Nashville Predators

Preseason sked and more expansion draft thoughts
June 19, 2017, 12:52 PM ET [8 Comments]
Paul McCann
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Kinda weird to have the preseason schedule exactly a week after the end of the Predators season… but I could get used to it. We had reported the Tampa and Florida games earlier, the completion of the puzzle came with the announcement of the last two preseason tilts with Columbus.

Here’s the official preseason schedule
Day Date Opponent Site Time (CT)
Tuesday Sept. 19 Florida Panthers Bridgestone Arena 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday Sept. 19 Florida Panthers Bridgestone Arena 7 p.m.
Friday Sept. 22 Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena 6:30 p.m.
Sunday Sept. 24 Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena 6 p.m.
Thursday Sept. 28 Columbus Blue Jackets Bridgestone Arena 7 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 30 Tampa Bay Lightning Bridgestone Arena 7 p.m.

The 2017 Nashville Predators rookie camp is scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 7, with the team’s prospects traveling to Estero, Florida, for a rookie tournament against the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers from Sept. 9-12. Veterans will then report for testing and physicals on Thursday, Sept. 14.

This will be an eventful week in Pred Nation… the protection list has tongues wagging across Smashville… Yesterday I assigned chances on which unprotected player that the Predators may lose in the expansion draft. Let’s dig a little deeper here as I do believe that who the Predators lose in the draft depends on the answers to the following questions…

1 – Is Vegas interested in mounting a real effort to make the playoffs in year one? If that is the directive from VGK ownership, all possible efforts to make the playoffs… then James Neal is the no brainer, must chose player for this team. His experience and scoring potential will be a key for that kind of run and the $5 million contract shouldn’t make the team blink. This would also prevent a trade deal to dissuade VGK from selecting Neal… unless the deal involves multiple NHL players… more on that in 3 below.

2 – Is Vegas looking to be competitive with a solid eye to the future? In other words, follow the Nashville model. This is where things get really, really muddy as several choices fit this model. Selecting Colton SIssons, Pontus Aberg or Miikka Salomaki would make a lot of sense. The problem here, is that James Neal fits this scenario as well… you can have him until trade deadline and then flip him for more assets. In this scenario, Sissons makes the most sense as he is signed for the next two seasons at the bargain price of 625k a year.

3 – Are the Predators able to make a deal to protect certain players? I have to believe that David Poile is trying to make a deal here. The biggest problem with replacing a James Neal in the lineup is that there really isn’t another sniper in the system with Neal’s leadership, edge, hands and skills. The above scenarios are assuming no deal can be made. There’s a lot of chatter about VGK GM George McPhee wanting “revenge” for the Erat/Latta-Forsberg deal. I’m sure he would love that deal back… but I would be surprised if McPhee felt a need for “revenge” on a deal entered into freely. That being said… I am sure he will be open for a deal with the Preds if it benefits his team. That deal could involve a couple of roster players similar to what Los Angeles did with Poile back in ’98.

There are so many more scenarios you can come up with, however, those three seem to be the most likely. You can expect more information to come trickling out.

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Against my better judgement, I watched the final episode of All Access last night… it was too soon… the scenes in the Preds locker room postgame were positively heartbreaking.

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