Observations XVII

[Preds Partisan]

St. Louis it is. Wonder when the series will start? I'm hoping on Friday for optimal rest for Smith and Wilson to heal up.

One thing I forgot to mention on Thursday, Kevin Fiala has looked like a completely different player since late March. Does he still have defensive brain farts? Yes. But they kid has gotten really good at taking the puck off people's sticks and protecting the puck in the offensive zone.

Certainly making me eat crow.

Kind of felt like he played without looking over his shoulder to see if the coaching staff was watching him. Seemed like he was more confident and mentally free. That's my take.

 

[PredsV82]

It's never a bad day when the Wild lose.... but losing to a coach they fired... with a coach they picked up after he got fired for losing to us... bonus.

 

[drwpreds]

St. Louis it is. Wonder when the series will start? I'm hoping on Friday for optimal rest for Smith and Wilson to heal up.

One thing I forgot to mention on Thursday, Kevin Fiala has looked like a completely different player since late March. Does he still have defensive brain farts? Yes. But they kid has gotten really good at taking the puck off people's sticks and protecting the puck in the offensive zone.

Certainly making me eat crow.

I can't wait to see what Fiala can do with some experience and a full season.

 

[BigFatCat999]

So Blues it is.

 

[LCPreds]

Hoping for Friday night and Sunday afternoon game 1 & 2. I'm assuming Tues/Thurs for 3 & 4.

 

[Pred303]

well boys, the west is set. now we have to go out and do this all over again. couldn't be more excited to see what happens.

 

[Scoresberg]

Soo, how about those two massive trades Poile made, huh?? How about that Arvidsson steal in the 4th round??

Where the Poile haters at??

 

[FossilFndr]

Soo, how about those two massive trades Poile made, huh?? How about that Arvidsson steal in the 4th round??

Where the Poile haters at??

Back to back losses will have them fly back in to foul the nest. Hopefully that will be in October.

 

[bdub24]

St. Louis it is. Wonder when the series will start? I'm hoping on Friday for optimal rest for Smith and Wilson to heal up.

One thing I forgot to mention on Thursday, Kevin Fiala has looked like a completely different player since late March. Does he still have defensive brain farts? Yes. But they kid has gotten really good at taking the puck off people's sticks and protecting the puck in the offensive zone.

Certainly making me eat crow.

But you man up and admit to it, unlike a couple of turtles who have disappeared. Stick tap!

 

[Roman Yoshi]

Soo, how about those two massive trades Poile made, huh?? How about that Arvidsson steal in the 4th round??

Where the Poile haters at??

I assume you are referring to the Forsberg and Jones/Johansen trade yes?

I don't think you will find anyone upset with the Jones or Forsberg trades. The Weber trade still yes TBD. If we get passed STL and to the Confrence Finals (big if) I would say the trade was worth it for the immediate future.

Saw some people ripping on Weber on Facebook. So silly. If you anyone watched that entire Montreal series, they would know Weber was the least of their problems compared to only one forward line having any kind of offense outside of Radulov.

Subban had a very good first round. Let's hope he can keep it up!

St. Louis is going to be a completely different team. Hard team. Heavy team. You really gotta wonder what kind of game we decide to play against them because unlike Chicago, they will win board battles.

 

[LCPreds]

Why does it fall on the team advancing further to prove the worth of the Weber/Subban trade? I guess it will vary from person to person but to me the Hawks series already proved it.

 

[Roman Yoshi]

Why does it fall on the team advancing further to prove the worth of the Weber/Subban trade? I guess it will vary from person to person but to me the Hawks series already proved it.

It's more "haha Weber is golfing and PK isn't" kind of jokes. I just think it is in poor taste to rip a guy who probably didn't want to get traded in the first place.

 

[Mortiest Morty]

Wilson is skating this morning at practice.

 

[Enjoy i24 Traffic]

The Weber/Subban trade is the furthest thing from my mind at this point. Weird how people are still obsessing over it.

 

[WartracePred]

Looks like Willy should be ready to go. Skating full speed at today's practice. And though Smith didn't skate today, I think he should be ok by the end of the week. How do the lines change from the Chicago series? Insert McLeod for Zolnierczyk for a little more grit?

Arvi - Johansen - Forsberg
Fiala - Jarnkrok - Neal
Smith - Fisher - Wilson
Watson - Sissons - McLeod

 

[King Weber]

Looks like Willy should be ready to go. Skating full speed at today's practice. And though Smith didn't skate today, I think he should be ok by the end of the week. How do the lines change from the Chicago series? Insert McLeod for Zolnierczyk for a little more grit?

Arvi - Johansen - Forsberg
Fiala - Jarnkrok - Neal
Smith - Fisher - Wilson
Watson - Sissons - McLeod

Neal wasn't skating either. Hope they're both okay.

 

[Legionnaire11]

According to the main boards, the Predators are a boring trap team... Gotta love it

 

[drwpreds]

According to the main boards, the Predators are a boring trap team... Gotta love it

Yeah- I was going to make a post about this very subject. Pretty disappointing, and a little aggravating, that there are so many ignorant people out there. There are apparently a ton of people who actually think we are still a slow, grinding, defensive-minded team.

Oh well, they will learn......

 

[predfan24]

Controversial opinion: As long as the Preds compete level stays where it was during the Hawks series AND Peks doesn't suffer a mental breakdown the only team left in the west that can beat the Preds is the Ducks.

 

[Adz]

According to the main boards, the Predators are a boring trap team... Gotta love it

Well, if Patrick Kane says so it MUST be true.

 

[wadesworld]

According to the main boards, the Predators are a boring trap team... Gotta love it

Most of the people on the main boards couldn't identify a trap if their life depended on it.

Play good defense? "You're a trap team!"

 

[wadesworld]

Yeah- I was going to make a post about this very subject. Pretty disappointing, and a little aggravating, that there are so many ignorant people out there. There are apparently a ton of people who actually think we are still a slow, grinding, defensive-minded team.

Oh well, they will learn......

I love it when you have so many people posting opinions starting with "I didn't watch any of the series but..."

 

[ThirdManIn]

The best part was when I was told that Kane is an authority on the subject of winning (wasn't the topic, but ok I can agree) and knows what styles work because he played on a team with stellar defense and an exciting offense.

So yeah I guess that description eludes the Preds, a team with the third best playoff offense and who held their opponent to .75 goals per game, good enough for dead last in offense.

Makes sense.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

I wouldn't get too bothered by it folks. Sounds a whole lot like British generals complaining that the colonists won't form up into proper line of battle during the Revolution. "By Jove, it's classless and not fair. They may win a battle, but they'll never win a proper war that way."

Hope teams take a page from our book and play the Hawks like that all season next year. You know what "style" of hockey is boring Patty? Endless perimeter possession with hardly any scoring chances created.

 

[Armourboy]

At the end of the day they don't remember how you won the cup, they just remember you won. When the goal is winning, you don't worry about whether the how is pretty or exciting.