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Entries with the tag: jordin+tootoo

Tootoo Needs To Change His Game

by Paul on 09/29/09 at 06:40 AM ET
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from Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean,

Jordin Tootoo has been a fan favorite since he made his debut with the Predators during the 2003-04 season.

But if he is to remain with Nashville, he will need to seriously step up his game, the team’s decision-makers said....

“I just want to see some improvement,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “He took a step back last year in terms of his overall play. I know he can step forward again. I was hoping last year he would take another step forward because the year before he took a step forward.”

Tootoo poses an interesting challenge for Trotz and General Manager David Poile. This is a contract year for Tootoo, who is scheduled to make $975,000 this season. It is a steep price for someone who plays on the third or fourth lines and doesn’t produce many points

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,

How To Explain This To The Kids

by Paul on 09/21/09 at 01:53 PM ET
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from Darren Eliot of Sports Illustrated,

Ever been in a situation where what you’ve believed for so long is suddenly compromised? Well, that’s the experience I had this weekend.

Saturday night, I chaperoned a team of 11-year olds in Nashville as the Predators took on the Columbus Blue Jackets....

Sistito challenged a proven pugilist in Tootoo, which is a very common occurrence in preseason games as it is a way for a young player to show his coach that he’s ready to fulfill a role on the team. Tootoo obliged, which is also common practice for players of his ilk. It’s an unspoken bond of mutual respect. How else is a kid gong to show his mettle if vets decline the willing challenge?

Not surprisingly, the fans rose and cheered as the two exchanged punches. Sistito had an early advantage, raining blows on the smaller Tootoo. But, as so often happens, the veteran weathered the onslaught and started to pummel the wearied youngster, whose helmet came off.

Then it happened.

read on including video of the fight which I also embedded below…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo, Tom+Sistito.,

Jordin Tootoo Hit On Dan Fritsche Tonight

by Paul on 04/10/09 at 11:32 PM ET
Comments (17)

Tootoo with a shoulder to the head of Fritsche, who did have his head down.  No penalty on the play.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Dan+Fritsche, Jordin+Tootoo,

Staubitz Hammers Tootoo

by Paul on 03/20/09 at 08:25 AM ET
Comments (20)

from David Pollak of Working the Corners,

The fight began with Staubitz pursuing the Predator (Tootoo) pest across the ice. When they finally went at it, you could almost feel the punches up in the rafters as Staubitz connected with punch after punch, forearm after forearm. Tootoo got an excused absence from the penalty box as he headed to the dressing room for stitches and who knows what other treatments. He didn’t return until the third period, and even then saw limited action.

So was it triggered by anything specific?

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Brad+Staubitz, Jordin+Tootoo,

The Battles- Washington vs. Nashville

by Paul on 03/11/09 at 08:32 AM ET
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fromn John Glennon of the Tennessean,

There were a couple of hard-hitting bouts in the opening period, with the Predators coming out on top in both. Wade Belak buckled Donald Brashear with a straight left and dropped him to the ice, while Jordin Tootoo turned Matt Bradley’s face into a bloody mess — cutting Bradley’s nose badly and giving him a black eye to boot.

“We have guys that can battle each and every night and that’s part of our team,’’ Tootoo said. “We play physical and bring it all.’’

Brashear didn’t return after the fight and might have sprained a knee when he fell to the ice.

more on the Preds including some Radulov talk…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Donald+Brashear, Jordin+Tootoo, Matt+Bradley, Wade+Belak,

Tootoo Gets His Revenge

by Paul on 01/02/09 at 08:35 AM ET
Comments (5)

from John Glennon of the Tennessean,

Just 22 seconds into Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Vancouver, Tootoo dropped the gloves with Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows, who’d infuriated the Predators last month by leveling Nashville’s J.P. Dumont with a flying check.

“I was just sticking up for my teammates,’’ said Tootoo, who missed the previous Vancouver game. “The last game we didn’t have that physical play there. We wanted to set the tone and we did that.’’

Tootoo had to do some talking to Burrows before the Canucks forward was willing to fight, but Tootoo made short work of him.

“Obviously he knows what kind of fighter I am and he was a little intimidated,’’ Tootoo said. “But if you’re going to be able to dish it out, you’re going to have to be able to handle it. He knew it was coming.’’

more on the Predators and watch the fight below…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexandre+Burrows, Jordin+Tootoo,

Developing Tootoo’s Skill Set

by Alanah McGinley on 09/25/08 at 01:48 PM ET
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From Mark McGee at the Nashville Daily News:

Predators coach Barry Trotz is giving [Jordin] Tootoo the chance to work on two of the top lines in training camp. He has been teamed with Jason Arnott and J.P Dumont and with David Legwand and Martin Erat.

“If you are going to be a top-six forward then you have to play with top players,” Trotz said. “I want to give him more time with the higher end offensive players and with the hard-working two way players like Scott Nichol and Vern Fiddler.

“He’s getting there. We know he can shoot. And he gets on the fore check hard. But he is a lot more poised with the puck. He has a lot of ability. We are just trying to reinforce that with him.”

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: barry+trotz, jordin+tootoo,

The Nashville Clown

by Paul on 03/26/08 at 06:56 AM ET
Comments (4)

from Puck-rakers,

The Blue Jackets had lots to say about Nashville winger Jordin Tootoo, who took a run at defenseman Rostislav Klesla and had two fights in the third period, one with Jan Hejda and another with Jason Chimera....

Hitchcock had lots to say about Tootoo after the game. He even took a swipe at his good friend Barry Trotz, coach of the Predators. Here’s what he said: “That’s embarrassing. (Tootoo) is too good a player to do that stuff. I find it really embarrassing, but the (Predators) must allow it, so what the heck. I just don’t like the clown shows.”

Trotz, when asked about Tootoo taking a shift with 45 seconds left, said: “It wasn’t to send a message or anything. It was just to get him some ice time.” Apparently, this was delivered with a straight face.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,

Lacking Respect

by Paul on 03/07/08 at 01:11 PM ET
Comments (15)

from TSN,

Miller left the game clutching his right shoulder after a big hit by Nashville forward Jordin Tootoo with just two minutes left in the game and the Canucks ahead 6-2. Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault was clearly upset by the timing of the Tootoo hit.

“I’m just trying to get the game over with,” said Vigneault. “I don’t know why things like that happen and why a player would run 100 feet with a game over.

“No respect for the game and no respect for the opposition. It’s unfortunate there are a few of that type in the league, hopefully the league will deal with it.”

more

video added at 1:15pm…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,

Tootoo Refining His Game

by Paul on 03/05/08 at 08:41 AM ET
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from the Edmonton Sun,

This year, Tootoo had nine goals and six assists in 47 games. He scored 11 goals in his first three years.

“I’ve been trying to focus more on making plays rather than looking for that big hit,” Tootoo said. “I still have to be physical because that’s the foundation of my game. I think it really intimidates players knowing they have to be aware of when I’m out there and they have to keep their heads up.

“But I’m looking to do more than that now. I think that comes with maturity. I’m holding on to that puck for that extra-second longer instead of being so nervous with it that you want to get rid of it right away.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,

Tootoo Agrees To Extension

by Paul on 01/31/08 at 12:02 PM ET
Comments (3)

via TSN,

The Nashville Predators and winger Jordin Tootoo have agreed on a contract extension.

Sources tell TSN it’s a two-year deal worth just under $1 million a season.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,

Oilers Lose Another Dman

by Paul on 11/03/07 at 10:00 AM ET
Comments (1)

from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

“The Curse of the Defencemen,” said GM Kevin Lowe.

It was only two minutes and 56 seconds into the game last night when Jordin Tootoo pasted Mathieu Roy into the boards.

Twenty-five seconds of ice time and Roy, who was out with a concussion at the end of last year and with another one at the start of this season, was out with what coach Craig MacTavish said was another possible concussion and for sure a separated left shoulder.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: edmonton+oilers, injuries, jordin+tootoo, mathieu+roy, nashville+predators,

Tootoo Went For The Head

by Paul on 10/12/07 at 12:07 PM ET
Comments (17)

from Bob McKenzie at TSN,

Jordin Tootoo of the Nasvhille Predators takes a run at Phoenix rookie Daniel Winnik – and it says here Tootoo was targeting Winnik’s head – and it’s Coyote rookie Craig Weller who gets the match penalty for intent to injure on the play, because Weller clotheslined Tootoo after the hit....

But it’s the Tootoo hit that should be the real concern.

If ever there were a hit where it looked like a player was intentionally trying to hit someone in the head, this was it.

more… I haven’t seen the video of the play from last night, if anyone has a link, feel free to post it.

update 12:14pm, Thanks to KK member bcrt2000, we have a link…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, NHL Talk, Cheap Hits | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo, nashville+predators,

Tootoo Maturing

by Paul on 09/17/07 at 08:49 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,

“With the guys that have gone, it’s a great opportunity for me to step up my game,’’ Tootoo said. “I know I can score in this league. It’s just a matter of getting the opportunity.’’

Tootoo twice averaged more than a point per game while he was in juniors, and during the 2005-06 season he notched 27 points in 41 games at Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

“As the years go on, you mature as a player and get more comfortable,’’ Tootoo said. “That’s what’s happening with me. You develop more confidence as you go, and I think this year is going to be my break-out year.’’

more on the Preds…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Jordin+Tootoo, nashville+predators,