5 questions for the Preds this season

Posted 4:34 PM ET | Comments 5

The hockey world is pretty much at a stand still right now so I decided to take a page out of Eric Engels' book and pose 5 questions for the Preds this upcoming season, all of which you are more than welcome to answer.

1. Will the Predators add a top 6 forward between now and the 2010 trade deadline?

2. How long do either David Poile or Barry Trotz last, in months (from the start of the season)?

3. What will the shut-down line and shut-down defence pairing be?

4. Who will be the most missed player of the departed FA's from this past season?

5. How many Preds prospects will play their first NHL game this season?

My answers:

1. No. They will try but I don't think Poile will find someone who he thinks is worth the money. He won't be making a significant trade because most of the players on the market have pretty sizeable contracts and cap hits.

2. Poile: 9 months, Trotz: 8 months

3. Ward-Smithson-Guite. You could probably exchange Guite with O'Reilly, Hornqvist (maybe not a good choice), Pihlstrom (if he's back) or Santorelli (if he cracks the roster).
Hamhuis-Klein. They won't break up Weber-Suter and who knows if they'll add a veteran d-man to the group.

4. Zanon. All those blocked shots and hits will be dearly missed.

5. 5 (My prediction: Wilson, Laakso, Franson, Dekanich and someone else)

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The Preds have signed forward Ben Eaves to a 2-way contract. He probably will be in Milwaukee for most of the season but he could be a candidate to be this year's Joel Ward.
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The Tennessean is reporting that W. Brett Wilson, one of the newest stakeholders in the Predators will be officially approved by the end of the summer. His share will be slightly less than 5%. He is one of the "Dragons" on the CBC show "Dragon's Den". He seems like a stand up guy who is very intelligent and has a good heart for philanthropy.
Here's a link to a clip of the show he is on: http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=related

Looking forward to your answers to the above questions!

-RR

Filed Under: Predators David Poile Brett Wilson

MB9015

July 20, 2009 4:50 PM ET | Delete
if you honestly think that either david poile or barry trozt will be gone by the end of the season you're out of your mind. Both have done such a superb job with little money and a very undertalented roster, especially on the foward side of things.

predram

July 20, 2009 4:55 PM ET | Delete
I never said that they didn't do a good job. Eventually people will be tired of the whole "One and done" playoff results year after year. These are two men who can build a team from the ground up and get to the playoffs. This team needs someone who can take them further. Maybe they can prove me wrong.

blueline

July 20, 2009 5:48 PM ET | Delete
I do think we add a top six by season's start. Not a huge name certainly, but someone who will fill that role and contribute. While all coaches and GM's eventually get replaced, that is not happening this season unless the team has a disastrous start. And if that turns out to be the case, it would be Trotz not Poile who would be gone this season. These owners need David Poile and if he leaves or is replaced, it would be in the off-season.

Lethargic

July 20, 2009 6:09 PM ET | Delete
I give it a -2394872938423897% chance that somebody gets fired. Freeman isn't going to fire Poile. Poile isn't going to fire Trotz. No matter how bad the season goes. It doesn't matter how many "people" get tired of one and done. It only matters if Freeman and Poile do and it appears that that is decades away from happening. And when it does happen, I don't think it'll be a mid-season firing. They just won't re-sign him.

PredsGal