Frederick Breedon - Getty Images
over 1 year ago: NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 09: Fans gather outside the Bridgestone Arena before the game between the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators on October 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
Given the upcoming negotiations between the Predators and the City of Nashville over the lease at Bridgestone Arena, the big news of the day comes from the latest Pollstar rankings, which place the Bridge 6th in US concert attendance for the second straight year. That isn't half-bad for what's listed as the 38th-largest metropolitan area in the country! We're coming after you, Providence...
Of course, there's the usual boatload of hockey news to follow - there are trade speculation articles, mid-season reviews, criticism of under-performing players, and a whole lot more!
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Bridgestone Arena Ranks 6th In U.S. Concert Attendance - Nashville Predators
Chalk up another banner year for Bridgestone Arena.
Smashville 24/7: Smashville On The Glass - Mid-season Review
Ryan & Buddy welcome in Jeremy & Robby to look back at the season so far.
Canes Country Radio 1/6/12 - Guests: Jeremy K. Gover and Dave Droschak
Jeremy also guests on this Carolina Hurricanes podcast, setting up tomorrow's game.
Slumping Giants: The Big Money of the Nashville Predators | The Predatorial
Jeremy calls out some of the high-paid Preds who aren't getting it done lately.
The Hippodrome: The Winners & Losers In The Sports Talk Shakeout | Pith in the Wind
J.R.'s weekly spin around Nashville takes us up and down the radio dial.
GameTime Jersey: 2011 Nashville Predators " GameTimeArt.net
Here's an Edmonton blogger who can't stand the Preds, but digs the new uniforms.
Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden on the legacy of hockey's fighting spirit - Grantland
Eloquent words from Dryden on the difference between "fight" and "fighting".
Capitals, Kings among the big stories so far - The Globe and Mail
Eric Duhatschek sums up the first half of the NHL season as only he can.
The Peerless Prognosticator: Fighting...Does It Matter?
There's a particularly awful bit of analysis out there which links hockey fights to "momentum", and it's getting a ton of press these days. Peerless takes it to task here.
Canes Now - Jokinen eager to wing it again | newsobserver.com blogs
As Carolina comes to town for tomorrow's game, Jussi Jokinen is glad to be back on the wing.
Armchair GM: Jen's Fire Sale Core Player Trades - Anaheim Calling
Jen gets a little silly with how the Ducks might go about restructuring their lineup.
Getzlaf, Ryan want to stay - The Orange County Register
Should we read anything into the fact that Corey Perry isn't included in this article?
A 9-0 Loss: That Which Is Simply Impossible To Ignore - Matchsticks and Gasoline
Was last night the straw which breaks the proverbial camel's back in Calgary? Will the Flames finally launch into a rebuild?
Who is actually the best shot-blocker in the NHL? - Backhand Shelf
Predictably, ex-Predator Greg Zanon places highly here.
It's Time for the Sellers to Sell - Puck Drunk Love
Actually, they'll generally let the bidding process play out for quite a while, we're still several weeks away from the NHL Trade Deadline on February 27.
Trade rumblings: Leafs, Bolts, Ducks in mix - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
Here's a look at what a few teams may be looking for.
Lightning trades Blair Jones to Flames for defenseman - Lightning Strikes | Tampa Bay Times
Zzzzz...
A Sobering & Inspirational Moment For Hockey Fans - SBNation.com
Take a moment and check this out, it'll tug at your heartstrings.
Joffrey Lupul – the Leafs newest Superstar finally reaching his potential - The Hockey Writers
After teasing for the last few years, Joffrey Lupul stands 6th in NHL scoring right now, one of the pleasant surprises of the Maple Leafs' season.
Pucks to the face and head appear to be on the rise with zero chance of a decline - Backhand Shelf
Just in case you were wondering how much a slapshot to the face sucks.
The Sidney Crosby concussion vs. the economics of the NHL | Puck Daddy
In today's concussion-aware NHL, can teams afford to lock up stars for 10+ years, and risk losing them to injury for extended periods?
Video: Czech teams’ imaginative solution for broken glass problem | Puck Daddy
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Flyers, Rangers fan fight: Edward Neary didn't do it, Philadelphia Police still searching for three idiots - Broad Street Hockey
This doesn't look good for anybody.
Steve Who? | mc79hockey.com
Are the Oilers heading towards another lottery pick, and should that cost Steve Tambellini his job?
Numbers show just how great Bruins have been - NHL.com
1st in Goals For & Goals Against... that ain't bad at all.
0 recs | 16 comments
I should have let that prepare me.
Thanks for all of these, Dirk! Excellent job, as always! And thank you, Mrs. Forechecker!
ILovethe#6CannonFire - January 6, 2012
Yep, poor little guy.
DonBorvio - January 6, 2012
Alright, that just caused me to tear up. :( That plane crash tragedy is something I’ll never get over.
Wouldn’t it be great if that lil guy grew up to be a Dman for his dads old team?
Grizzledbear - January 6, 2012 via mobile
I won’t either.
That would be an awesome thing and I hope we get to see it one day!
ILovethe#6CannonFire - January 6, 2012
The NHLPA has come out against the NHL's realignment plan!
Just heard this on the Devils broadcast tonight. A few of us here thought this might happen and it did. Fehr is not to be taken lightly, Bettman should have run this by him before he got the lapdog BofG to approve this thing.
Grizzledbear - January 6, 2012 via mobile
I heard they agreed on a new alignment. Its going to be whatever teams Ovi and Crosby play for in one conference and all the other teams in the other. Playoffs will be higher seeds play lower seeds with the final being Crosby vs. Ovi
Creeping Death - January 6, 2012
That was probably Bettman’s Plan A option, LOL!
The story is on ESPN’s NHL site. No realignment for the 12/13 season.
Grizzledbear - January 6, 2012 via mobile
This makes me way less optimistic for the new CBA negotiations.
Stormyt - January 6, 2012
Hoo boy.
Here’s Fehr f$#@ing up another league. I never liked that guy.
DonBorvio - January 6, 2012
Meh, I wasn’t a fan of the realignment anyway, so not disappointed by this.
Grizzledbear - January 6, 2012 via mobile
Well, you were in the minority.
DonBorvio - January 6, 2012
A vibrant minority. :)
Grizzledbear - January 6, 2012 via mobile
a minority none the less.
this sucks.
Shawn Kehoe - January 7, 2012
I definitely agree with that.
I also find it interesting that the players interviewed were all in the East, which has muCh less travel than the West.
Evanbio - January 7, 2012
Game time
I really wonder what this guy has against the Preds. And the fact that he calls Cort Fin a douche says he has no clue what he’s talking about.
Evanbio - January 7, 2012
Yeah, I wonder too. He must have run into some very opinionated Preds fans or something, because I think most of us are very low-key, friendly people…
davisca - January 7, 2012
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