for hockey that mattered
Herzausstein - January 31, 2012
Bakht Khan (sp). is this you? If so I like the new handle.
jerseypredsfan - January 31, 2012
Calling Dirk!!!
GDT Please!! We can’t let the mojo get off track…the team needs us!!!
TitanPredBearFan - January 31, 2012
Check the front page again
Dirk Hoag - January 31, 2012
Someone wanna throw up a fanpost-Fan Shot?
and we can use it for the time being?
TitanPredBearFan - January 31, 2012
so these teams must win tonight
Nashville, Calgary, Vancouver, and Columbus
Herzausstein - January 31, 2012
Wait... What?
Ward can’t score? I’m confused. I thought his postseason production meant he was prolific? I don’t understand this NHL thing.
Shawn Kehoe - February 1, 2012
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