On the Forecheck

Blake's situation reminds of this quote:

Pressure. Changes everything. Some people, you squeeze them, they focus. Some people fold.

Yes, I’m quoting Al Pacino as the Devil. (Devil’s Advocate). shrug

i'm hoping it works out for the fella

Preds of State - February 21, 2012 reply

I personally like...

Pressure. Pushing down on me. Pushing down on you, no man ask for.

Digital rights continue to be a thorny issue for the league to sort out, leading ~~to some odd broadcast restrictions at times.~~people to find illegal video streams to watch the game of their choice.

Fixed

I’m still peeved that the Friday game against the Red Wings was blacked out on Center Ice and NHL Network for me.

Griz-ATL - February 20, 2012 reply

are you trying to suggest that someone would watch an illegal feed?

…..

Eklund rumor: Hemsky to Nashville?

Just saw this.

zodloungetom - February 20, 2012 reply

yeah hockeybuzz has that as a headline

but no substance

Interesting!

Maybe something will come through later tonight? Poile DID just celebrate his own contract signing today… why not celebrate another?

EK just throwing dookey against the wall again...

although I hope it actually sticks this time (well as long as it doesn’t mean Ryan Ellis is involved.) Betcha Ellis is the sticking point to getting this done though. Come on Edmonton, take Blum. He’s…….taller.

Probably, but it would be nice to get all this speculation crap over with. Man would it be nice to not constantly worry about whether Poile will be able to find the right guy and bring him here. Good thing I’m not GMDP! Can you imagine the pressure? Yeesh.

Also, Ellis better stay right here. With the amount of potential he has, he is NOT worth giving up. He’s like the Colin Wilson of our defense… one day, he’s gonna be freaking awesome…

More Hemsky-jabber on HockeyBuzz.

Here’s the post, but I’m more interested in his suggestion for the trade than the actual truth of it.

To Nashville: Ales Hemsky, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Theo Peckham
To Edmonton: Jon Blum, Anders Lindback, and 2nd Round Pick

Huh. Thoughts?

blech

Can we leave all that extraneous junk out of it? And just do Hemsky for Blum and a pick?

Blum and a Pick should be enough. Lindback could be offered on a different deal, but not this. This one is blech . . .

why would we want to trade linders away to get khabibulin

Exactly

we would be giving Lindback away for free and for what? To keep our 1st by trading our now non-existant 2nd away, giving up a very important trading piece and taking on a terrible contract to boot? Now I know where they REALLY got their name cause there is serious drug-taking going on over at hockeybuzz.

Exactly.

Eklund and his ilk just make stuff up. I still remember when he was claiming Kessel might sign with us, and actually posted “No deal with Toronto imminent” while Kessel was signing with the Leafs.

He just makes stuff up. Everybody (including us) has been saying Nashville’s looking at Hemsky.

MaASPredFan - February 20, 2012 reply

I just read the actual post on hockeybuzz and it was the last line that got me:

Lindback is the real key to this deal for the Oilers, and keep in mind the Preds, who have a history of developing excellent goalies, have another great prospect named Chet Pickard in development

Credibility….um, no.

maybe the oilers office is reading this and think Pickard's the real deal

Shhhh, if there’s anyone who actually belives he has credibility, let them think that Pickard is great. Problem is, there would never be a GM who checked Eklund’s stuff.

LuvthePreds - February 20, 2012 reply

I dunno… maybe that’s why Columbus has sucked for all these years…

Creeping Death - February 20, 2012 reply

careful in your making fun… our GM did draft him….

I doubt it was because of Eklund’s opinion. :P It’s a mental thing with Chet.

Creeping Death - February 20, 2012 reply

I intended to make fun of Eklund for his current assessment. Still hoping that Pickard turns things around, but it doesn’t seem to be happening yet.

LuvthePreds - February 21, 2012 reply

cause there aren’t enough drunk drivers in Nashville

ba-zzzzing!

We do it

if we want to sweeten the deal to get Hemsky… I’m not sure if we do… but we take Hab-i, a serviceable backup and they take Lindback, a goalie with a possible big future… For the time being we both have good backups goalies, but they get a goalie for the future to sweeten the deal for Target X, who we really want… This type of trade might be made with a lot of different teams (I’m hoping for the Blue Jackets, cough, cough)

musamonster - February 20, 2012 reply

Horrible

I’d hope the Preds wouldn’t trade for an over-the-hill goalie with another year on an oversize contract, a bad back, and who just pulled his groin and will be out for 7-10 days.

Seriously, don’t waste your time on Hockeybuzz.

Dirk Hoag - February 20, 2012 reply

hockey buzz decides their trade ideas the same way trotz does lines

No way this happens.

Yep I was wondering most about Khabibulin.

I knew he’s old and I hasn’t been great this year, but I wasn’t sure about him historically (especially injury-wise, considering his age and position). I figured someone on here would know!

Creeping Death - February 20, 2012 reply

just pulled his groin

Dirk, let’s leave his private life out of this ;)

I only venture over there to ever read Paul’s stuff and sometimes check out some other team bloggers. That edmonton guy gave me a good laugh today tho.

The throw in of Peckham almost got me more than Khabibulin. We have 8 dmean on the roster as is and trading Blum wont reduce that number any.

Joel Ward is my Homeboy - February 20, 2012 reply

any word on if Gill will play tomorrow night?
we have history with him…..

missy - February 20, 2012 reply

I can't think of a reason he wouldn't.

That fight is from 2009, though… is the blood still that bad??

meh, probably not.
it’s just our best memory of him. beating beat up by the Pitbull.

missy - February 20, 2012 reply

That is pretty funny! He’s so little…. part of me wonders if Hal just didn’t want to kill him, haha.

Dumont'sShorts - February 20, 2012 reply

I'm getting on the Hemsky train

Since BJs won’t trade us Nash, and St. Louis won’t leave Tampa, I’ve decided I like Hemsky. As long as the price is right.

Hey, as long as he can stay healthy (and we ARE used to Martin Erat...), I'm all for him!

It seems like he could be massively productive, given the right circumstances.

Dumont'sShorts - February 20, 2012 reply

He also seems like somebody we could afford in the off season if we kick the tires, take the drive and like what we see. Blum and a 3rd? (On a side note, poor Blum, really, how did he become everybody’s trade fodder? And is his value even that high?)

I know, I kinda feel bad for Blum… poor guy. I’m not sure what happened to him… I think he’s still a talented player with a lot of potential (which is what other teams would want from him), and he could probably do well with on team, but I think he just got squeezed out of here by better players (Josi and Ellis are superior rookies… it’s gotta be hard to compete with them, as another rookie). So I THINK he’s trade value is probably still pretty high (at least I hope so). The HockeyBuzz article suggests Ellis for Hemsky, but I think that’s MASSIVELY overpaying (even in a seller’s market), and I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen. I’d say a pick and someone like Blum, yea, but what do I know haha.

*with another

Dumont'sShorts - February 20, 2012 reply

If we had to cough up Ellis, I’d pass. I see him as an insurance policy if we don’t sign one of the big two.

Me too. That’s exactly it.

I would second that. I like Hemsky for the right price. Ellis is too much.

Catwoman - February 20, 2012 reply

I we trade Ellis in a package for anything less than a Bobby Ryan or Zach Parise…I’m gonna pout like a 3 year old. :(

i'd probably do that too

he may be undersized but i think he’s proving that he can hang in the nhl even if it’s just in a limited role

I'll pout with you two.

Where do we sign up for that trade?

Hemsky? Really?

4 goals this year. Another Bergfors.

is he even THAT good? and he misses tons of games.

djzielin - February 20, 2012 reply

1 goal in his last 30 games

and it ‘s not like he’s not getting any ice time. At least 15 minutes a game. Surely the Predators can do better than him, and if they can’t, not worth giving up any assets. Just wait until this summer, when he can probably be had for next to nothing.

His PPG pace since the lockout is better than any Pred’s by far. If his S% was typical of his career he’d have 9 goals year. He’s battled injuries and had to play a shutdown-line role for the Oilers, and is coming on strong now. The Bergfors comp doesn’t make any sense.

1 goal in 30 games is coming on strong?

Guess your criteria for coming on strong is different than mine.

Kind of hard to conveniently ignore assists when talking about a playmaker

1 G/13 A in the past 2 months

If he works for you

fine. I see him as another passing forward. Don’t the Predators have enough of those already? Now if he could bury some breakaways………………..

Joel Ward is my Homeboy - February 20, 2012 reply

No to Hemsky. We all go crazy seeing the passes instead of shots. Get Hemsky and it’ll be another Erat with a glass body. No way in hell should we give up Ellis or Josi for someone that doesn’t put it in the back of the net. I understand an assist means SOMEONE scores but I’d rather have a scorer.

PharmDPred - February 20, 2012 reply

+100000

The guy has been knocked out of large chunks of the last 3 seasons for shoulder related issues if I’m not mistaken. Not sure how well you come back from that. Plus the asking price is waaaaay too high on him IMO. Get a #1 center and a comparable winger that isn’t made of glass.

I think the problem is the number of players who are realistically available to us and also give us what we need. It’s a small list.

I'd rather have a pure goal scorer like Carter

but barring that, Hemsky seems like the best skill player available. And he is good at burying breakaways…who could forget: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDbEX666G3Y

Look at his stats over the years...

Here. He has consistently put up just below point-per-game numbers (approximately – I’m not gonna do the math right now) for the last 6 seasons. This year, in comparison, seems like quite the fluke.

Don’t let his season fool you. He IS that good. Damaged goods, sure, but he’s got the most skill available for the lowest cost. Get him AND get somebody else.

Agreed. And if we could get someone else with him, that would be awesome. STASNY! Haha...

Oh, and I like your tag-line thing by the way.

That’s what I’ve been saying!! Stastny and Hemsky!!
And thanks — it’s the truth.

He would make life SO MUCH EASIER. Silly Russian.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v510/dcshoecousa07/But_Radulov.gif

Silly Russian, sticks are for pucks!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vn31F-ln1uo

oops wrong link

The first one’s pretty funny.

When his name was tossed out there before, I watched a bit of Oilers hockey. He has great puck control and some really nice moves, the puck just wastn’ going in the net but he wasn’t getting ANY support either. My vote would be yes.

Catwoman - February 20, 2012 reply

Lets go after a Sabres forward.. Hemsky skeeres me. He isn’t scoring on a team known for scoring…..Which makes him part of Edmontons problem.

Predator Don - February 20, 2012 reply

The only Sabre that would fit well, would be Gaustad — though he doesn’t bring much scoring. He is big, a great face/off guy and grrrrrrrrity and grimy. I thought this whole thing now is about adding a scorer . . . but I’d personally love to have Gaustad on the squad.

Gaustad would be great but if he was the ONLY piece we picked up I would be pissed.

I’d give him a go. He’d be a great shutdown defender and faceoff guy for the playoffs, though he’s never scored in them . . .

I’d love to have him for his size…he’d be a better Smithson. But the Preds need scoring….preferably in the #1 center kind of pickup (haha, I know), but any kind of scoring actually at this point.

As far as Hemsky goes….my dream line would be Wilson/Smith/Hemsky. Can you imagine what HB’s stats could be with both of those guys feeding him pucks?? Yeah, I know, might be a BIG defensive liabilty with those 3 together but we are talking my dream world.

That... would... be... AWESOME. (Yes, scary defensively, but like you said: dream world!)

My dream line would be Wilson/Smith/Hemsky. Can you imagine what HB’s stats could be with both of those guys feeding him pucks??

Good point. I do think Smithson deserves a better fate, but I think with anyone that gets added, he’ll be the odd man out.

More and more, I’m thinking a Hemsky deal will happen. No Bulin, if you please. Wilson/Smith/Hemsky would be fun to watch.

Maybe Smithson can pull a Mathieu Dandenault, and switch to defense. He does have size and grit. Just saying . . .

He does play an extremely defensive game most of the time anyway…. Hmmm…!

I remember the last time we tried to last ditch effort a guy...

Remember Ville Koistinen? Tried to put him on the wing just to find a spot for him….experiment failed.

Holy crap, I had forgotten about him!

AAH! KOISTINEN!!!

Klein(er) - February 20, 2012 reply

I remember his first NHL goal vs CBJ

Game winner :D

Klein(er) - February 20, 2012 reply

A bad example. More size and heart from Smithson, who plays a tougher game than Ville played, which could transition to what he naturally does. An offensive d-man going to wing, is tougher than a defensive 4th liner going to defense. I think he’d work harder at it, anyway.

Joel Ward is my Homeboy - February 20, 2012 reply

Derek Roy

Enough passers. More shooters.

Boring night in the NHL

only two games and looks like both are going to be blowouts

Yuuuup.

I wonder if Carolina can beat Ottawa’s 6 goals.

4 in less than half a game so far

also glad that it's a busy week

i hate weeks where we only play 2 games…. it bores me and it seems to make us play better when we are playing everyother day

Apparently

@Hockeyinsiderr on twitter got his feelings hurt by mean old Mr. Sam Page’s funny E.K.L.U.N.D. article. It’s hilariously immature over on twitter right now

lynchc1 - February 20, 2012 reply

Oh man, he is PISSED. That’s so great. He sounds like a high school guy who got turned down by the hot girl in front of everyone, and is trying to restore his ego.

what'd he say

it says, person does not exist

guess he deleted his twitter

Here’s the link.

two y’s in Hockeyy on his name.

the extra letters make it extra reliable.

CAustin - February 20, 2012 reply

I want to be HockeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyInsiderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr then.

Okay I am just tossing this out there, so don't start throwing stuff at me,

but wil getting Hemsky convince Suter and Weber that ownership is in it for the big prize? Is he that good or are we getting ourselves into another Lombardi player?

ablairnash - February 20, 2012 reply

No it won’t. That’s why they need to get him and another scorer. Insert scorer . . .

Where is this "magical" scorer going to come from???

I fear that a lot of folks expectations are going to be dashed like a pidgeon in front of a Randy Johnson fastball. This trade deadline is like an auction with the limited sellers holding ALL the cards. Quality “scorers”, even rentals are going to cost an arm and a leg. The type of deal some people want, you had better be prepared when your favorite Predator gets the heave-ho. We do need someone, I hope we get someone, but Rick Nash, Carter, and insert other 50-70 point player here is not landing on Broadway this season. If you want said player, you had better be prepared to bet the farm, and be ready for a funky contract that makes getting rid of a timeshare a walk in the park.

I’ll take Hemesky, we will be lucky if it only costs us Blum and a second.

I agree with what you’re saying. Maybe betting the farm isn’t the best idea, and certainly won’t happen, but everyone knows a scorer is needed. A shooter like David Jones? I guess the “magical” scorer would be Radulov, but who knows about that situation. I’m sure phone calls are being made to facilitate something for the team. Moving Suter is probably the only way a real scorer gets acquired otherwise. Not saying this should happen. AT ALL.

Maybe DP will hire someone like Blackwater to extract Radulov from Russia ;)

Talk about betting the farm!

Blackwater is poison. So they did what they all do… rebranded.
Welcome to the NEW, FRIENDLY mercenaries… Xe!!!
But they weren’t new and friendly enough.
NOW even NEWWER and FRIENDLIER mercenaries…Academi!!!

cisar - February 21, 2012 reply

Just like that ~~AIG~~ ALGA building I see on Old Hickory Rd. (254)

DonBorvio - February 21, 2012 reply

Moving Suter would certainly open a whole lot of options, however, if this is the year you want to make a run, addition by subtraction is no bueno in my humble opinion. So, I think a pick up like Hemesky would be a relativly cheap addtion who may only need a change of venue to set him on fire. At worst you picked up a good depth player to forestall any issues that may arise due to injury. You can always cut bait at the end of the season because he is UFA. As far as Rads, the Unicorn that he is, is a more likely scenario. My personal bet is if his KHL team tanks in the first or second round he is on the first trans-atlantic flight back to the states, pending he can get in the barn for one regular season game. He has a perfectly great track record on bolting on contracts………and he is crafty, he knows he would be RFA after only ONE game back. Hence, his real payday cometh.

and “more likely scenario” I mean the only way we get that “magical scorer” this year, this season.

Totally agree with all of this.

Hemsky could seriously kill it playing with a fellow Czech like Erat.

Perhaps. I just think he may thrive here in our system, he has the skill. I just think the injury bug may strike again, and he can provide some kick ass depth in the worst case situation. Somtimes the playoffs is a war of attrition, and having some extra skilled forwards can pay off huge.

More the reason to give Gaustad a serious look. Great face/off man, with size and some skill. All pluses for a deep run. Wouldn’t break the bank, either.

I can just imagine the NHL.com headlines now: Czechmate!

“Czechs into Nashville”

I’ll bet Hemsky’s the one they end up with. I’ve always been a fan, despite all the hate. He was magic, during that Oilers Cup run.

having “been there before” can mean a lot. He just hasn’t been back in a loooong while.

That was the LAST time he was there. The more I think about it, the more I likey.

Gaustad may bring some grit as well, but looking at his post season stats it looks like he is prone to thinking about golfing. Who knows? His addtion wouldn’t hurt that is to be for certain.

In the playoffs, he usually gets a top-line defensive draw. Plus plenty of scoring to go around. Not a lot of stats for d-zone face/off wins. This would free up 1st and 2nd lines and give teams tougher matchups. Him and Hemsky would be a boon. I still like Stastny, but I’m sure that won’t happen.

As currently constructed I like our chances against any team in the playoffs. As long as Rinne delivers a Rinne-esque performance we will be in any game. That being said, I hope we bring in some more help, any of these guys mentioned would be a boon, but the more important question is how much are they going to end up costing us. We shall see.