Suter to the NHL next year?

[SmokeyClause]

I don't know if anyone outside of Nashville cares, but Barry Trotz has stated that he expects Suter to be in Nashville for next season.

http://www.hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=149633

This is quite a development from a Predators standpoint because it was assumed by many that he was going to be in the AHL next season (where he would be the Ads top Dman) barring a great training camp.

Click to read more...

 

[X-SHARKIE]

He struggled early but by the end of the year he showed dominating possibilities and he's ready.

 

[Leetchie]

In my mind, he is 100% ready for the NHL, and not just as a 5th or 6th Dman, either. He's ready to make a Pitkanen-esque jump.

 

[SmokeyClause]

He struggled early but by the end of the year he showed dominating possibilities and he's ready.

See, that's what every Predators fan thought too (and the statistics are there to back it up). But Trotz had a different take:

“Ryan was like any college player,†Trotz said. “He came in and he did really well in his first 20 to 25 games and then the long season started to kick in. He really had trouble handling the travel, the different sleep habits and handling the constant body contact on the ice. That was really a good learning curve for him to go through. He fought through a hard, long year. He is a stronger player for it. He is more mentally and physically prepared.â€

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=7&screen=news&news_id=42664

 

[Ismellofhockey]

Not sure where Nashville's payroll stands but it could be that they're looking to fill holes with young cheap players to keep under the luxury tax if there is one.

Or like many other teams they could be fearing a drop in attendance/revenues and feel they don't want to sign expensive UFAs.

 

[triggrman]

We're going to struggle to make a salary floor at this point. We're not looking to cut salaries.

 

[CornKicker]

I think you guys have one of the best yound d-cores in the league. i would be more than happy if you could ship any of hamhuis, zidlicky, timonen, suter, Weber over to edmonton we could use them for sure. plus theres no need to hoard young talented d-men

 

[X-SHARKIE]

IN two-three years the Preds defense could be similar to the Sharks young core.

I'm impressed with what the Preds are doing.

 

[nomorekids]

This is a little surprising, but at the same time not at all. With 04 contracts likely to be out the window, we lose Lilja(if you can call it 'losing') before we ever even had him, and probably Allison as well. Hnidy will be kept around as a decent utility third pairing guy. Suter was second only to Hamhuis on the Admirals blueline last year(much better than vets\all-stars like Hutchinson and Tiley) and it seemed like he got better and better every game, especially after the WJCs. I could see the pairings shaking out like this:

Timonen Eaton
Hamhuis Suter
Zidlicky Hnidy

 

[Jovavic]

Suter with Hamhius on the same pairing? Maybe on the second PP unit, but not 5-on-5, not yet anyway. Hamhuis should be on the first pair with Timonen and Suter can lean the ropes with a strong defensive d-man in Eaton to watch his back if the youngster decides to pinch in on a play.

 

[AnThGrt]

We'll see what happens - he can always moved back down

 

[Dave is a killer]

Suter with Hamhius on the same pairing? Maybe on the second PP unit, but not 5-on-5, not yet anyway. Hamhuis should be on the first pair with Timonen and Suter can lean the ropes with a strong defensive d-man in Eaton to watch his back if the youngster decides to pinch in on a play.

that's how I see it as well ... you can't put two under 23 kids together (Hamhuis turns 23 on 12/13)

 

[nomorekids]

Suter with Hamhius on the same pairing? Maybe on the second PP unit, but not 5-on-5, not yet anyway. Hamhuis should be on the first pair with Timonen and Suter can lean the ropes with a strong defensive d-man in Eaton to watch his back if the youngster decides to pinch in on a play.

I was thinking of the chemistry they developed in the AHL this year(which, I hear, was pretty remarkable) but I suppose you have a point. We'll see, though. Trotz had done crazier things in the past.