On the Forecheck

Doing it right, down on the farm

by Forechecker on 01/06/09 at 04:48 PM ET
Comments (0)

News comes today that three of the Nashville Predators prospects, centers Cal O’Reilly and Mike Santorelli, and defenseman Cody Franson, have been named to the 2009 AHL All Star Classic taking place later this month in Worcester, MA.

Given today’s recall of Ryan Jones to Nashville, some fans wonder if and when some of these other bright young players might get a shot at the NHL level.  But today’s pre-game article at the Tennessean concludes with this note:

On Monday, Trotz said he would consider recalling two rookies, but he chose to keep the other candidate – center Mike Santorelli – on AHL level, saying he was not in need of another centerman quite yet.

Considering how the pivots are doing outside of Jason Arnott, I think it’s safe to say that many locals disagree with the coach’s assertion…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: cal+o'reilly, cody+franson, mike+santorelli,

Ryan Jones back with Nashville

by Forechecker on 01/06/09 at 11:15 AM ET
Comments (0)

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Ryan Jones from the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. 

This will be Jones’ third stint with the team in 2008-09. The 6-1, 206-pound rookie forward has six points (3g-3a) in 16 games with the Predators in 2008-09, playing 15 of the first 18 games this season in addition to a game Dec. 11 at Columbus. In 21 games with the Admirals, Jones has 17 points (11g-6a) and 26 penalty minutes, helping Milwaukee to a 16-4-1 record in that span.

Jones has been very productive in Milwaukee, and despite pedestrian offensive numbers early on with the Predators, there were two advanced statistics which were notable; first his Penalty Plus/Minus was an outstanding +13, which still ranks among the NHL’s best.  Secondly, his Corsi number in 5-on-5 play was a team worst -19.4*, per Behind the Net.

*the Corsi number represents Total Shots For - Total Shots Against per 60 minutes of play.  Total Shots = SOG + Goals + Missed + Blocked

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: ryan+jones,

What can Brown do for you?

by Forechecker on 01/05/09 at 05:14 PM ET
Comments (0)

Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings is starting to pull away from the field in the latest NHL Penalty Plus/Minus update, pushing his total this week to +27.  Calgary’s Jarome Iginla and Brown’s teammate Patrick O’Sullivan trail at +19.  If you’re looking to back up that “Iginla for the Lady Byng” argument, you could point out that despite drawing 26 fouls from opposing players, Iginla has only taken 7 penalties himself, keeping his cool while taking shots from opponents.  That sure sounds like “the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”, which are the criteria for the annual award.

For the complete listing, consult the Google Spreadsheet herein…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Statistical Analysis | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: dustin+brown, jarome+iginla,

Five ways to fire up the Nashville offense

by Forechecker on 01/05/09 at 03:28 PM ET
Comments (0)

Egad!  I head out of town for a New Year’s visit to Chicago, and by the time I get back, the Predators have sunk to 14th in the West, with the worst Goals Per Game figure (2.40) in the conference.

On the positive side, however, we actually have word today that Steve Sullivan plans to return to the lineup soon, just short of two years since his last game.  Even in limited ice time, Sully should make a positive impact on the Preds offense, but I’m thinking a few more things need to be done to spark the Nashville attack…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: antti+pihlstrom, david+legwand, jordin+tootoo, ryan+jones, steve+sullivan,

Steve Sullivan to play this weekend

by Forechecker on 01/05/09 at 01:34 PM ET
Comments (1)

Sound the trumpets!!! From the Tennessean:

Predators forward Steve Sullivan, sidelined since February 2007 because of back problems, said Monday he plans to play in Saturday’s game against Chicago.

More on this move, and the recent offensive struggles of the Nashville Predators will come this afternoon.

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: steve+sullivan,

One Magic Moment

by Forechecker on 12/30/08 at 07:52 PM ET
Comments (1)

I’m heading “off the grid” again for New Year’s (I’ll probably be the only hockey blogger traveling to Chicago NOT to cover the Winter Classic), and while we all reflect on what this year has meant to the NHL and our respective teams, rather than repeat the same old list you’ll find on 10 other sites, I wanted to highlight a single event that I’m sure I’ll look back on years from now.

It’s the one moment from 2008 that will stay with Nashville Predators fans forever…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: jason+arnott,

Powering their team’s success

by Forechecker on 12/30/08 at 01:44 PM ET
Comments (1)

As we close the books on 2008, the latest NHL Penalty Plus/Minus update shows a familiar face leading the way…

Dustin Brown (+23): Last season’s Penalty Plus/Minus leader (+43 in 2007-8) is separating himself from the pack, having drawn 33 calls and taken only 10 himself, generating a net of 23 power plays for the Los Angeles Kings so far.  In back-to-back games against the Phoenix Coyotes last week, Brown created two PP chances in each contest.

For all the numbers, and a look at other players atop the leader board, the complete update appears within…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Statistical Analysis | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: dustin+brown, jarome+iginla, martin+hanzal, patrick+o'sullivan,

Koistinen to play tonight, and Klein might too

by Forechecker on 12/29/08 at 03:54 PM ET
Comments (0)

According to John Glennon’s afternoon update over at the Tennessean, Ville Koistinen is set to play tonight as the Predators take on the Avalanche in Denver.  Typically, that would mean a benching for Kevin Klein, as the other five defensemen have played all 35 games so far for Nashville.  But, in a fit of wisdom that only be attributed to my sage advice from last week…

All season long we’ve seen a battle between Ville Koistinen and Kevin Klein for a spot in the lineup each night.  I’d be interested to see one of the Gregs (Zanon or De Vries) sit down for a game, so VK and KK could both play, which might provide a boost to Nashville’s pop-gun offense.

It sounds like tonight we just might see that take place.  Quoth Glennon:

Trotz left open the possibility of the Koistinen-Klein switch, but also said he’s ``not happy with one of his veterans,’’ so there’s at least a chance someone besides Klein might be sitting.

Any bets on how the pairings will look tonight? Personally, I think a VK/KK pairing could be pretty dynamic…

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: kevin+klein, ville+koistinen,

Get your Preds gear, and spread the love of hockey

by Forechecker on 12/29/08 at 02:24 PM ET
Comments (0)

As profiled here at KK a couple weeks ago, Adam Sherlip is planning an extraordinary journey to the Kashmir province of India to teach kids the Coolest Game on Earth.  You might be thinking to yourself, India? Ice Hockey? But you’d be surprised…

Ice hockey is hugely popular in Ladakh, but most kids from rural families do not get the chance to play, due to lack of skates and equipment. However, at SECMOL several dozen young people from rural villages have had the chance to skate and play ice hockey, thanks to equipment donated to SECMOL by friends around the world.

In order to help raise funds for this trip, the NHL has donated some items for auction on eBay, and Nashville Predators fans with some Christmas cash to spend might want to check two of them out; a signed puck by Dan Ellis, and a jersey signed by members of the team.

Please take a moment to check out these and the other items up for bid, as the auctions are due to close Tuesday, December 30th.  It’s a great chance to both load up on hockey memorabilia and support the growth of the game worldwide.

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 

Steve Sullivan playing in January?

by Forechecker on 12/29/08 at 09:59 AM ET
Comments (1)

Throughout Steve Sullivan’s long recovery from back injury, the Nashville Predators front office has been extremely cautious in the language they use to describe Sully’s prospects or timetable for returning to NHL action.  That’s what makes this article from Sunday’s Tennessean so compelling:

“The end of January is five weeks from now, and if he continues to make the same kind of progress he has for the last five weeks, I think we’d be optimistic,’’ said Mike Santos, the Predators’ director of hockey operations. “But it’s still a possibility. Right now we’re just happy everything is going good for him.”

While nobody wants to rush the process and run the risk of causing a setback, watching the Preds offense these days is excruciating.  They’ve yet to score more than 3 goals in a game during the month of December, with their last chance coming tonight in Denver against the Avalanche.

Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
 Tags: steve+sullivan,

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11          Next »