On the Forecheck
Next entry: Predators prospects leading Team USA at Worlds
Previous entry: The Sociology of Mucking & Grinding
A Grand Captain
by Forechecker on 12/20/08 at 11:06 AM ET
Comments (0)
Tonight in Nashville against the New York Islanders, Jason Arnott will play his 1000th NHL game, a milestone achievement in what has become a remarkable career. Having started out with the post-Messier Edmonton Oilers in 1994, Arnott has been a major contributor everywhere he’s played, combining steady offensive production with reliable defensive work, the latter honed in long stretches playing in New Jersey and Dallas.
Jessica Bliss of the Tennessean provides a profile heading into tonight’s game, which includes the captain’s reaction to a gift from his teammates presented at practice yesterday; a camouflage ATV that Arnott, an avid hunter (predator?) will find good use for in the wooded hills of Tennessee:
The mean green hunting machine was driven onto the ice during a post-practice stretch.
It was clearly an emotional and meaningful surprise for Arnott, who looked across the ice in shock as the hefty tires crunched across the rink in his direction, eliciting whoops and hollers from his teammates.
“To receive a gift like that from your fellow teammates, it almost puts a tear in your eye,” Arnott said. “It’s very special.”
I’ve long considered Arnott to be one of the most under-rated players in the league. His offensive totals don’t garner widespread attention, but when taken in total, his two-way game is among the NHL’s best. Long seen as an outstanding 2nd-line player, he stepped into a larger role upon signing with Nashville and has assumed the leadership burden admirably, most notably of late by pounding Vancouver’s Alex Burrows after he took a run at J.P. Dumont a couple weeks ago.
Still under contract for a couple more seasons after this one, Nashville is fortunate to have #19 leading the charge. He’s an integral part of a strong core group of players that David Poile has assembled, and he deserves the recognition he’ll receive tonight. If you don’t already have tickets, check out the discounted ticket offer on the lower part of the sidebar to the right; follow the link, use the code word predators at checkout, and come watch the Preds take out their recent frustrations on the hapless Islanders tonight.
Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Tags: jason+arnott,
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
A pivotal Predators prospect: Colin Wilson
Canadian hockey team on the road to Nashville
Two recreational hockey players die on same night, at same rink
Calgary investor Brett Wilson to buy stake in the Nashville Predators
Preds enjoy a command performance
To buy or not to buy? That is the question…
About On the Forecheck
Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats and analysis. Having started over 10 years ago writing for websites like In the Crease and e-Sports, Dirk launched On The Forecheck in 2005 to cover the Nashville Predators as well as apply statistical analysis to NHL hockey.
Email:
Furious February
The Preds host 10 home games during the month of February, including two games each against the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and, yes, the Detroit Red Wings. For discounted Nashville Predators tickets, including steeply discounted Ticketmaster fees, to these or any other upcoming home games, take advantage of this special offer, and use the special offer code "predators".
