SB Nation - Ryan Ellis

Canada names world junior camp roster

James Mirtle — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:58:03 -0000

More photos » by Ryan Remiorz - AP

Team Canada hockey players Zach Boychuk, from left to right, John Tavares, P.K.Subban and Cody Hodgson show off their championship rings for Team Canada winning the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship at a news conference in Montreal.

Browse more photos »

Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Wednesday that 36 of Canada's top junior-aged hockey players (born in 1990 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Team selection camp from December 12-16, 2009 in Regina, Sask.

Of the 36 players invited, seven are returning players - having won gold medals at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2008 or 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including fourteen first-round selections and six second-round picks.

The NHL's St. Louis Blues have confirmed that they will loan defenceman Alex Pietrangelo (King City, Ont.) to Canada's National Junior Team, and he will be at the selection camp in Regina.

Hockey Canada may still add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 12, in the event that any other NHL teams loan Canada's National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.

>> team release

Here's the list:

Name	Born	Hometown	2008-09 Team	Pro status
Goaltenders
Jake Allen	7/08/90	Fredricton, N.B.	Montreal (QMJHL)	STL '08
Matt Hackett	7/03/90	London, Ont.	Plymouth (OHL)	MIN '09
Martin Jones	10/01/90	N. Vancouver, B.C.	Calgary (WHL)	LA '08
Olivier Roy	12/07/91	Causapscal, Que.	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	EDM '09

Defence
Jared Cowen	01/25/91	Allan, Sask	Spokane (WHL)	OTT '09
Calvin de Haan	9/05/91	Carp, Ont.	Oshawa (OHL)	NYI '09
Nicholas Deslauriers	02/22/91	St-Anicet, Que.	Rouyn-Nor. (QMJHL)	LA '09
* Ryan Ellis	3/01/91	Freelton, Ont.	Windsor (OHL)	NSH '09
Brandon Gormley	02/18/92	Murray River, P.E.I.	Moncton (QMJHL)	2010 Dft/Rep.
Travis Hamonic	08/16/90	St. Malo, Man.	Moose Jaw (WHL)	NYI '08
Shawn Lalonde	10/05/90	Orleans, Ont.	Belleville (OHL)	CHI '08
Dylan Olsen	3/01/91	Calgary, Alta..	Camrose (AJHL)	CHI '09
* Alex Pietrangelo	01/18/90	King City, Ont.	Niagara (OHL)	STL '08
Marco Scandella	02/23/90	Montreal, Que.	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	MIN '08
* Colten Teubert	8/03/90	White Rock, B.C.	Regina (WHL)	LA '08
Patrick Wiercioch	12/09/90	Maple Ridge, B.C.	Denver (WCHA)	OTT '08

Forwards
Luke Adam	06/18/90	St. John's, N.L.	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	BUF '08
Gabriel Bourque	09/23/90	Baie-Comeau, Que.	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	NSH '09
Jordan Caron	2/11/90	Sayabec, Que.	Rimouski (QMJHL)	BOS '09
* Patrice Cormier	06/14/90	Cap-Pelé, N.B.	Rimouski (QMJHL)	NJ '08
Philippe Cornet	03/28/90	Val Senneville, Que.	Rouyn-Nor. (QMJHL)	EDM '08
* S. Della Rovere	02/25/90	Maple, Ont.	Barrie (OHL)	WAS '08
Cody Eakin	05/24/91	Winnipeg, Man.	Swift Current (WHL)	WAS '09
* Jordan Eberle	05/15/90	Regina, Sask.	Regina (WHL)	EDM '08
Scott Glennie	02/22/91	Winnipeg, Man.	Brandon (WHL)	DAL '09
Taylor Hall	11/14/91	Kingston, Ont.	Windsor (OHL)	2010 Dft/Rep.
Adam Henrique	6/02/90	Burford, Ont.	Windsor (OHL)	NJ '08
* Cody Hodgson	02/18/90	Markham, Ont.	Brampton (OHL)	VAN '08
Nazem Kadri	6/10/90	London, Ont.	London (OHL)	TOR '09
Brandon Kozun	8/03/90	Calgary, Alta..	Calgary (WHL)	LA '09
Louis Leblanc	01/26/91	Kirkland, Que.	Harvard (ECAC)	MTL '09
John McFarland	2/04/92	Richmond Hill, Ont.	Sudbuary (OHL)	2010 Dft/Rep.
Brandon McMillan	03/22/90	Delta, B.C.	Kelowna (WHL)	ANA '08
Greg Nemisz	5/06/90	Courtice, Ont.	Windsor (OHL)	CGY '08
Brayden Schenn	08/22/91	Saskatoon, Sask.	Brandon (WHL)	LA '09
Tyler Seguin	01/31/92	Brampton, Ont.	Plymouth (OHL)	2010 Dft/Rep.

*- was on last year's team

Nashville Predators sign prospect Ryan Ellis to pro contract

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:32 -0000

More photos » by Ryan Remiorz - AP

5 months ago: Ryan Ellis slips on a team cap after being drafted by the Nashville Predators at the 2009 NHL hockey entry draft Friday, June 26, 2009, in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

Browse more photos »

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Ryan Ellis, the club's first choice (11th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Ellis, 18 (1/3/91), helped Windsor (OHL) win the 2009 Memorial Cup and Ontario Hockey League title a season ago, being named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team in process. The Hamilton, Ont., native led all OHL defensemen in points (89), goals (22) and assists (67) in 2008-09 en route to winning the 2009 Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's most outstanding defenseman. In 2009-10, Ellis has appeared in seven games for the Spitfires, recording 10 assists and a plus-7 rating.

The 5-9, 172-pound blueliner also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships, posting seven points (1g-6a) in six tournament games. He was the youngest defenseman to play for Canada at the WJC since Jay Boumeester in 2001, and was one of just three draft-eligible players on the 2009 team.

Ellis attended Predators Training Camp in September, and appeared in Nashville's first preseason game on Sept. 17 vs. Atlanta.

This does not mean that Ellis will be playing in Nashville any sooner than scheduled, but it gets the matter of his initial contract out of the way. Fellow 2009 1st-round pick Simon Depres, for example, just signed a similar deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins but is playing for St. John in the QMJHL. It's termed a "sliding contract", which means that the terms don't kick in until he turns pro. It will cover his first three years of pro hockey whenever they commence.

Ellis hopes to return to the Spitfires lineup soon after injuring his wrist earlier this month.

Nashville Predators reassign defenseman Ryan Ellis

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:38:31 -0000

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has reassigned defenseman Ryan Ellis to his junior team, the Windsor Spitfires (OHL).

Ellis, Nashville's first choice, 11^th overall, in the 2009 Entry Draft, suited up for one preseason game during 2009 Training Camp. Nashville's camp roster now sits at 34 players (3 goaltenders, 10 defensemen, 21 forwards).

This confirms the report that I passed along this morning.

Thursday's notes: Ryan Ellis heads back to junior, "Olie the Goalie" retires

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:38:52 -0000

The countdown to the regular season is finally down to single-digit days, so it's time to get up to speed, hockey fans. There are previews to read, snack selections to nail down for game nights, and, of course, you may just need to switch your TV provider if DirecTV and Versus don't get their act together.

While you're reading this morning, be sure to check out "The Program" podcast; I was a guest on last night's show, to talk about the Preds, and a variety of other topics. Thanks to Chris & the gang for having me on.

After the jump, there's a full slate of Predators and other hockey news. NHL.com boasts a series of feature article on Nashville this morning, we get word that 1st-round draft pick Ryan Ellis is on his way back to his junior team, and one of the great goaltenders of the last 15 years hangs up his pads...

Predators News

Unexpected gift: Timmins back as a Spit - Windsor Star
While the bulk of this article is about Scott Timmins returning to the Spitfires, it also includes this note: "Ryan Ellis will arrive today after the first-round pick by the Nashville Predators was returned."

Predators' penalty kill needs to improve - 2009-2010 Season Preview
John Kreiser at NHL.com points to an area of the team that is usually among the league's best. But particularly on the road (where they were 27th in the league), the PK could use some work.

Nashville counting on young players to step up - 2009-2010 Season Preview
One reason for optimism in Nashville is that the kids coming up through the system show more offensive punch than the 3rd- and 4th-liners which left the team over the summer.

Sullivan looks forward to playing a full season - 2009-2010 Season Preview
Rocky Bonanno writes about what is to me the single biggest factor in the Preds' chances for improvement this season. A healthy Steve Sullivan brings a fresh dynamic to the Nashville attack.

Judging a game by its stats - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond looks at last night's game solely through the box score and stats files, because "I really do not like listening to hockey games on the radio". As a kid, radio was my primary means of following hockey, and last night was a fun flashback to those times. Tom Callahan brings a classic style to the Preds' radio broadcasts with a modern sensibility. My favorite bit? When the Atlanta PA announcer mispronounced #9's name, prompting Callahan to wonder out loud, "Who's GOK?"

Training Camp - Day One - Admirals Short Shifts
Eric Kent brings us the scoop from the opening of Milwaukee's training camp.

According to Vegas oddsmakers, your 2009-10 playoff teams - Puck Daddy
Vegas picks the Preds to take a step backwards this season...

Eye of the Tiger, Baby… " Pull My (Fang)Finger
A friend of AJ's gets a great quote from J.P. Dumont in the Nashville penalty box...

Elsewhere

Game Brain: GQ Features on men.style.com
Set aside a few minutes to read this important story on the issue of head trauma in the NFL, and the debilitating effects that afflict some retired players. In hockey, there is a movement in some circles to reduce or eliminate legal hits to the head, and after reading this piece, you can understand why.

It all starts in the net - The Globe and Mail
James Mirtle's fantasy hockey series moves on to the goaltenders. Pekka Rinne shows up as an "underrated gem".

Manny Malhotra is officially a Shark - Working the Corners
David Pollak writes that the checking center finally inked a contract with San Jose, for less than half of what he made last year in Columbus.

Blueshirt Banter talks with Rangers radio analyst Dave Maloney - Blueshirt Banter
SB Nation's New York Rangers blog landed a great interview with the team's radio analyst, Dave Maloney. With powerful personalities like Sean Avery and John Tortorella on hand, it should be an interesting season down at Madison Square Garden.

An end, a beginning, a new home - Inside the Kings
In an interesting twist, LA Daily Times writer Rich Hammond has now been hired directly by the Kings, for the purpose of providing coverage of the team via LAKings.com. On the upside, "For the first time ever in my career, I will be able to dedicate every working hour to covering the Kings." On the downside, we'll have to see over time whether such relationships mute criticism of the team's management and/or players.

The End of an Era: Kolzig Quits - On Frozen Blog
In the end it was merely a formality, but the retirement of the greatest goaltender in Washington Capitals history is surely deserving of note. Olaf Kolzig won the Vezina Trophy in 2000, and led the Caps to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998.

David Poile on Olie Kolzig - In The Room - Washington Times
The Preds GM ran the show in Washington when Kolzig was drafted back in 1989, and shares his memories of "Olie the Goalie".

Phoenix Coyotes will stay in Glendale for 2009-10 season - AZCentral.com
Jim Balsillie's legal team finally gave up the insane notion that he could move the Coyotes to Hamilton this season if he won control of the team.

Coyotes tickets slashed to $25 or less for home opener - From The Rink
The Coyotes are pulling out a heck of a promotion to try and sellout their home opener. Here's to hoping the folks in Phoenix can have a fun night of hockey, after a summer of pure ugliness.

Another NHL Team In the Northwest? - Nucks Misconduct
After the city of Everett, Washington hosted a pre-season game, people are openly asking whether Seattle or Portland might serve as NHL markets. For my money, Seattle would be a great option.

Foppa’s back! ****** : All Things Avs Colorado
Peter Forsberg is apparently attempting to set the professional hockey record for most comebacks, after signing a tryout contract with Modo in the Swedish Elite League.

Should Ryan Ellis play with Nashville in the NHL this season?

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:36:54 -0000

More photos » by Ryan Remiorz - AP

Browse more photos »

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Nashville Predators 2009 1st-round draft pick, defenseman Ryan Ellis, will soon head back to his junior team, the Windsor Spitfires. But should he?

Over at Mile High Hockey, they've been considering the question of Matt Duchene, the 3rd overall pick for Colorado who stands to get lots of ice time at the center spot, particularly in light of Joe Sakic's retirement.

What David Driscoll-Carignan did was examine the performance of top draft picks, to see if making the transition from junior hockey straight to the NHL made any difference in player performance, based on their 1st NHL season, their best NHL season, and their career numbers. He failed to find any convincing evidence that extra time spent in junior helped these prospects in either the short- or long-term.

With that in mind, we all know that the power play is Nashville's greatest opportunity for improvement. Might it make sense, then, both for the individual and the team, to keep Ellis in Nashville playing spot duty on the 3rd pair at even strength, with a larger role on the PP? He'd certainly benefit from practicing with the Preds on a daily basis, which is probably the best way for him to get up to NHL speed. Check out this analysis of what Ellis might do in a rookie NHL campaign, based on the points-per-game translation from junior to the big leagues.

Interestingly, even Paul McCann writes this morning "I wouldn't be surprised to see him with the team for a couple of regular season games before being returned to Windsor."

Of course, he still has some physical maturing to do, as his 5'9" 180 pound frame attests. Learning to handle NHL-level hitting is an artform in itself. The argument can also be made that massive amounts of game time would best serve his development, the kind he would get only in Windsor. For those wondering, Milwaukee isn't an option, as the AHL has a minimum age requirement that Ellis won't meet for two more seasons.

So what do you think, folks? Whither Ryan Ellis?

Poll

Where should Ryan Ellis play this season?

Nashville

46 votes

Windsor

74 votes

120 votes | Poll has closed

Thursday's news: Predators in position to buy

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:55:40 -0000

More photos » by Ryan Remiorz - AP

2009 1st-round draft choice Ryan Ellis is expected to play in tonight's pre-season game against Atlanta.

Browse more photos »

It's Game Night, folks! Tonight at 7:00 the Preds kick off the pre-season against the Atlanta Thrashers, and prior to the game the new 3rd jersey will be officially unveiled. It should be a fun night down at the Sommet Center. Word so far is that Colin Wilson and Ryan Ellis will both play, giving fans their first look at the team's top picks in the last two drafts.

Before we get to the morning news, however, I want to make special note of something that John Glennon included in his recap of yesterday's Silver/Blue scrimmage:

I spoke with Preds’ GM David Poile afterward, in part regarding the latest on Nashville’s pursuit of Boston forward Phil Kessel. Poile said the Preds have offered a combination of draft picks and prospects for Kessel, who scored 36 goals last season.

``Nothing’s really new -- I haven’t been told we’re in. I haven’t been told we’re out,’’ Poile said. ``I know approximately what (Boston GM Peter Chiarelli) wants and he knows approximately what we would be prepared to do. I haven’t been told either way.’’

You know what this tells me? Surprisingly, Poile is positioned to acquire a $4 million+ player, without returning a major salary the other way. In other words, if the Preds don't win Kessel, it's entirely likely that they might acquire another established NHL player. In my humble opinion, the biggest need is really for a veteran presence on defense, one that could be found for a lot less than $4 million. The Kessel situation presents a unique opportunity to snag a young, proven talent up front, so perhaps Poile's willing to stretch his budget a bit if it works out.

So keep that in your back pocket as we take a look at this morning's news...

Predators News

Mr. Optimist. Mr. Pessimist. Nashville Predators Edition - Sport Informant
Sean Patchett presents both extremes of the fans perspective of the Preds heading into the season.

September Preview - New Jersey... and some Pred Nuggets - Paul McCann
Paul gets charged up for tonight's game, takes a (well-deserved) shot at Doug MacLean for his jumping on board with Jim Balsillie, and provides a season preview for the New Jersey Devils.

Preds On The Glass: Opening Night (Preseason Version) and More
Buddy's getting ready for the first pre-season game tonight, including a musical selection to get us in the mood.

Predators give rookie a chance - The Tennessean
Tonight, Colin Wilson takes the ice at the Sommet Center for the Preds. John Glennon looks at his chances to start the season in the NHL, rather than developing in Milwaukee.

Preds' captain picking up where he left off - Nashville City Paper
If Jason Arnott starts this season like he ended the last one, the Preds will be in good shape. His line certainly looked sharp during yesterday's scrimmage.

The View from 111: Rogues, Rascals, and the Lessons Learned
Mark reviews the financial scandal of Bernie Madoff, and finds many similarities to the Boots Del Biaggio situation.

Five questions with Shea Weber - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond continues his "Five questions" series with the Preds star defenseman.

Kids like Colin Wilson get long look in first week of NHL camp - SI.com
Darren Eliot provides a nice profile piece on Colin Wilson, arguing that both his physique and his hockey sense are NHL-ready. (hat tip to Admirals Short Shifts)

Red Light District: Defense isn't an issue in Music City
A portrait of what is an incredible rarity these days; an NHL defense corps drafted and developed within a single organization.

Ready to Jump? | Hockey Independent
Mark W. (from The View From 111) joins up with HockeyIndependent.com to provide Nashville Predators coverage, and in this post, talks about all the young players being asked to raise their game this fall.

OGA SPR: The Nashville Predators : On Goal Analysis
"Big Tex" takes a look at the Preds and their prospects both from a fantasy hockey perspective, and the question of whether they can return to the playoffs this spring.

Around the NHL

Sykora Extra - Russo’s Rants
Mike Russo checks in with Petr Sykora as he works with the Minnesota Wild on a tryout basis.

Waddell: Goalie Spots Wide Open - Bird Watchers Anonymous
With the Thrashers coming to town this evening for a pre-season game, the Falconer brings us a summary of a Town Hall meeting held by Atlanta's management. They discuss the team's financial situation (they've made some significant acquisitions this summer), the prospects for signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a contract extension, and an open competition for the #1 goalie job.

An Open Letter To Wayne Gretzky - Hockey From the Cheap Seats
Matt Reitz asks the Great One to do the right thing and resign as head coach of the Coyotes. His absurd salary and continued presence behind the bench despite a complete lack of success is just one example of the horrible management decisions that have contributed to the team's woes.

New Jersey Devils Beat New York Rangers in Preseason Shooutout, 3-2 - In Lou We Trust
Here's more pre-season action from New Jersey. I won't link to game summaries like this very often, but hey, the pre-season just got started, so let's dig in!

Pre-Season Game 1: Toronto Maple Leafs 2 v. Boston Bruins 3 - Pension Plan Puppets
A recap of last night's preseason game in Toronto.

Two wins over weak teams in the preseason. Next stop for the Edmonton Oilers: the Stanley Cup. - Cult of Hockey
Two games into the preseason, and David Staples is beaming with optimism about the Oilers. I'm guessing just about every hockey fan feels that way before the puck drops on the regular season.

Leafs Abomination - The Globe and Mail
Michael Grange discusses his new book on the Toronto Maple Leafs in this podcast. It's interesting to hear how much many of the "educated fans" want the Leafs to totally bomb out so they can land a top draft pick, and rebuild from there. Folks, just because Pittsburgh and Washington hit the jackpot doesn't mean it's a recommended course of action...

Alex Ovechkin Named D.C. Sportsman of the Year - Japers' Rink
A nice honor for the NHL's MVP, getting recognized as the athlete of the year in Washington D.C.

The Top 10 Power Forwards - Fantasy Hockey Scouts
Everybody loves a good power forward, but who are the 10 best in the NHL right now?

Top 10 Defensemen under 25 - The Hockey News
John Grigg breaks down the best young blueliners in the NHL. It's awfully nice to see two Preds in the Top 5...

Thanks For The Memories, Bret - Canes Country
Defenseman Bret Hedican who played more than 1,000 games and won a Stanley Cup in 2006 with Carolina, announced his retirement yesterday, and Canes Country recalls his stellar career.

The New Age of Marketing & The NHL " Michelle Kenneth’s Weblog
Michelle writes about the Washington Capitals (surprise) taking the lead and signing all their players up on Twitter.

Let’s Welcome Another Hockey Blog to the Community - KuklasKorner : Goal Line Report :
Patrick Hoffman interviews BD Gallof about the new HockeyIndependent.com, which has just gone live.

What price should the Nashville Predators pay for Phil Kessel?

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:58:50 -0000

While most of the hockey media has Phil Kessel pretty much signed, sealed and delivered to the Toronto Maple Leafs, word is still circulating that the Nashville Predators are still "very much in the hunt", and according to John Glennon at The Tennessean, "Kessel would indeed be agreeable to playing in Nashville."

Phil Kessel

#81 / Right Wing / Boston Bruins

Height: 6-0

Weight: 180

Born: Oct 02, 1987

The question on many Preds fans' minds, however, is whether this is a deal worth pursuing. Kessel is obviously talented, but would his salary (likely $4-5 million) fit within Nashville's operating budget, and what might the team have to give up in trade?

After the jump, let's dig into these questions and see where it might lead...

In terms of what Nashville might give up in a potential trade, let's rule some guys out, first. The 5 big forwards (Arnott, Dumont, Sullivan, Legwand, Erat) and 3 top defensemen (Weber, Suter, Hamhuis) are likely untouchable, either due to no-trade clauses or their current value to the franchise. I'd exclude Joel Ward and Kevin Klein as well, due to Ward's irreplaceable role as an all-around player, and Klein being one of the few defensemen left on the team with any NHL experience. And after all the years spent grooming him, you just know Pekka Rinne isn't going anywhere (not that Boston needs a #1 goalie anyway).

So that leaves us with the following...

Trade Options

Alexander Radulov

I can already hear most Predators fans yelling "good riddance!", but Radulov's NHL rights might prove to be an interesting portion of any deal. While he's a high-caliber talent worthy of Boston's attention, the little matter of if, and when, Radulov wants to return to the NHL is an open question. If Poile can carve some present-day hockey value out of Radulov's rights at this point, that would be a major boost to the organization.

Future Draft Picks

David Poile loves to stockpile draft picks, particularly middle- to late-round ones, but this may be a case where getting a proven young player is worth giving up the chance that a particular future selection turns into a 36 goal-scoring winger by 2013 or so. Especially when you consider that the number of such players the Preds have drafted and developed over the last 10 years is... 0 (Scott Hartnell's come close, and of course he's long gone).

Jonathan Blum

He's talented, and on the rise, but did the draft of Ryan Ellis (who in many ways is a similar player) create room to make a move here?

Dan Ellis

Might the Bruins prefer Ellis as a backup for Tim Thomas instead of Tuukka Rask? This would certainly help the Preds manage Kessel's salary, although it would put tremendous responsibility on Pekka Rinne to handle the #1 goaltending job without an established safety net.

Cody Franson

He's huge, he piled up points at the AHL level last year, and is now ready for the NHL. Might the Bruins want to groom him under Zdeno Chara's enormous wing?

Ryan Jones

Yes, I know he just signed a new two-year contract, but let's face it, Kessel is a proven Top Six winger, while Jones is still a work in progress.

Jordin Tootoo

The Bruins already boast Milan Lucic as a rough-and-tumble winger who can score, so Tootoo probably has less appeal to the Bruins than perhaps other teams.

Colin Wilson

Forget it, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention!

Salary Concerns

Certainly, bringing in Kessel at a likely price of $4-5 million per season will make an impact on Nashville's budget. According to CapGeek.com, the Preds currently have 22 players under contract for this season at a combined salary of $42.7 million (assuming Colin Wilson at the AHL level). Previous statements from David Poile indicate that the team is likely targeting the $44-46 million range for this season.

In other words, if enough salary leaves the team as part of a trade (Jones and/or Ellis, for example), the Preds might actually be able to shoehorn Kessel into the existing budget. Such an acquisition might actually help the team generate more revenue as well, but that's a long ways down the road.

Summary

So what say you, Preds fans? What do you think it would take, and what would you be willing to give up, to acquire Phil Kessel? Can our mild-mannered GM David Poile possibly defeat Brian "Lord Truculence" Burke in the quest for Kessel's services?

Nashville Predators rookies fall to Atlanta Thrashers, 6-3

Dirk Hoag — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:36:11 -0000

In the Predators/Thrashers rookie game this evening, the Preds dropped a 6-3 decision to Atlanta.

The following video highlights come courtesy of the Thrashers site (so you'll have to bear the Thrashers-centric coverage). Stay tuned for the end, which includes a sweet post-game shootout goal by Ryan Ellis at the 2:15 mark:

Nick Spaling, Colin Wilson, and Charles-Olivier Roussel scored for Nashville, while Jeremy Smith and Chet Pickard each played in net, giving up 3 goals apiece. The complete game stats can also be found at the Thrashers site.

Monday's news: Nashville's Olympic hopefuls hit the ice, while hockey's media landscape shifts

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:49:23 -0000

More photos » by Paul Beaty - AP

Nashville Predators' Dan Hamhuis joins teammate Shea Weber at the Canadian Olympic orientation camp in Calgary today.

Browse more photos »

Alright folks, it's Monday morning - grab your coffee, freshen up that desktop with a wallpaper to celebrate the All-Time Nashville Predators Team, and let's get rolling. It's just 6 more weeks until the NHL regular season kicks off!

After the jump, we've got your daily dose of hockey news from Nashville and around the league. Two Preds defenseman take their shot at making the Canadian Olympic team today, a Detroit blogger makes his pick for how Nashville will fare this upcoming season, and Puck Daddy gives us good reason to stop bemoaning the hockey ignorance of local sports columnists. All this, and a whole lot more!

Predators News

Shea Weber hopes for chance to touch Olympic ice - The Tennessean
John Glennon checks in with Shea Weber and Dan Hamhuis as they attend the Canadian Olympic orientation camp in Calgary today.

Nashville Predators 101: Where should I sit?
Jim Diamond provides a nice overview of the different options available for prospective season ticket buyers. I'll be in section 308 this fall, so be sure to look me up.

Central Division Preview – 5th Place - Octopus Thrower
A Red Wings blogger starts his division preview with his projection for last place... and guess who he's got there.

Interview with Nashville Predators' Top Prospect Ryan Ellis - Bleacher Report
Andrew Echevarria has a few words with 2009's 1st-round Predators draft pick Ryan Ellis.

Around the NHL

Media Notes: End of general sports columnists good for hockey - Puck Daddy
Are you sick of the fact that the main sports columnists in Nashville, David Climer and Joe Biddle, still apparently can't tell a BC Two-Hander from a Slew Foot? In this wonderful weekend piece by Greg Wyshynski, a strong argument is made that general sports columnists like them are going the way of the dodo. I would make the case that while blogs (whether written by beat writers or independents) are becoming the medium of choice for dedicated hockey fans, there's still a place for the generalists for the purpose of tapping into the broader audience.

15 prime Avs games for 20 bucks each - All Things Avs Colorado
After the Colorado Avalanche tumbled to the bottom of the Western Conference standings last season, the team is whipping out a host of promotions to draw fans back into the Pepsi Center, including steeply discounted tickets, and a number of "Alumni Nights" celebrating the 1996 Stanley Cup champions.

Peverley’s Play Dispensed Doubts - Ice Man
Atlanta is reveling in what a full season with the Thrashers might mean for the Nashville cast-off they call "The Pevs Dispenser."

PP Scoring Amongst Juniors - mc79hockey.com
An interesting case is made that when evaluating junior players for their NHL potential, you might want to ignore their power play performance.

Why coaching legend Ernie McLean will outlive us all - Puck Daddy
You won't believe the story of this unstoppable 77-year-old hockey coach in B.C., who was lost, and rescued several days later, on a camping trip. But that's just the least of his exploits...

Tampa Bay Lightning to donate proceeds of charity game - Lightning Strikes
Members of Tampa Bay Lightning are going to play a charity game to benefit the family of Cpl. Mike Roberts, who "was killed in the line of duty in Tampa last Wednesday, August 19 during a confrontation with a heavily armed man."

Weekend notes: Should the Nashville Predators make a trade?

Dirk Hoag — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:47:54 -0000

The weekend is here, which brings an end to what is probably the least news-worthy time of year for the Nashville Predators. Next week, many of the hockey operations staff return from vacation, so perhaps we'll start to see some resolution to some of the open roster issues (at least for those of us who believe they still need to find some help, rather than fill out with rookies).

Until then, we've got the deep thoughts of Lane Lambert, a potential comeback by Theo Fleury, and some analysis on the importance of defensive zone faceoffs to tide us over. All this and more after the jump!

Predators News

A satirical solution to long anthems at Sommet - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond has a novel idea; instead of holding auditions for anthem singers, maybe the Preds should trade for one.

Summer Sit Down, Part Two - Admirals Short Shifts
In the second half of their interview with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Lane Lambert, we hear about Ryan Ellis, Nolan Yonkman, and an interesting discussion about where Mike Santorelli fits on the organizational depth chart.

Powerplay specialist Ellis hopes to expand his overall game - TSN
As the Evaluation Camps for the upcoming World Junior tournament get underway, TSN looks at the Preds 2009 1st-round draft pick to see where he fits within that squad.

Around the NHL

The Dangers of Defensive Zone Faceoffs - Puck Prospectus
Gabriel Desjardins breaks down just how important it is to win faceoffs in the defensive zone. Interesting stuff to ponder with Scott Nichol and Radek Bonk headed out of town...

Do the Oilers really need a new third-line center? - Cult of Hockey
Dave Staples takes another look at defensive zone draws, a fitting rejoinder to the Puck Prospectus piece.

Theo Fleury attempting comeback to the NHL - TSN
One of the most dynamic scorers of the 1990's, Theo Fleury was washed up just a few years ago. But sobriety and a dose of senior hockey has him thinking (and training) for an NHL comeback. Who knows, as a PP and shootout specialist, he could might make an intriguing option. With Jeremy Roenick retiring, we could use a loose cannon like Fleury back in the league!

Colby Armstrong: Thrashers Most Valuable Forward at Even Strength - Bird Watchers Anonymous
The Falconer breaks out the numbers in support of an unsung hero in Atlanta.

3D magic to light up Lord Stanley’s game - The Globe and Mail
A 3D tribute to the Stanley Cup, possibly followed up with a six-part history of the game? Sign me up...

Why an empty arena may be better than a local bid - From The Rink
James Mirtle looks at an ugly truth; the City of Glendale has no good options when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes saga. Either lose the team and bear the burden of a costly arena, or subsidize a new local owner. For a city of just over 250,000, that's a hard pill to swallow.

Does Zherdev make sense for the Wild? - Russo’s Rants
After this article I'm left wondering, does Zherdev makes sense for anybody in the NHL? He just seems to be a legend in his own mind.

Is Jeremy Roenick a Hall of Famer? Then so is Pierre Turgeon - Puck Daddy
A good look at the Hall of Fame candidacy of Jeremy Roenick, which makes a fine case for Pierre Turgeon along the way.