Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: nashville+predators
Tough Times in Finland
by Alanah McGinley on 01/15/08 at 03:41 PM ET
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From CBS Sports wire,
Karalahti is one of 19 suspects in a widespread case of alleged smuggling and distribution of amphetamines in Finland, officials said. He will face trial in the Vantaa prison court near Helsinki on Jan. 29, the Espoo Regional Court said without announcing the exact charges.
Local media have reported that the 32-year-old Karalahti was linked to a drug smuggling network that imported and distributed drugs in Finland in July. Karalahti was taken off the ice for police questioning during a practice session last month with his Karpat team.
Karalahti left the NHL before the beginning of the 2002-03 season after being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Filed in: Hockey Related Stories, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: finland, Jere+Karalahti, los+angeles+kings, nashville+predators,
Predators Sale Completed
by Alanah McGinley on 12/07/07 at 06:32 PM ET
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From the Nashville Predators,
Predators Holdings LLC announced today that the group’s purchase of the Nashville Predators and Powers Management (the company that operates the Sommet Center) for $193 million from Craig Leipold has completed, and the local ownership group will immediately take over the day-to-day operation of the National Hockey League team and the Sommet Center.
“On behalf of the ownership group, we are thrilled to complete the sale,” said David Freeman, chairman of Predators Holdings LLC. “We look forward to contributing to the Predators’ success on and off the ice and solidifying the franchise’s future in Nashville.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Nashville’s Weber Flies Under the Radar
by Alanah McGinley on 12/07/07 at 03:44 PM ET
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From Ryan Dixon at THN,
Trotz acknowledges Weber and his former world juniors teammate, Dion Phaneuf, share many attributes. But the coach feels there’s another comparison that’s more appropriate when describing Weber’s game.
“He (reminds me) of a young Rob Blake,” Trotz said. “He’s going to be real strong, he can shoot the puck, he can play offensively and he can step up defensively.”
His championship-laden path to the NHL ensured Weber would receive a healthy amount of recognition. But the 49th pick from the stellar 2003 draft class doesn’t mind one bit playing for a team that, despite sporting mustard uniforms, can often fly under the radar.
“That doesn’t matter to me,” Weber said. “My teammates know what I can do, I know what they can do for me. That exposure just is not that big of a deal to me. If someone notices, they do. If not, just keep paying attention to the little things.”
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, shea+weber,
Legwand Signed to 6 Year, $27 Million Deal
by Alanah McGinley on 12/07/07 at 02:43 PM ET
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From the Nashville Predators,
Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward David Legwand to a six-year, $27 million contract extension.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: contract, david+legwand, david+poile, nashville+predators,
Nichol Gets Five Game Suspension
by Paul on 12/03/07 at 05:48 PM ET
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via TSN,
Nashville forward Scott Nichol has been suspended for five games for cross-checking Montreal’s Patrice Brisebois in the head in the Predators’ win over the Canadiens on Saturday night.
‘’The crosscheck by Mr. Nichol to the head area of his opponent was reckless and dangerous,’’ said Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. ‘’Although no serious injury resulted,the action is unacceptable.’’
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, Scott+Nichol, suspensions,
Scott Nichol Facing Possible Suspension
by Paul on 12/03/07 at 11:21 AM ET
Comments (3)
via the Tennessean,
Predators center Scott Nichol is scheduled to talk with NHL officials here this afternoon and could face a suspension for the double-minor, high-sticking penalty he picked up in Montreal on Saturday.
Nichol was given the four-minute penalty late in the second period of the Predators’ 5-4 shootout victory, after officials whistled him for what appeared to be a crosscheck to the chin of Montreal defenseman Patrice Brisebois.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, patrice+brisebois, Scott+Nichol, suspensions,
Predators Deal Approved
by Alanah McGinley on 11/29/07 at 09:46 PM ET
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From TSN,
The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors have approved the sale of the Nashville Predators to a local group headed by David Freeman.
The Freeman group is expected to close on the sale within the next few days.
The group came together to make an offer to owner Craig Leipold after he originally announced a deal to sell his team in May to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie for $220 million. Balsillie’s deal fell through in June when he started taking season-ticket deposits in Hamilton.
Marketing plan by the new ownership group noted earlier today on KK.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: craig+leipold, david+freeman, nashville+predators, nhl+franchise,
New Nashville Owners Have A Marketing Plan
by Paul on 11/29/07 at 06:01 PM ET
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from the Tennessean,
The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors is expected to approve Craig Leipold’s $193 million sale of the Predators to Freeman’s group this afternoon. Freeman and his colleagues could take control of the team as early as today.
The new owners plan to give Poile some guidance on the budget he can work with, which will allow him to start working on new contracts for players whose deals expire at the end of this season....Freeman said the new owners will make their presence felt most in the Predators’ efforts to get more people into the Sommet Center’s seats for 41 home games a year.
Update 9:50pm ET (alanah): BOG has approved the sale of the Nashville Predators.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: marketing, nashville+predators, nhl+board+of+governors,
Bonk Finds Goal Scoring Touch
by Paul on 11/29/07 at 07:59 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
The 13-year veteran leads the Predators with nine goals, and though the season is still young, Bonk is somewhat surprisingly on pace for the best goal-scoring year of his career.
His offensive output has been a big boost to a team that lost a bundle of firepower during the offseason, and he’s producing even though he spends most of his time on a checking line with Jerred Smithson and Jed Ortmeyer.
“It’s hard to say why — they’re just going in for me,’’ Bonk said with a characteristic shrug. “Sometimes you need 100 chances to score one. Right now it seems like everything goes in.’’
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, Radek+Bonk,
Surprising Or Not
by Paul on 11/23/07 at 04:04 PM ET
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from the CP via the Globe and Mail,
Seven weeks into the NHL season, the Predators are nowhere near the NHL cellar, sitting in a playoff spot in the Western Conference at 11-8-2 despite having the league’s lowest payroll.
“Surprising? I don’t know why we’re surprising,” said forward Radek Bonk. “I know we had a tough start, but before the season we didn’t think we were going to be bad. So I don’t think we’re surprising ourselves.
“Obviously when you lose players like Forsberg and Kariya and Timonen, they were stars on this team. But we have good team chemistry here and a good bunch of guys. And lately that’s been showing.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Hockey Weekend
by Paul on 11/23/07 at 12:39 PM ET
Comments (1)
from Brad Holland at NHL.com,
Nashville’s Game Presentation: I had a chance to sit low in a very good seat last night, and watched the game with an ice-level view instead of a bird’s-eye. Outstanding! The Nashville fans were energetic, into the game, and right on top of the action. They were courteous, asking questions of me and even weren’t shy to give a few tips on how to make NHL.com better (I spent the third period sitting next to a young Predators fan and youth Nashville hockey player who knew as much about hockey-at-large as any Canadian kid…
more on Brad’s hockey weekend… and I think I may have to have a sit-down with young Bradley!
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, Non-NHL Hockey, College Hockey, Minor League | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: arenas, nashville+predators,
Steve Sullivan Finally Seeing Improvement
by Paul on 11/22/07 at 07:05 AM ET
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from the Daily News Journal,
He’s elevated his off-ice workouts without suffering any of the relapses or back spasms that have plagued him for so long.
It may not sound like much, and there’s still no timetable for Sullivan to return, but a player who’s spent his entire hockey career turning doubters into believers is confident he’s in the process of doing it again.
“The last two weeks have been great because every day I’m able to do a little bit more and wake up somewhat pain free, or at least not being worse the next day,” Sullivan said.
“Am I planning on skating next week? No. But on the other hand, am I three months away? I don’t think so. In my mind, I’m finally seeing results, whereas for the first eight months I hadn’t seen any.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: injuries, nashville+predators, Steve+Sullivan,
Wings Get Some Off-Ice Help
by Paul on 11/21/07 at 03:57 PM ET
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via the Tennessean,
Steve Violetta, executive vice president of business affairs for the Predators, will leave the organization in early December to take a similar position with the Detroit Red Wings, a Predators spokesman confirmed.
A Detroit native, Violetta is in his third season in Nashville, where he’s helped boost attendance and season-ticket sales even as the Predators have raised ticket prices.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: detroit+red+wings, nashville+predators, Steve+Violetta,
Bad View Of Nashville
by Paul on 11/21/07 at 11:31 AM ET
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from Ian Winwood at the Guardian,
My job here is not made any easier by the fact that Nashville is rubbish. I found myself there last autumn. Dumping my bags in the hotel room, I asked the receptionist “where the stuff was?” You know, bars and that. Pointing me down the street, I was surprised to learn that the ‘downtown’ area consisted of fewer than a dozen drinking sheds, and virtually no shops. Like so many American cities, the suburban spread has rendered the centre of town redundant. On a Friday night in the home of country music, the bar I dined in was filled with the sounds of Keane, if not people.
I would like to report that the city’s hockey experience is better. I’d like to, but I can’t, because it’s not: it’s crap.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Final Step in Nashville
by Alanah McGinley on 11/19/07 at 04:09 PM ET
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From John Glennon at The Tennessean,
The final step in the sale of the Predators to a mainly local group of investors is likely to occur on Nov. 29.
That’s the date of the next NHL Board of Governors meeting, which will take place in Pebble Beach, Calif. Any change of ownership needs to be approved by a three-quarters vote of the league’s 30 governors.
Update 7:14pm ET: Local Nashville television coverage of reaction to the deal on WKRN TV. Includes the Mayor, the Governor and others.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, nhl+board+of+governors,
Stars Of The Week
by Paul on 11/19/07 at 12:37 PM ET
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LECAVALIER, NABOKOV AND ERAT NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK
FIRST STAR—VINCENT LECAVALIER, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Lecavalier earned the NHL’s First Star award for the second consecutive week, leading the League in scoring with eight points (four goals, four assists) in just two games. Lecavalier tied a career high with five points (three goals, two assists) in a 6-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Nov. 14, also matching franchise records for points in a period (2-2--4 in the second period) and single-game plus-minus (+5). He notched three points (one goal, two assists) in a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals Nov. 16, setting a franchise mark by tallying multiple points in his seventh consecutive game (6-13--19). Lecavalier has moved into first place in the NHL scoring race with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists), two ahead of Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg (14-16--30) and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby (11-19--30). The Lightning (10-8-1, 21 points) carry a five-game winning streak into tonight’s contest at Atlanta.
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: evgeni+nabokov, martin+erat, nashville+predators, san+jose+sharks, tampa+bay+lighting, vincent+lecavalier,
Nashville Investors Confirm a Deal is Reached
by Alanah McGinley on 11/16/07 at 04:52 PM ET
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From The Tennessean,
David Freeman, head of the group buying the Nashville Predators hockey team, put out this statement this afternoon:
“We are excited to reach an agreement with the Mayor’s Office on lease changes to keep the Predators in Nashville under local ownership. We are very appreciative of Mayor Dean for getting this done amid the many priorities he has as the new mayor of our city. He obviously has a strong desire for this hockey team to remain in Nashville.”
continued... with the rest of the statement
Updated 5:52pm ET: From the AP via USA Today,
Mayor Karl Dean said the agreement guarantees the team will stay in Nashville for the next five years or the city’s financial investment will be paid back.
The changes for the Sommet Center must be approved by the Metro Sports Authority and city council. The NHL Board of Governors must approve the $193 million sale.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: david+freeman, karl+dean, nashville+predators, sommet+center,
One More Hurdle For Nashville
by Paul on 11/14/07 at 11:39 AM ET
Comments (2)
from the Tennessean,
Mayor Karl Dean and the investors who hope to buy the Nashville Predators are planning to announce a deal to change the pro hockey team’s arena lease this afternoon, two sources said....
The deal Dean’s administration has negotiated will still have to be approved by the Metro Sports Authority and Metro Council.
update 2:00pm, A KK member just posted in the comments that the meeting has been called-off.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Nashville Deal Put On The Table
by Paul on 11/09/07 at 11:19 PM ET
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from the Tennessean,
Mayor Karl Dean made a final, take-it-or-leave-it offer to the Nashville Predators’ potential new owners Friday, proposing a more generous arena lease in exchange for a commitment to stay in Nashville for five years.
Under his deal, the Predators could still leave town in three years – after the 2009-10 season — if the investors lost $20 million in that time and paid attendance fell below 14,000 per game.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Looks Like Nashville Is Staying
by Paul on 11/07/07 at 02:03 PM ET
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from Ken Campbell of the Hockey News,
The Nashville Predators won’t be packing their equipment bags for a move to Kansas City or anywhere else, at least not for the next three years.
Multiple sources have confirmed to THN.com a deal has been reached between the city of Nashville and a prospective local ownership group to rework the team’s lease at the Sommet Center that will guarantee the Predators remain in Nashville until at least through the 2010-11 season.
added 3:32pm, from Adam Proteau of the Hockey News,
No more minimum attendance numbers that lock them in for another 10 years. No specific break-even point. Nada. Now, it’s simply a question of whether the team is financially solvent – a vague term to say the least – that decides whether the team stays or goes.
So let me get this straight: Craig Leipold couldn’t make the business side work after a decade’s worth of attempts, but a more convoluted ownership collective is going to be successful in just a third of that span? And at a time in NHL history when the salary cap is expected to rise to above $60 million in the next couple seasons, bringing the salary cap minimum level up with it?
Update 11:45pm ET (alanah):
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Predators May Be In The Best Division In The NHL
by Paul on 11/04/07 at 07:58 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
Perennial powerhouse Detroit could make another run for the Stanley Cup this season. St. Louis and Columbus have improved dramatically behind new coaches. Nashville continues to make strides despite offseason setbacks. Even Chicago has something to shout about, boasting a pair of high-profile rookies.
It may be the best division in the NHL, which will present new challenges for the Predators.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
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.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: edmonton+oilers, injuries, jordin+tootoo, mathieu+roy, nashville+predators,
Predators Going Nowhere
by Paul on 11/02/07 at 09:18 AM ET
Comments (1)
from the Vancouver Province,
Imagine signing on to a cruise ship expecting to see all the glories of Alaska only to find you’ve mistakenly been placed on the Titanic.
That is the hockey equivalent of what happened to Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont in the summer of 2006....
Now, this team is going nowhere. Their bench is in chaos on a regular basis under the friendly, but staggering, tutelage of Barry Trotz - whose administration has run its course after two underachieving playoff performances.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Boots & Balsillie
by Alanah McGinley on 11/01/07 at 09:49 PM ET
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From Allan Maki at the Globe & Mail (Friday edition),
William (Boots) Del Biaggio III, who would own as much as 49 per cent of the Predators if they are sold to a collection of mostly Nashville people, spoke glowingly of one of his recently added partners, Windsor-born Doug Bergeron, then added: “I don’t mind telling The Globe and Mail I’m very excited to have a Canadian billionaire as part of my group. It’s refreshing to have someone who respects the NHL, respects the process and the tradition of the NHL.”
That comment was aimed squarely at Balsillie, who had offered more than $220-million (all currency U.S.) for the Predators, only to upset the NHL by accepting season-ticket deposits in Hamilton, where he had hoped to take the team.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Leipold Extends Deadline
by Paul on 10/31/07 at 06:30 PM ET
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from the Tennessean,
Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold has extended today’s deadline for a sale of the hockey team.
A mostly-local investors group had been trying to close the deal by today. Leipold met with Mayor Karl Dean today and later announced he would extend the deadline.
“Based on the progress being made, I am convinced all parties will benefit from extra time to complete this transaction so we will extend the purchase agreement,” Leipold said in a statement, “with a goal of completing the sale as soon as possible.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: craig+leipold, nashville+predators,
Another Possible Investor Involved in Nashville
by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 08:24 PM ET
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From Allan Maki at the Globe & Mail (Wednesday edition),
Today could see the ownership plight of the Nashville Predators settled — for now, at least — with a Canadian listed as one of the new investors. And no, his name is not Jim Balsillie.
It’s Doug Bergeron, the Windsor-born chairman and CEO of VeriFone, a San Jose-based company that specializes in electronic payment products.
Bergeron’s name has surfaced as a possible partner in the group of mostly local investors that is down to the final hours of its exclusive negotiating agreement with Craig Leipold, the Predators’ owner.
Update 8:35pm ET: More about Nashville and how ownership issues may be affecting the team, here and here.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
NHL Might Not Have Time to Approve Preds Deal
by Alanah McGinley on 10/29/07 at 12:04 AM ET
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From John Glennon at The Tennessean,
Even if the city and a mainly local group of investors seeking to buy the Predators agreed on a new arena lease as early as today, it may be too late for the NHL to approve a change of ownership by Wednesday.
That’s when the period of exclusive negotiations between the local group and Predators owner Craig Leipold expires.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said he was “not sure” if the league would have enough time to approve an ownership change by Wednesday.
“But everyone’s primary focus should be getting a deal done there, and then we’ll deal with approval,’’ Daly said.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Countdown Starts In Nashville
by Paul on 10/24/07 at 09:30 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
Today is the last day for Nashville Predators buyers and Mayor Karl Dean to reach a deal on a new Sommet Center lease, but no one seemed confident Tuesday about the prospects.
If the mostly local buyers group doesn’t reach a city deal today, there won’t be enough time to get public approval before an Oct. 31 deadline for exclusive negotiations with owner Craig Leipold. Leipold could then talk to out-of-town buyers.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Nashville Holds Closed-Door Meeting
by Paul on 10/24/07 at 05:30 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
“I’m at a loss for words,’’ Predators captain Jason Arnott said. “We played hard the last two games and not one of us showed up tonight.
“It was an embarrassing game and we’ve got to go home and look at ourselves in the mirror, come back and be ready to compete. We’ve got a lot of soul-searching to do.’’
more on the Preds after losing to the Kings 6-0.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Roenick Surprises
by Alanah McGinley on 10/21/07 at 01:59 PM ET
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From David Pollack at the Mercury News,
The Sharks surprised the hockey world in September when they signed veteran forward Jeremy Roenick as a free agent. After all, the guy is 37 and had all but announced his retirement after a couple of subpar seasons in Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Lately, Roenick has been the one doing the surprising. Brought in as a strong locker room presence, Roenick has been getting it done on the ice as well. Saturday night, his second-period power play goal held up as the winner as San Jose defeated Nashville 3-0 for the Sharks’ first home victory in three tries.
There’s an audio slideshow of the game available as well, with some commentary by the players. A nice feature by the Mercury News.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: jeremy+roenick, nashville+predators, san+jose+sharks,
Dinner On “Boots”
by Paul on 10/21/07 at 08:59 AM ET
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from the Mercury News,
The Nashville Predators spent the night before their game with the Sharks in a getting-to-know-you session with one of their prospective new owners, San Jose banker William “Boots” Del Biaggio.
Del Biaggio, who will no longer be a member of the Sharks ownership group if his new group’s bid to purchase the Predators is approved, treated the entire team and its road entourage to dinner at Sino, a Santana Row restaurant Friday.
“They haven’t had much of a sense of direction in the last year,” Del Biaggio said, referring to questions of ownership and the team’s future in Nashville. “I thought I’d give them a face of the new ownership group.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Making Money in Nashville
by Alanah McGinley on 10/21/07 at 04:14 AM ET
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From Sheila Wissner at The Tennessean,
While Nashville officials and the would-be owners of the Nashville Predators struggle to reach new terms for an arena lease, one man stands to walk away from it all with more than $30 million.
Team owner Craig Leipold, who says he’s unloading the hockey team because it’s a money-loser, would gain a windfall of more than three times his initial investment, according to an analysis by The Tennessean. That’s even after covering $70 million in operating losses Leipold has claimed.
*Very good overview of the ownership structure and financial origins of the team.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: craig+leipold, nashville+predators,
If the Predators Leave, What Happens to the Arena?
by Alanah McGinley on 10/20/07 at 01:19 PM ET
Comments (1)
From The Tennessean,
If the Nashville Predators left town, they would leave behind a gaping hole in Sommet Center’s calendar that would be tough for the city to fill, some experts said.
But other observers said losing the Predators eventually could be turned into a positive for the arena and Metro taxpayers. [...]
By not having to block off at least 41 dates a year for hockey, Brown said, an arena might be able to draw concerts and other events that previously may not have stopped in the city because the arena was already booked.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: arenas, nashville+predators,
Balsillie Thinking Nashville Again
by Paul on 10/12/07 at 03:17 PM ET
Comments (2)
from 570News,
Jim Balsillie is back in the running to buy the Nashville Predators.
The Research In Motion co-CEO is the owner of a group that has approached the NHL team with an offer to buy it if the deal with the current bidders fails.
According to a letter sent to Nashville’s Metro Sports Authority, Balsillie is now committed to keeping the team in Nashville and winning a Stanley Cup there.
a little more…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jim+Balsillie, 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…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, NHL Talk, Cheap Hits | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jordin+Tootoo, nashville+predators,
Nashville Talk
by Paul on 10/10/07 at 02:51 PM ET
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If you are interested in what is going on with Nashville, the Nashville Scene has a long editorial sub-titled…
A fishy deal-in-progress threatens to throw good money after bad.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Kariya Gives the Blues Respectability
by Alanah McGinley on 10/10/07 at 11:46 AM ET
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From John Glennon at the Tennessean,
When Paul Kariya signed with the Predators two summers ago, general manager David Poile called it a groundbreaking moment for the franchise. Sure enough, Kariya boosted the team’s ticket sales, led the Predators twice in a row in scoring and helped guide Nashville to two straight regular seasons of more than 100 points.
But largely because of the uncertainty involving the Predators ownership situation, Kariya has taken his talents a few hours away, where he’s already made an impact on a St. Louis organization seeking to regain respectability on the ice and in the community.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators, paul+kariya, st+louis+blues,
Nashville Finding ThePerfect Balance
by Paul on 10/09/07 at 06:43 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
“We realize we have to get goals different ways, but we have still been able create offense to this point,” Trotz said. “It might be a little surprising to some people, but there are different ways to attack a problem. We set out to have a certain type of team based on where we were with the hockey club. It’s two games into it, but we are going the right direction.”
Instead of loading up two lines, Trotz has outfitted each line with a bruiser, a creator and a finisher.
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Tags: nashville+predators,
Mason Off To A Fast Start
by Paul on 10/08/07 at 05:42 PM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun at Sportsnet,
Can’t help but cheer for a guy like Chris Mason, named the third star by the NHL on Monday after the Nashville goalie stopped 63 of 64 shots in leading the Predators to a pair of opening wins. With Tomas Vokoun traded to Florida, Mason finally gets a chance to become a No. 1 goalie in this league, something I know he’s craved for a long time. He could be one of the best stories of the season.
more NHL bits plus some Forseberg talk…
Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Chris+Mason, goalies, nashville+predators,
Too Humid In Nashville
by Paul on 10/08/07 at 08:11 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
“To be honest, it’s not great ice,’’ alternate captain J.P. Dumont said.
“It’s hard because it’s been hot in this building, and when you look around the league, everywhere it’s hot, the ice is going to be in that condition. … It’s not just about being able to make plays on the ice, but about injuries, too.’’…
What the Predators could really use is a dehumidifier, an apparatus used in many NHL rinks to make the ice smoother and safer. Dehumidifiers are expensive, however, and the Predators have never purchased one.
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Tags: nashville+predators,
Preds Must Stay
by Paul on 10/04/07 at 07:00 PM ET
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from an editorial in the Tennessean,
Nashville’s new mayor, Karl Dean, and new Metro Council should do what’s necessary to keep the Nashville Predators hockey team from leaving — as difficult as those decisions may be.
The Metro officials, many of whom are just settling into their new positions, may feel like the clock is ticking and they’re being asked to score a short-handed goal. But increasingly, the Predators issue has become more a case of what the city will lose if the National Hockey League franchise goes to another city, not just what’s to gain by keeping them.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: nashville+predators,
Preds Put Radulov On 3rd Line
by Paul on 10/04/07 at 01:10 PM ET
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from On the Forecheck,
Radulov starts season on No. 3 offensive line…
Yes, the Music City’s budding offensive superstar is starting the on the right side of Radek Bonk and Martin Gelinas, and many Preds fans are howling in disbelief.
But I like this move, and I like it a lot. Here’s why…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, nashville+predators,
What’s Up in Nashville
by Alanah McGinley on 10/04/07 at 03:20 AM ET
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From Michael Cass at the Tennessean,
The lease deal being negotiated between the city and a group buying the Nashville Predators calls for taxpayers to fund $7 million of improvements such as new “Fun Zones” at Sommet Center.
The capital projects would be in addition to the $4.2 million of tax money and seat fees per year that would be used for operations of the hockey team.
The group purchasing the team in an effort to keep it in Nashville says the city would get the money back over time because of increased activity at Sommet Center and downtown.
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Tags: Nashville+Predators,
Looking At Barry Trotz
by Paul on 10/03/07 at 08:03 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
Barry Trotz has a new look. After years of coloring his ever-maturing locks, the Predators coach has traded his bottled brown for au natural.
The look suits the tenured coach, but even now, with his gray shining through, blue is the color that really defines him.
The son of a railroad mechanic and a restaurant employee, Trotz and his blue-collar work ethic have followed an untraditional path to the upper levels of the National Hockey League.
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Tags: Barry+Trotz, nashville+predators,
Nashville Deal In Doubt
by Paul on 10/02/07 at 06:05 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
The leader of a local group trying to buy the Nashville Predators said Monday that he doesn’t expect the deal to work out.
The group on Saturday asked for new tax money and several improvements to the Sommet Center, where the Predators play. According to leader David Freeman, the city has rejected the requests.
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Tags: nashville+predators,
Zanon A Key Dman For Preds
by Paul on 09/29/07 at 08:03 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
At this time last year, defenseman Greg Zanon was skating the thin line between the big league and the developmental one.
This season he will play a vital role for the Predators, in the big league. A fearless and skillful shot-blocker, Zanon played in 66 games for the Predators last season and became invaluable on the penalty kill. Now he will be counted on as part of a young but solid defense.
“I love him,” goaltender Chris Mason said. “He is the kind of player that is so intense he will do anything to break up a play. I really can’t say enough about how much he helped us out last year. I am sure he exceeded everybody’s expectations. He deserves to be here.”
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Tags: nashville+predators,
Craig Leipold’s Son Charged with DUI
by Alanah McGinley on 09/27/07 at 05:24 PM ET
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From the AP via TSN,
The son of Nashville Predators’ owner Craig Leipold was charged with drunk driving Thursday after police pulled him over for speeding, marking his second drunk-driving arrest since May.
Christopher Leipold was pulled over Thursday morning after Officer Kevin Wayne Lovell said he clocked him driving 43 m.p.h. (69 km/h) in a 35-m.p.h. (56-km/h) zone . The officer got out of his car after motioning for the 31-year-old to pull over.
Leipold seemed confused before rolling the window up, then back down, Lovell wrote in an affidavit. Lovell also said he smelled alcohol and that Leipold admitted to having ‘’a couple’’ of drinks.
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Tags: nashville+predators,
Preds Head To Fort Campbell
by Paul on 09/26/07 at 07:31 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
They’re headed for Fort Campbell, Ky., where the Predators will spend the day doing team-building exercises with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
“It will be very enlightening to our players,’’ Coach Barry Trotz said. “They’ll be challenged in a lot of different ways that are a little out of their element. It’s a combination of physical and mental things.’’
more on the Preds…
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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…
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Tags: Jordin+Tootoo, nashville+predators,
Nashville Depending On Defense
by Paul on 09/16/07 at 08:18 AM ET
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from the Tennessean,
The Predators did lose quite a talent in Kimmo Timonen, who’d posted at least 40 points in five straight seasons. But the addition of experienced Greg de Vries, the steady improvement of Zanon, Suter, Weber and Dan Hamhuis, and the potential of Marek Zidlicky should make for a formidable blueline unit.
“Our defense is very strong and it will probably be the strength of our organization for a number of years,” Predators Coach Barry Trotz said. “You’ve got the growth of the young guys and you’ve got the depth our organization has had in finding those type of players that are really strong.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: defense, nashville+predators,
