SB Nation - Ryan Suter

Game 33 Preview: Jackets in tough against the Preds

Mike MacLean — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:08:16 -0000

by Carlos Osorio - ASSOCIATED PRESS

Every year I always seem to say this: those damned Preds! Nashville comes to town for the first time this season, after going 2-0 so far against the Jackets in Nashville. The Jackets have dug themselves in a hole whereby they have to win games from here out, plain and simple. They play in the best division in hockey so intra-division games are crucial.

Some lineup changes of note- Chimmer moves up with Vermmy and Nasher, and there's a new line of Modin, Brass and Torres. That one sounds interesting, a little bit of everything. With Dorsett out with a broken hand, Murray goes back into the lineup on the checking unit with Sammy and Boller. Mase gets the start against Rinne.

I can't stress the importance of these games. The Jackets desperately need to go on a winning streak, why not start tonight?

Fearless Prediction: A win, please.

Game Time: 7:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: On the Forecheck

Game Page: Predators vs Blue Jackets Coverage

TSN Preview: Predators vs Blue Jackets Preview

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

A meeting of polar opposites: The Blue Jackets are a skilled club that lacks resiliency and on-ice cohesion; the Predators make up for a lack of high-end talent with immense resolve. The previous two meetings, both in Nashville, ended in 4-3 shootout wins for the Predators. The Blue Jackets won all three meetings in Nationwide Arena last season.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Jason Chimera	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
Kristian Huselius	R.J. Umberger	Jakub Voracek
Andrew Murray	Samuel Pahlsson	Jared Boll
Fredrik Modin	Derick Brassard	Raffi Torres

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Mike Commodore	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Marc Methot

Steve Mason

Mathieu Garon

EXTRA: Michael Blunden, Mathieu Roy

INJURED: Rostislav Klesla, Derek Dorsett

Nashville Predators

Steve Sullivan	Jason Arnott	Martin Erat
Jerred Smithson	David Legwand	Joel Ward
Patric Hornqvist	Marcel Goc	J.P. Dumont
Wade Belak	Dave Scatchard	Ryan Jones

Shea Weber	Ryan Suter
Dan Hamhuis	Kevin Klein
Alexander Sulzer	Francis Bouillon

Pekka Rinne

Dan Ellis

Predators continue home-ice dominance over Columbus in 4-3 shootout win

Dirk Hoag — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:30:04 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, of Finland, is congratulated by his teammates after the Predators won a shootout for a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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It took five rounds of a shootout, but the Nashville Predators beat Columbus on home ice for the 13th straight time, taking a 4-3 decision. Ryan Suter led all Preds scorers with two assists, in what was a relatively wide-open affair between two teams that normally prefer to play close, tight-checking games. With the win, Nashville is now 11-3-1 in their last 15 games.

Follow after the jump for video highlights, the recap, and advanced even-strength stats...

Despite the long-running success that the Predators have enjoyed over the Blue Jackets in Nashville, Columbus always seems to put up a tough fight. Three times tonight the Preds took a one-goal lead, and each time the Blue Jackets tied the game back up.

Dave Scatchard got the initial goal off a nice feed from Kevin Klein, a great way to celebrate his return to the lineup. He buzzed around the net whenever he could tonight, notching 4 shots in just 8:03 of ice time. After Columbus defenseman Kris Russel answered back early in the second, Martin Erat continued his torrid goal-scoring pace by following up on a rebound to put the Preds up 2-1. Marty's now got 9 goals in his last 11 games, and is officially "on fire" after a lousy start over his first 17.

Just minutes later, however, Raffi Torres banked a shot from just behind the goal line off of Pekka Rinne to tie the game back up at 2-2. What followed at the end of the 2nd was truly unusual for a Predators-Blue Jackets game. As explained by Terry Crisp in his intermission breakdown, Jason Arnott pulled a fast one, faking like he was going to the bench for a line change but circling back to take a lead pass from Shea Weber. He broke in all alone and lifted a nifty backhander of the glove of Mathieu Garon to put Nashville back up 3-2 with just seconds left in the period.

Rick Nash tied the game up at 3-3 early in the 3rd, and despite a number of good chances for both teams down the stretch and during overtime, they headed to the shootout, where Garon has enjoyed some great success over the years (in 2007-8, he went 10-0 for Edmonton in the shootout).

On the other hand, Rinne ain't so bad himself, going 5-2 last year with a .792 save percentage (a typical goalie is about .670 in that situation). After four rounds, each team had scored twice, but in Round 5, Rinne stuffed Antoine Vermette, leaving Steve Sullivan the opportunity to win the game, which he did with a nice forehand move to score the final goal.

The Preds move on now to Saturday night against Detroit, which is 4-5-1 in their last 10 and reeling from a number of injuries to key players.

For discounted tickets to any Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

As to the advanced stats, the top line was definitely productive tonight for the Preds, while the Tootoo-Goc-Dumont line struggled a bit. Despite limited ice time, the Jones-Scatchard-Hornqvist trio acquitted themselves well, while perhaps the best effort overall goes to the defense duo of Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Klein (yes, the pair that got shredded so much during the early weeks of the season).

All in all, I'm sure Barry Trotz will have some finger-wagging for the boys tomorrow given the number of defensive breakdowns, but it was good to see enough scoring step up to seal the win. You can't plan on winning 2-1 every night...

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Martin Erat	R	15:49	3	1	0	1	13	10	3	19	16	3
Jason Arnott	C	17:27	4	1	0	2	13	12	1	17	18	-1
Steve Sullivan	L	16:21	2	0	0	0	14	9	5	18	17	1
David Legwand	C	18:04	2	0	2	1	7	4	3	17	10	7
Jerred Smithson	R	17:12	2	1	0	0	7	4	3	17	11	6
Joel Ward	R	18:12	1	1	2	0	8	5	3	17	10	7
Marcel Goc	C	12:41	0	0	0	0	3	7	-4	8	11	-3
Jordin Tootoo	R	10:46	1	0	0	0	3	7	-4	8	11	-3
J P Dumont	R	10:41	0	0	2	0	4	8	-4	8	12	-4
Patric Hornqvist	R	7:38	0	1	0	0	4	2	2	5	4	1
Ryan Jones	L	7:28	0	0	0	1	5	1	4	6	2	4
Dave Scatchard	C	7:54	3	0	0	0	5	1	4	7	3	4
Shea Weber	D	20:11	2	0	1	2	13	9	4	21	20	1
Ryan Suter	D	21:49	1	3	1	2	10	9	1	18	21	-3
Dan Hamhuis	D	20:15	0	0	1	1	12	5	7	21	8	13
Kevin Klein	D	20:19	4	1	2	0	10	5	5	19	9	10
Francis Bouillon	D	14:41	2	0	0	0	9	10	-1	13	17	-4
Alexander Sulzer	D	12:44	1	1	0	1	8	10	-2	12	15	-3

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Jason Arnott, 1 goal, shootout goal, 5 shots

37 votes

Pekka Rinne, 28 saves

25 votes

Ryan Suter, 2 assists

9 votes

Steve Sullivan, GW shootout goal

8 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

Game 31: Jackets take on the Preds in Nashville

Mike MacLean — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:01:17 -0000

by Jay LaPrete - AP

View full size photo »

This is a good day. I just had a fantastic day at work, the Jackets are coming off a huge win last night, where they looked like the team they should be. Mase was stellar, let's see if Garon can turn his game around tonight against those damned Predators. The Preds definitely have the Jackets number, especially in Nashville. I look for a typical Jackets/Preds game tonight, one with tight checking, maybe a scrap or two (if our guys have the green light to do so) and some timely goals. A score of 1-0 or 2-1 could happen.

The Preds are one of those teams that always gets it done, no matter who is on the ice. I credit GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz for that. I would love for the kind of long-term consistency from Howson and Hitch that those two gentleman have supplied. Pekka Rinne is the straw that stirs the drink in Nashville. In my opinion he is the future of Finnish goaltending. Backstrom and Kipper are the top dogs now, but Rinne will be a great goaltender for a long time. Add to that a fun rivalry with Steve Mason, and we could be seeing a genuine goaltending battle year-in and year-out between these clubs.

The Jackets aren't making any major lineup changes with the exception of Garon getting the start. The line of Chimmer, Umby and Jake looked dangerous on almost every shift last night, and I look for them to continue that tonight. One guy who really needs to step it up is Rick Nash. Even last night, to me he was the guy who looked the worst. He was committing turnovers, and I think he is really pressing. Seemingly every time he had the puck in the offensive zone he was going with the slapper, very unlike the Captain. I would like to see he and Brass play together for a bit to see if that will spark him. Vermmy doesn't seem to be the right fit for Nasher.

Fearless Prediction: The run of bad play in Nashville has to end sometime right? Jackets win, Chimmer continues his hot streak.

Game Time: 8:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: On the Forecheck

Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Predators coverage

TSN Preview: Blue Jackets vs Predators Preview

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Gaylord Entertainment Center. Sommet Center. Nashville Arena. Doesn't matter what it's named, it's a house of horrors for the Blue Jackets, who are 0-10-2 in Nashville since April 3, 2006. The Jackets blew leads of 1-0 and 2-1 and lost 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 21 in Nashville.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Kristian Huselius	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
Jason Chimera	R.J. Umberger	Jakub Voracek
Andrew Murray	Samuel Pahlsson	Jared Boll
Raffi Torres	Derick Brassard	Derek Dorsett

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Mike Commodore	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Marc Methot

Mathieu Garon

Steve Mason

EXTRA: Mike Blunden, Mathieu Roy, Derek MacKenzie

INJURED: Fredrik Modin, Rostislav Klesla

Nashville Predators

Steve Sullivan	Jason Arnott	Martin Erat
Jerred Smithson	David Legwand	Joel Ward
Jordin Tootoo	Marcel Goc	J.P. Dumont
Ryan Jones	Cal O'Reilly	Patric Hornqvist

Shea Weber	Ryan Suter
Francis Bouillon	Alexander Sulzer
Kevin Klein	Dan Hamhuis

Pekka Rinne

Dan Ellis

Grading the Nashville Predators' November: the defense

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:22:41 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber continues to play a key role at both ends of the ice.

Browse more photos »

We took a look at the goaltenders the other day, so now it is time to focus our attention on how the Nashville Predators defense played during the second month of the season. For your reference, here are October's grades...

Jump down to the bottom for the Behind the Net stats (which represent the season to date). Within each player capsule, stats reflect performance during the month of November.

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	13	1	2	3	-4	6	1	0	0	0	16	6.3

Having settled into a steady job (over 20:00 a night) alongside Kevin Klein, Bouillon is starting to chip in a little bit offensively to go along with his consistent defensive work. He's been rewarded with close to 3 minutes of power play ice time per game, and has also played a large role on the penalty kill. Remember when I said long ago that he'd make people forget Greg Zanon? He's certainly on his way.

And if you look at the 5-on-5 numbers below and are concerned about his team-low GFON/60, keep in mind that it's about twice what it was a month ago, meaning that over the last month that number has been roughly in line with his teammates.

Francis Bouillon's grade: A-

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	13	1	2	3	+2	4	0	0	1	0	26	3.8

Barry Trotz is careful to put the rookie in situations where he's best placed to succeed (see the QUALTEAM and QUALCOMP numbers down at the bottom; the quality of teammates he plays with is the hightest, and the quality of competition he plays against is low), but Franson is acquitting himself well so far. Surprisingly he hasn't really produced on the power play as much as one would expect, and that's where the team needs his talent most.

As seen in the game-by-game recaps, Franson has a strong impact on Shots For & Against; his "Relative Corsi", or the difference between Total Shots For & Against when he's on the ice vs. when he's on the bench, is the best on the team.

Cody Franson's grade:B+

Dan Hamhuis

#2 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1982

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dan Hamhuis	13	1	3	4	+6	8	0	0	0	0	20	5.0

What a turnaround for Hammer - a disastrous start has been largely reversed, as Goals Against in 5-on-5 have toned down considerably, and the penalty kill has been much better in recent weeks. He plays mostly along Franson, providing the safety net for the rook, and has provided the sort of two-way play Nashville fans have grown to expect over the last few seasons.

Dan Hamhuis' grade: B+

Kevin Klein

#8 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1984

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kevin Klein	13	0	1	1	-1	4	0	0	0	0	11	0.0

Just as Hamhuis' play has steadied, so has Klein's. Since his offensive contributions are so limited, the nostrum that people often use for referees applies to Klein - when you don't notice him very much, you know he's done a good job. He too deserves credit for the rebounding penalty kill unit.

Kevin Klein's grade: B-

Alexander Sulzer

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	2	0	0	0	+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

Alexander Sulzer's grade: Incomplete

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	13	0	4	4	-6	10	0	0	0	0	10	0.0

Remember that post from a few days ago covering the 10 NHL Players Who Should Shoot the Puck More Often? Suter was #3 on that list for good reason, not the least of which is his extensive time (roughly 4:00 per game) on the power play. The Preds need more than just 10 shots a month out of him. His 5-on-5 results have taken a nasty turn for the worse, as well. Suter got off to a good start in October, and needs to reverse this recent slide.

Ryan Suter's grade: C-

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	11	1	5	6	-6	0	1	0	0	0	32	3.1

While the goals have dried up a bit, the shots are still coming fast and furious, so there's little concern on that front. What really jumps out is that despite playing heavy minutes against top opponents regularly, Weber made it through the entire month without a single penalty. That speaks volumes to his hard work on the defensive end.

Shea Weber's grade: B+

Here are the 5-on-5 numbers for the season to date. For explanations behind the numbers, check Behind the Net:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	RATING	QUALCOMP	QUALTEAM	PTS/60	GFON/60	GAON/60	+/- per 60
Shea Weber	25	17.54	0.06	0.07	0.08	0.68	2.05	2.46	-0.41
Dan Hamhuis	23	17.52	0.69	-0.04	-0.04	1.04	2.53	2.53	0.00
Ryan Suter	27	17.49	-0.01	0.06	0.13	0.51	1.78	2.16	-0.38
Kevin Klein	27	17.11	-1.24	-0.02	-0.09	0.26	1.30	2.47	-1.17
Francis Bouillon	27	16.14	-0.89	0.00	-0.17	0.00	0.96	1.93	-0.96
Cody Franson	21	11.59	2.03	-0.08	0.18	0.99	3.20	1.73	+1.48
Alexander Sulzer	5	11.38	2.80	-0.07	0.50	1.05	3.16	1.05	+2.11

Ten NHL Players Who Should Shoot the Puck More Often

Rafal Ladysz — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:09:29 -0000

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

24 days ago: Buffalo Sabres' Tim Connolly, right, works the puck for a goal against Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. Buffalo won 4-2. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about Tim Connolly? Honestly, it could be a handful of things like smooth skater, crafty stick-handler, terrific play-maker or the obvious one being injuries. But a facet of his game that's often overlooked is the center's shot primarily because he hesitates to use it.

When he does decide to pull the trigger, his release and accuracy can surprise goaltenders. Connolly, who leads the Buffalo Sabres with 21 points after 23 games, is utilizing it increasingly and is on pace for a career year in all categories if he stays healthy.

This got me thinking about some of the other players like Connolly who would be wise to throw the puck at the net substantially. The last thing I suggest is that they listen to me because they are the athletes who are earning millions of dollars for their skills.

Suggestions aren't frowned upon however. At least, I hope they aren't because these athletes are competent to score. If all else fails, put the disc towards the goal.

10) Ales Hemsky (Edmonton Oilers)

Out for the remainder of the season, Edmonton's playoff aspirations are all but finished without the services of their talented winger. Hemsky was supplying a point per game and reaching new peaks offensively before he ran into shoulder issues

The patience he has can outlast goaltenders in close and his snap shot should be taken more seriously by defensemen.

9) Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals)

Playing with Alexander Ovechkin, the Swede is better served as an assist provider to a world-class shooter. But that doesn't signify it as the only option. Should Ovechkin be covered, Backstrom would be smart to attempt picking a corner like he's capable of.

Although he doesn't pack the meanest power, he's got fearful accuracy which is at times more vital to finding the back of the net.

8) Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings)

Frolov is a two-time 30-goal man and has all of the tools to be an elite star for years. The frightening statistic is that the Russian hasn't fired 200 or more shots in a full season making you wonder how many more he could record if he did.

My estimate is that Frolov is worthy of 40 to 45 goals once he shoots first and asks questions last. Whether it actually happens is beyond me.

7) Tomas Kaberle (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Remember who won the accuracy challenge at the 2008 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition? Yes, Kaberle was the fourth player ever to hit all four targets requiring that many attempts. A fantastic set-up defender, his passing is right on the tape of recipients making him a marquee powerplay quarterback.

With 23 of his 25 points this year coming by way of assists, Kaberle will continue to do what's worked best for him. An unexpected shot is still threatening.

6) Kristian Huselius (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Huselius' shot count has grown each year since 2006 and with ten goals in 21 games, his wrister is truly emerging. The 31-year-old scored on 23 occasions as a rookie oozing confidence from the beginning of his career and has the gift to make the linemates around him superior.

Most likely, Rick Nash will lead the Blue Jackets in scoring and Huselius will be next in line.

5) Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia Flyers)

Some players, no matter what they do, seem to be under the radar constantly. Kimmo Timonen is an example of that and with the arrival of Chris Pronger, that won't change. Like Kaberle, this veteran can run the man-advantage with ease and provides plenty from the back-end.

And also similar is his shot which isn't the strongest but precise. If only Timonen would utilize it.

4) Eric Fehr (Washington Capitals)

I've seen this kid's potential and his scoring touch is abundantly clear. While going to the net and digging for rebounds is what Bruce Boudreau wants from his young winger, Fehr is capable of letting it go from beyond past a netminder.

It's easy to forget about him with the plethora of stars Washington has but he wasn't a first round selection for nothing.

3) Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)

Both Suter and Shea Weber can create injuries for opposing players attempting to block their shots. The difference is the latter won't mind launching one-timer after one-timer until something good happens. For some reason, Suter isn't as quick to unload his heavy shot which he does own.

Whatever it is, 24 shots in 25 games leads you to believe that he's a little trigger shy.

2) Andrei Kostitsyn (Montreal Canadiens)

A ~~huge~~ bit of an enigma, Kostitsyn`s best assets are his his explosive wrist shot and his aptitude at dangling by defensemen. After scoring 49 goals in two campaigns, the Belarussian has lit the lamp twice in 24 games adding to the laundry list of problems Montreal carries.

Kostitsyn was beginning to gain confidence before a leg injury sidelined him a few days ago.

1) Lubomir Visnovsky (Edmonton Oilers)

Visnovsky wasn`t shy about shooting in Los Angeles yet seems uncertain at times these days. One thing is for certain: the one-timer he carries with him can bank 20 goals easily. In order for that to happen, he`s got to deliver more pucks on net.

If not for himself, then for the sake of Edmonton`s postseason chances.

Nashville Predators 2010 Winter Olympics Preview

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:31 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

The power, speed and skill of Nashville's Shea Weber are expected to be a big part of Team Canada's blueline at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Browse more photos »

As part of SB Nation's series of previews for the upcoming Winter Olympics, let's take a look at the Nashville Predators who are expected to represent their country this February in Vancouver. We'll break down which players should pack their bags already, which are in a battle for a roster spot, and which have real work to do if they want their shot at Olympic glory.

Pack Your Bags!

The most prominent Predators discussed in terms of the Winter Olympics are Nashville's twin towers on defense, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber:

Ryan Suter - USA

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	25	2	9	11	-2	16	1	0	0	0	24	8.3

Suter, as has been discussed repeatedly, is the son of Bob Suter, a member of the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" U.S. Mens Team. A steady two-way defender who faces elite opposition every night, Suter's greatest strength is his ability to carry the puck from defensive to offensive zone, and get the attack moving. The U.S. should contend for a medal, and Suter is likely to play a major role on a pretty young American squad.

Shea Weber - Canada

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	23	6	9	15	-2	4	4	0	1	0	66	9.1

The roster selection for Team Canada is one of the most-talked about hockey stories this year. In every online projection for which players will don the Maple Leaf, however, you'll see Shea Weber's name listed as a regular on the blueline. He brings that rare combination of reliable defensive work, outstanding offensive production, and brute physical force that franchises dream of building a team around.

Alexander Radulov - Russia

#47 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 188

Born: Jul 05, 1986

Well, he's still under a valid NHL contract with Nashville, so I guess this counts. Radulov should provide secondary scoring for what should be a dynamite Russian squad led by the formidable trio of Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and Evgeni Malkin.

Marcel Goc - Germany

#9 / Center / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Aug 24, 1983

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Marcel Goc	23	2	1	3	-2	6	0	0	0	0	36	5.6

Germany isn't exactly stacked with NHL-level talent, and the versatile Goc is sure to be included on Uwe Krupp's team.

Roman Josi - Switzerland

Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 198

Born: June 1, 1990

This smooth-skating young blueliner, Nashville's 2nd-round pick (38th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, plays in the Swiss League, and last season led all players under age 20 in goals, points and assists. Having appeared in the 2009 World Championships, he's expected to suit up in Vancouver for his native Switzerland, which is capable of the occasional upset, having beaten both the Czech Republic and Canada in the 2006 Turin Games.

In A Battle

Patric Hornqvist - Sweden

#27 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-11

Weight: 186

Born: Jan 01, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Patric Hornqvist	25	5	5	10	2	8	0	0	2	0	82	6.1

Sweden is the defending gold medal champion, and while being hailed as "a prime example of someone playing their way onto an Olympic team", the field of potential forwards is a tough one to crack, especially if Peter Forsberg is healthy and ready to go.

Pekka Rinne - Finland

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	17	961	11	5			38	2.37	452	414	.916	2

Finland is turning into a real hotbed of goaltending, and with Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff proclaiming that he'd rather stay home if he's not the #1 starter, Rinne might be able to play himself onto this squad alongside competitors like Nicklas Backstrom, Tuukka Rask, and Antero Niitymaki.

Alexander Sulzer - Germany

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	5	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.0

Originally thought of as a lock for the German team, Sulzer's OIympic dreams have likely taken a hit given his lack of playing time so far this season.

Work To Do

Robert Dietrich - Germany

#50 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-10

Weight: 172

Born: Jul 25, 1986

Dietrich was on Germany's preliminary roster at their summer organizational camp, but is part of a crowded field of players in either North American minor league hockey or European elite leagues. With Milwaukee, he is the Admirals' 2nd-leading scorer with a goal and 13 assists in 21 games.

Martin Erat - Czech Republic

#10 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-0

Weight: 203

Born: Aug 29, 1981

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Martin Erat	22	4	5	9	-7	20	2	0	1	0	43	9.3

Perhaps the recent injury to Edmonton's Ales Hemsky opens up a roster spot at forward, but Erat's slow start hasn't helped his chances.

Dan Hamhuis - Canada

#2 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1982

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dan Hamhuis	21	1	6	7	1	18	0	0	0	0	39	2.6

Hamhuis has represented Team Canada at the World Championships on a number of occasions, and was invited to their Olympic camp this summer. There's little reason to believe he'll crack the lineup for the Winter Olympics, however; that's not a crack on his ability, as the competition there is incredibly tough.

David Legwand - USA

#11 / Center / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-2

Weight: 202

Born: Aug 17, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - David Legwand	25	5	9	14	-1	10	0	1	2	0	53	9.4

Given his stellar defensive work this season in a checking role between Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson, Legwand might gain consideration for a similar job on Team USA. There are few players in the world that can match Leggy's combination of skating ability and size at the center position, and he could help an American team that will hope to win tough, low-scoring games. He'll have to maintain his recent offensive success, however, to get noticed as a hot commodity.

Poll

How many Nashville Predators (including Radulov) will play in the Winter Olympics?

1-3

16 votes

4-6

40 votes

7-9

9 votes

10-12

4 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

It's time to vote: Nashville Predators MVP, 1st Quarter

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:36:09 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

The Nashville Predators have gotten significant contributions from a number of players so far - but which of them deserves to be named the team MVP for the first quarter of the season?

Browse more photos »

The nominations are in, so it's time to vote, Predators fans - who is your team MVP for the 1st Quarter of this 2009-10 season? Follow after the jump for the nominations, then log your vote below...

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	21	1	2	3	-8	12	1	0	0	0	25	4.0

HartnellsMop: "without him, our D as a whole is nowhere near what it is now. JP’s play-making is certainly missed when he’s out, but i shutter to think how terrible our blueline would be if Klein and Hammer had to still be paired up."

J.P. Dumont

#71 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 219

Born: Apr 01, 1978

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - J.P. Dumont	14	3	12	15	2	6	0	0	0	0	34	8.8

Gover: "as JP Dumont goes, this team goes. Not only is he the points leader, but when he was out, they looked lost. He may not wear a C or an A on his chest but, more than anyone else, this is HIS team."

Lil cutie: "We are 9-3-1 in games that he has participated in, 8-0-1 when he has scored a point. He has averaged over a point per game; no one else on the team comes close to that scoring rate. There is no way that the goal-starved Predators would be over .500 without his offensive contribution."

KentS: "No doubt he’s the playmaker. Take a look at how hard other teams go after him and try to check him relentlessly."

Hockey Hillbilly: "At the start of a season of surprising performances (Smithson, Bouillon and Hornqvist among them), steady but inventive J.P. Dumont stands tall. Joel Ward embodies Predator grit but Dumont gets the job done."

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	15	2	3	5	3	6	0	0	1	0	28	7.1

Preds On The Glass: "He has steadily laid claim to the 6th D spot to the point that Sulzer is going to receive a charity start from Trotz. Franson’s offense was not questioned in the preseason but his defense was and now he is logging important minutes and not looking out of place in tough situations. I think he is probably here to stay."

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L			GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	14	780	9	4			31	2.38	361	330	.914	2

Gover: "Rinne has finally provided stability in net and the #’s in his past 8 games are astounding."

Sam Page: "The team has a negative goal differential, and the positive record seems to be the product of Rinne keeping the game close late. He’s clutch."

Jerred Smithson

#25 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-3

Weight: 204

Born: Feb 04, 1979

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jerred Smithson	21	4	0	4	3	18	0	2	1	0	15	26.7

whatthepuck: "He has scored four goals in 20 games, which already matches his total goals scored for the entire 08-09 season. He’s still great on the penalty kill, especially when paired with Joel Ward. And I honestly think the fact that he’s playing on the second line has given him a huge mental boost, helping his overall game. I have seen no one that compares to him in terms of off-season improvement. He used his summer wisely and is now standing out, at age 30, among a team with many younger players. This speaks volumes to his work ethic and dedication to the team and the sport."

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	21	2	8	10	1	14	1	0	0	0	22	9.1

Space Weed Says: "He’s played well, he’s contributed offensively and has worn an A on his jersey during Jason Arnott and Shea Weber’s abscences from the lineup."

Joel Ward

#29 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 220

Born: Dec 02, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Joel Ward	19	3	6	9	-1	6	2	0	1	0	37	8.1

Poiju: "For being one of the most consistent and motivated players throughout the first quarter."

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	19	5	7	12	0	4	3	0	1	0	53	9.4

Sam Page: "plays significantly more ice time than any of the other players above... Webs has played good defense as usual and is tied for the team’s goal lead as a defenseman!"

Poll

Who is the Nashville Predators MVP for the 1st Quarter of the season?

Francis Bouillon

8 votes

J.P. Dumont

20 votes

Cody Franson

1 votes

Pekka Rinne

44 votes

Jerred Smithson

10 votes

Ryan Suter

3 votes

Joel Ward

5 votes

Shea Weber

14 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Nashville Predators Fantasy Hockey Update - November 15, 2009

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:26:04 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

With his linemates Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont back in the lineup, Nashville Predators winger Steve Sullivan makes a fine fantasy hockey option these days.

Browse more photos »

Now that healthy players are finally returning to fill out the lineup, it's worth taking a look at the Nashville Predators and how they'll impact your fantasy hockey team over the next week.

After the jump, let's see who you should start or bench...

Start 'Em

Steve Sullivan, Jason Arnott, and J.P. Dumont have finally gotten a couple games together on the top line after a variety of injuries kept them apart early on, and the results have been impressive so far. Over the next two weeks the Preds play a heavy home-ice schedule that should allow Barry Trotz to get them favorable matchups, and when combined with all the power play opportunities they can handle, those three should all be considered solid options for your fantasy lineup.

On defense, Shea Weber has successfully returned from a foot injury that caused him to miss a week earlier this month. He's making a strong case for a spot on Team Canada's roster at the Winter Olympics, and is on pace to meet or exceed his 23 goals from last season.

Pekka Rinne appears to be establishing himself as the dominant presence in goal, having earned his second shutout of the season last night and having given up 2 goals or less in 5 of his last 6 games. Just as importantly, Nashville's overall team defense has tightened up

Bench 'Em

Martin Erat, despite earning 3 assists during the last week, is still struggling to make a consistent impact offensively, and has seen his ice time drop considerably. In each of the first 9 games of the season he played at least 17 minutes, a mark he has exceed only once in the last six. He's currently playing on the 3rd line, and during Saturday night's win over Montreal, he played only 12:46, his lowest ice time of the season.

Until he produces regularly enough to earn his way back into the Top Six, he's not someone you want taking up a roster spot.

Martin Erat

#10 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-0

Weight: 203

Born: Aug 29, 1981

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Martin Erat	15	1	3	4	-8	10	0	0	0	0	31	3.2

On the Fence

David Legwand, while still under-performing offensively, has at least shown signs of life (1 goal and 3 assists in his last 8 games), and continues to get healthy amounts of ice time.

Patric Hornqvist leads the team in Shots On Goal, but could get pushed down the depth chart now that the top line is reunited. Once Colin Wilson returns to action (hopefully last this week) he might get on a more favorable line, but in the short term his production might take a hit.

Ryan Suter remains paired with Shea Weber on Nashville's top unit, but doesn't assert himself offensively as much in 5-on-5 situations, nor does he look to shoot from the point with Weber at the opposite corner. Unless the Predators power play starts producing on a consistent basis, Suter's numbers will likely lag well behind his partner's.

Dan Ellis is capable of beating good teams on any given night, but is only likely to get a minority of the starts based on Rinne's play of late. You'll need to check on the day of a game to see if he's going to get in there.

Carey Price's Record Tying Performance Under The Microscope

Robert L — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:14:40 -0000

Seven days ago, Chris Boyle's in depth analysis of the Canadiens goaltenders was a true eye opener on several fronts. Following Carey Price's record tying performance last night in Nashville, I asked Chris if he would put this one game under his microscope so we could all have a similar analysis on how good a game Price played. Down below, the graphs illustrate the story of Saturday's game quite clearly. Following Chris' take, there is a historical recap on where Price's marks fit in with other great one game performances in the team's history.

WHO FIRED WHAT:

In the order of shots on goal, shots blocked and missed shots.

Forwards Shots: 11 (0-0) - Steve Sullivan, 5 (0-0) - Martin Erat, 4 (1-1) - David Legwand, 4 (2-0) - Andreas Thuresson, 3 (0-0) - Michael Santorelli, 3 (1-1) - Jason Arnott, 2 (1-0) - Marcel Goc, 2 (0-3) - Jordin Tootoo, 1 (0-1) - Jerred Smithson, 1 (2-1) - Patrick Hornqvist, 1 (1-2) - Joel Ward, 1 (0-0) - J.P. Dumont

On goal: 38 / Blocked: 8 / Misses: 9

Total directed from forwards: 57

Defense Shots: 5 (0-1) - Dan Hamhuis, 4 (1-2) - Shea Weber, 4 (1-1) - Cody Franzen, 3 (0-0) - Kevin Klein, 1 (0-0) - Francis Bouillon, 0 (0-0) - Ryan Suter

On goal: 17 / Blocked: 2 / Misses: 4

Total directed by defense: 23

Team Totals:

On goal: 55 / Blocked: 10 / Misses: 13

Total directed shots by Nashville: 78

SHOT RANGE

Chris notes that of the 55 shots faced by Price, 22 were fired from a distance of 40 feet or more, another 19 came from within the 20 to 40 foot range, and 14 (including Steve Sullivan's 2 goals) came from up close, within 20 feet of the goal.

SAVE %

Price stopped all 41 shots directed at him from a distance of more than 20 feet out. Of 14 chances within the 20 foot parameter, Sullivan beat Price in close at the crease's lip and from 15 feet out on a rebound, uncovered both times.

Price faced 6 shots registered from less than 10 feet, which according to NHL.com gamelogs, is a total that Tim Thomas took 6 games to register.

Prior to Saturday's game against Montreal, Steve Sullivan had 2 goals and 3 assists in 17 games for the NHL's lowest scoring team. His 11 shots in this game bring his season total to 41.

Chris Notes:

I was reminded of Dryden while watching this game. Not because of Price's goaltending, but because I thought I saw the 6'5" Pekka Rinne engaged in his classic pose watching all the action.

In regards to the Nashville game, I found the following article at Puck Prospects.com very interesting.

In the "more shots" category, I was not surprised to find Nashville and Florida. I’ve always found something fishy about Florida’s inflated shot totals, both during the old Luongo days and more recently with Vokoun. Likewise, Nashville always seems to have a goaltender with a 0.920 save percentage (Tomas Vokoun, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne). Though the most remarkable bias comes on the "less shots" side and is found, unsurprisingly, in New Jersey.

As soon as I saw the first period shot totals I thought of this article from Tom Awad that discussed that Nashville has a tendency to overreport shot totals. Also, Boone referenced it in his live game log when he said NHL.com had registered 17 shots, while RDS was reporting 21. It is an interesting tidbit considering the circumstance.

Also the game in question in which Price almost broke the record for shots faced was March 10, 1974. Wayne Thomas was in goal and faced 57 shots against the Penguins in a 5-4 Win (23 in the first period, 15 in the second, 19 in the third) 2 goals in the first, 1 in the next 2 periods. Gary Innes was in goal for the Pens and gave up 5 goals on 18 shots! 1st period the Habs had 8 shots and 3 goals, followed by 5 shots and 1 goal in each of the next 2 periods.

A look at Price's saves against Nashville from Chris' You Tube compilation.

HISTORY AND PRICE'S RECORD

Previous Canadiens Goalie Records:

For a historical point of view, here is a look back on other noteworthy performances by Canadiens goaltenders. For time and perspective, make use of the hyperlinks provided.

Most Shots On Goal Against - One Game: 57

March 10, 1974, Wayne Thomas in goal, in a 5-4 win against Pittsburgh.

Canadiens lineup / Penguins lineup

Most Saves - One Game: 53

November 14, 2009, Carey Price in goal, in a 2-0 Nashville win

Canadiens lineup / Predators lineup / Game Summary

March 10, 1974, Wayne Thomas in goal, in a 5-4 win against Pittsburgh.

Canadiens lineup / Penguins lineup

Most Shots On Goal - One Period: 24 (3 times)

2009 - November 14: Carey Price vs Nashville (1st), 2-0 Nashville (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Predators lineup / Game Summary

1976 - March 19: Ken Dryden vs California (1st), 4-1 Montreal (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Seals lineup Game Summary

1970 - March 15: Rogie Vachon vs Toronto (3rd) 3-3 tie (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Maple Leafs lineup/ Game Summary

Most Saves - One Period: 23 (5 times)

2009 - November 14: Carey Price vs Nashville (1st), 2-0 Nashville (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Predators lineup / Game Summary

2002 - October 26: Jeff Hackett vs Ottawa (1st), 5-3 Ottawa (stopped 23 of 23)

Canadiens lineup / Senators lineup

1993 - March 10: Andre Racicot vs Islanders (2nd), 5-1 Montreal (stopped 23 of 23)

Canadiens lineup / Islanders lineup

1976 - March 19: Ken Dryden vs California (1st), 4-1 Montreal (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Seals lineup / Game Summary

1970 - March 15: Rogie Vachon vs Toronto (3rd) 3-3 tie (stopped 23 of 24)

Canadiens lineup / Maple Leafs lineup/ Game Summary

With the performance against Nashville, Carey Price now owns or shares six Canadiens goaltending records including the two listed above.

CAREY PRICE CANADIENS' GOALTENDING RECORDS

Most Shots Faced In One Shootout: 8

October 27, 2008 vs Pittsburgh, Canadiens 4 Penguins 3 / Game Summary

Most Saves In One Shootout: 8

October 27, 2008 vs Pittsburgh, Canadiens 4 Penguins

Most Shootout Shots Faced In One Season:

22: October 27, 2008 vs Pittsburgh, Canadiens 4 Penguins

Most Shootout Saves In One Season:

18: October 27, 2008 vs Pittsburgh, Canadiens 4 Penguins

For more on this game from the Nashville Predators angle, check out On the Forecheck.

Grading the Nashville Predators' October: the defense

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:04:32 -0000

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

After a rough start, Nashville Predators defenseman Kevin Klein has registered a +4 rating, a goal and an assist over his past 3 games.

Browse more photos »

Yesterday we considered the goaltenders, and now it's time to review how the Nashville Predators' defense corps has performed over the previous month.

It's certainly been a roller-coaster ride at times watching this bunch sort out the most effective pairings, but does the stable play of the last week bode well for the month ahead?

First, let's start off with the numbers from Behind the Net, starting with 5-on-5 data:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	RATING	QUALCOMP	QUALTEAM	PTS/60	GFON/60	GAON/60	+/- per 60
Ryan Suter	13	18.0	+1.91	-0.05	0.43	1.03	2.31	1.79	+0.51
Dan Hamhuis	9	17.8	-2.62	-0.06	-0.25	1.12	1.12	3.75	-2.62
Shea Weber	13	17.6	+1.90	-0.01	0.42	1.05	2.63	2.10	+0.53
Kevin Klein	13	17.0	-1.90	-0.07	-0.34	0.00	0.82	2.72	-1.90
Francis Bouillon	13	16.8	-0.65	-0.05	-0.29	0.00	0.55	1.65	-1.10
Alexander Sulzer	3	12.0	+2.80	0.10	0.74	1.67	3.33	1.67	+1.67
Cody Franson	7	10.7	+1.04	-0.14	0.54	1.61	3.22	2.42	+0.81
Teemu Laakso	7	10.1	-0.81	-0.18	-0.53	0.00	0.85	2.55	-1.70

Now, here's 5-on-4 power play action:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	GOALS/60	ASST/60	GFON/60
Shea Weber	13	3.8	2.44	0	3.66
Ryan Suter	13	3.7	0	1.26	3.77
Cody Franson	7	2.2	0	0	3.85
Francis Bouillon	13	1.4	0	3.32	3.32
Dan Hamhuis	9	1.2	0	0	0
Kevin Klein	13	0.7	0	0	0
Teemu Laakso	7	0.3	0	0	0
Alexander Sulzer	3	0.1	0	0	0

And lastly, 4-on-5 penalty killing:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	GAON/60
Cody Franson	7	0.1	0
Teemu Laakso	7	0.5	0
Francis Bouillon	13	1.5	3.02
Shea Weber	13	1.7	10.71
Ryan Suter	13	1.9	9.97
Dan Hamhuis	9	2.2	12.13
Alexander Sulzer	3	1.5	0
Kevin Klein	13	2.2	10.55

The individual analysis follows...

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	13	0	1	1	-4	8	0	0	0	0	14	0.0

Considering the fact that Francis Bouillon joined the Predators only during the waning days of training camp, and has had only a few weeks to familiarize himself with his teammates and coaches, his performance has been extraordinary. There's been little time to get comfortable, as injuries have forced the Preds to give him almost 20 minutes a night in a variety of roles. His sole assist so far came as the result of a nice effort on the power play against Chicago on October 29, when he moved down from the point and sent a centering pass to Joel Ward for the score. While it would be nice to see a few more assists by his name, I'm willing to chalk that up to a general lack of team scoring, rather than an individual failing on his part.

The defensive side of his game has been generally excellent so far; in 5-on-5, his Goals Against/60 minutes is the lowest on the team at 1.65. On the penalty kill, Bouillon's ability to jam passing lanes and move opponents has proven very effective. His results in 4-on-5 are best on the team by far.

Francis Bouillon's grade: A-

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	7	1	1	2	1	4	0	0	0	0	10	10.0

While he failed to make the NHL roster out of training camp, Franson has made the most of the opportunity he was given when called up after Dan Hamhuis was injured. Protected by the coaching staff somewhat (his Quality of Competition is near the lowest among the Preds' blueliners, and he doesn't kill penalties), he's producing positive results, which can provide a nice boost to a team that will rely on contributions from every corner of the roster.

It will be interesting to follow Cody's fortunes in the upcoming road trip as he may play a larger role on the power play due to the absence of Shea Weber. His ability to move the puck, and put quick shots on net through traffic, could prove critical.

Cody Franson's grade: B

Dan Hamhuis

#2 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1982

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dan Hamhuis	9	0	3	3	-6	10	0	0	0	0	19	0.0

His early-season pairing with Kevin Klein was an unmitigated disaster, as the Goals Against piled up predominantly on their watch (after 6 games, his Plus/Minus stood at -7). He's also been a workhorse on a PK unit that still sits among the league's worst. While things seem to have stabilized since he missed 4 games recently, he has a long ways to go to dig himself out of this hole.

Dan Hamhuis' grade: D+

Kevin Klein

#8 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kevin Klein	13	1	1	2	-4	4	0	0	0	0	9	11.1

If I had to pick a main culprit in the early Hamhuis/Klein disasters, it would probably be Klein; lapses in judgment often left Hamhuis the lone man left around the net defending a 2-on-1, and his Plus/Minus also stood at -7 after just six games. Once that pairing was split due to his partners injury, however, things seem to settle down for Kevin; not only have the Goals Against dried up, but the coaching staff has rewarded stronger play with more ice time in a variety of situations.

Much as with Hamhuis, however, better play of late needs to go a long way forward to make up for an awful start. If he's going to become a regular Top Four NHL defenseman, he also needs to provide more offensive punch as well.

Kevin Klein's grade: D

Teemu Laakso

#4 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 209

Born: Aug 27, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Teemu Laakso	7	0	0	0	-2	2	0	0	0	0	5	0.0

While the results so far at the NHL level haven't been impressive, the fact that Laakso beat out both Franson and Sulzer to earn a roster spot with the Predators straight out of training camp was an impressive feat. At 22 years of age, he's still maturing as a defenseman, and will surely get another chance down the road.

Teemu Laakso's grade: C

Alexander Sulzer

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.0

Sulzer is a bit of an enigma; valued enough by the Nashville front office to earn a one-way contract (which they refused to give to guys like Antti Pihlstrom or Cal O'Reilly), but deserving of a demotion to Milwaukee during the early days of the season (especially damning given the salary the Preds had to pay to keep him there). With Weber on the shelf for 1-2 weeks, Sulzer will presumably get back into the mix, and needs to make an impression if he wants to stay there.

Alexander Sulzer's grade: Incomplete

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	13	2	5	7	2	8	1	0	0	0	17	11.8

Suter appears to be solidifying his place on Team USA's Olympic roster with a fine start, providing steady two-way play in 5-on-5. He could stand to shoot the puck more on the PP, as the Predators need him to assert himself more on the offensive end if they want to develop a 2nd pair which can consistently keep the attack rolling. He does also bear some of the blame for the early PK woes.

Ryan Suter's grade: B

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	13	5	4	9	2	4	3	0	1	0	36	13.9

As his partner Suter lines up for Team USA, Weber appears to be making a strong case for wearing Team Canada's colors as well. Tied for the NHL lead in goal scoring among defensemen, Weber's 3 power play goals are as many as the rest of the team has combined. His defensive work remains top-notch as well, as he logs heavy minutes against elite opposition on a nightly basis, and can turn the momentum of a game with one of his thundering hits.

About the only knock against him so far is the lackluster overall special teams play; the Preds' power play is only half as effective in terms of Goals For/60 Minutes as the average NHL unit, and the penalty kill is still

Shea Weber's grade: B+

Poll

Which Predators defenseman has been the most pleasant surprise this season?

Francis Bouillon

71 votes

Cody Franson

24 votes

Ryan Suter

4 votes

Shea Weber

7 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed