General Preds Talk Part IV

[NSH615]

Okay, I am old and unhip. What is the music we use during warm ups? We start out with something go into U2 and then something else. Any help?

Alot of it seems to vary, although I have noticed that in the last few games they have played Pompeii by Bastille

 

[Predarat]

Okay, I am old and unhip. What is the music we use during warm ups? We start out with something go into U2 and then something else. Any help?

Its usually pretty horrible. I miss the old school rock and heavy metal. Though I think the players pick it out, whatever works for them but it has changed so much and not for the better.

 

[Dan17]

@PredsHumour

Check out @PredsHumour on Twitter. It's really funny!

 

[hockey diva]

Repeat after me everyone, we are not going to make the playoffs this season.

 

[Dave is a killer]

Repeat after me everyone, we are not going to make the playoffs this season.

I knew we weren't making it with our awesome offseason signings

 

[adsfan]

Honestly, I think the type of player you're looking for is what the club already has in Forsberg, but he doesn't get the leeway to play that style because he's so young and Trotz has to "educate" him in the "Predator Way," because that's far more important than using a player's strengths to help you win hockey games.

For giggles, I keep a pace table on our players and the players in Milwaukee (because it's really not that difficult and a good way to kill a half-hour in the middle of the day). This is what our players' points per game rates look like when translated to goals and points over 82 games:

Player|Goals|Assists|Points
S. Weber^|20|35|55
D. Legwand|12|41|53
C. Smith|26|26|52
M. Fisher|24|24|48
P. Hornqvist|17|29|46
C. Wilson|12|26|38
F. Forsberg|7|27|34
M. Cullen*|9|24|33
R. Josi^|9|24|33
S. Jones^|7|24|31
N. Spaling|13|17|30
G. Bourque|10|18|28
V. Stalberg*|12|16|28
R. Ellis^|4|21|25
P. Gaustad|12|9|17
E. Nystrom*|11|4|15
M. Ekholm^|3|10|13
R. Clune|6|3|9
M. Hendricks*|4|4|8
V. Bartley^|0|8|8
K. Klein^|2|4|6

^ Denotes defenseman
* Denotes 2013 signing

And the Milwaukee guys:

Player|Goals|Assists|Points
F. Forsberg|46|64|110
T. Beck|27|32|59
P. Cehlin*|23|35|58
C. Sissons|33|23|56
A. Bitetto^|22|31|53
M. Salomaki|19|34|53
A. Watson|21|30|51
B. Rodney^|5|39|44
S. Moser|15|28|43
V. Saponari|18|18|36
M. Van Guilder|14|16|30
K. Henderson|11|14|25
C. Roussel^|0|24|24
J. Piskula^|0|22|22
J. Rask|3|18|21
Z. Budish|9|15|24
M. Tousignant|5|14|19
J. Jarvinen^|3|16|19
J. Shalla|7|7|14
M. Liambas|3|10|13
S. Valentine^|0|11|11
S. Ford^|5|0|5

^ Denotes defenseman
* Cehlin has only played 7 games for Milwaukee this season, missing the remaining time with an "undisclosed injury"

Obviously, AHL numbers won't translate fully to the NHL, but Forsberg sticks out like Charlie Sheen in a church with the Admirals (and is actually on pace to lead the team in scoring despite having played 22 fewer games than Beck). We have an open spot on the NHL roster right now, and I wonder if it isn't the plan to have Forsberg back up before the Olympic break.

QUOTE]

I think they do. When an AHL player moves up to the NHL, divide the offensive numbers by 2. Add 25% for each complete season. In the third NHL season, divide the AHL numbers by 1.

Shalla was sent to Cincinnati. The Ads have been short on forwards and have not recalled him. I think his time is up in Milwaukee. Sissons won't be in Milwaukee for the opposite reason. Either he will be in Nashville for next season or playing for another NHL team, maybe MVG too. Sissons is smart and very good. Bitetto, Salomaki and Watson need one more year (Jan 2015) and they will be NHL ready, unless Trotz stays as coach. FF needs to stay in Milwaukee and away from Trotz!

 

[cleangene63]

From another thread....
"Nystrom - just stinks and makes average of 2.5 million for four years, that's ridiculous. Possibly worst offseason acquisition and that's saying a lot for a bunch of crap acquisitions that had essentially deflated the fanbase and team lately". Is there another NYSTROM on the team other than #24, Eric Nystrom that I don't know about? #24, Eric Nystrom has exhibited a glaring joy and pride about being a Nashville Predator since his first meet and greet at the Skate of the Union, along with 100 % hustle and drive every single game that I've seen (which has been the first pre-season contest at the Bridge). Let's not even mention his ability to actually convert a penalty shot (unlike some unnamed "scoring threat") or what took place last night. Everyone has their opinion on every subject, but I really would wish someone would share whatever was being smoked when this one was dreamed .

 

[worstfaceoffmanever]

I think they do. When an AHL player moves up to the NHL, divide the offensive numbers by 2. Add 25% for each complete season. In the third NHL season, divide the AHL numbers by 1.

All right, we'll try it. But first, updated pace tables.

Player|Goals|Assists|Points
S. Weber^*|21|36|57
D. Legwand|12|42|54
C. Smith|26|23|49
M. Fisher|23|25|48
P. Hornqvist|17|27|44
R. Josi^*|11|31|42
C. Wilson|11|25|36
F. Forsberg (A)|7|27|34
M. Cullen|8|26|34
N. Spaling|15|18|33
G. Bourque| 9|21|30
S. Jones^|6|23|29
V. Stalberg|10|16|26
R. Ellis^|5|21|26
E. Nystrom|18|7|25
M. Del Zotto^|4|17|21
P. Gaustad|11|8|19
M. Ekholm^|2|9|11
R. Clune|5|3|8
V. Bartley^|0|7|7

^ Denotes Defenseman
* Denotes Olympian
(A) Denotes player in AHL

Wilson keeps going backwards, and is now separated from Spaling by .03 points per game and Cullen by .02. Also, Cullen is having his worst offensive season since the lost year in 04-05. He's sitting at 0.42; his previous low was 0.48 in 2011-12. Smith's point total has fallen back a bit, but his goal total is just right - roughly one every three games. Nystrom's numbers are likely skewed by the recent four-goal spike. He would need 7 goals in our last 29 games to hit that mark, which would be nearly double his pace prior to the game last night. Look for him to hit 15, and I would say he earned his keep if he hits that mark.

The big riser is Josi, who added 9 points to his pace and got up over 0.5 points per game. He has been on a great run leading up to the Olympics.

And 82-game pace for the Admirals:

Player|Goals|Assists|Points
F. Forsberg|38|44|82
T. Beck (N)|26|37|63
P. Cehlin**|23|35|58
C. Sissons|33|23|56
M. Salomaki|21|32|53
A. Bitetto^|19|34|53
A. Watson|21|29|50
S. Moser*|18|29|47
B. Rodney^|5|39|44
V. Saponari (A)|18|21|39
M. Van Guilder|16|16|32
Z. Budish|9|17|26
K. Henderson|11|14|25
J. Rask|3|21|24
J. Piskula^|0|24|24
C. Roussel^|0|23|23
M. Tousignant (A)|6|14|20
J. Jarvinen^|3|15|18
M. Liambas (A)|6|11|17
J. Shalla (E)|7|7|14
S. Valentine^|0|12|12
S. Ford^ (A)|5|0|5

^ Denotes Defenseman
* Denotes Olympian
(A) Denotes player on AHL Contract
(N) Denotes player in NHL
(E) Denotes player in ECHL
** Cehlin has not played since November 3 due to an undisclosed injury. (The dreaded C word?)

Forsberg's numbers will fluctuate for another 10-12 games or so, but he's still head of the class by quite a margin. Sissons' numbers are really strong, and have been in defiance of his track record this year; his 76-game pace still has him hitting 30 goals, which would be the first time he has done that since he was a 15-year-old playing Midget Major.

And, using the Adsfan Postulate, a look at select Admirals' theoretical NHL seasons:

Player|Goals|Assists|Points
F. Forsberg|19|22|41
T. Beck|13|19|32
P. Cehlin|12|18|30
C. Sissons|16|12|28
M. Salomaki|11|16|27
A. Bitetto^|10|17|27
A. Watson|11|15|26
S. Moser|9|15|24
B. Rodney^|3|19|22
M. Van Guilder|8|8|16

I still have my doubts as a bang-on predictor of NHL production, but it gives an idea of who might be ready to step up to The Show and contribute. I would say it definitely shows Beck as NHL-ready, based on these numbers and our current forward group.

 

[MrJoshua]

Have Forsberg and Beck played together in Milwaukee, or do they both play on the same side?

 

[Hockeyfever]

Have Forsberg and Beck played together in Milwaukee, or do they both play on the same side?

FF and Beck played a lot together in Milwaukee. One that gets overlooked in this situation is Watson. He has played pretty much all of his AHL time on the third line and still produces. IMHO if he was given the same ice time and line mates as the others above him in the points table he might out produce them or at least have comparable stats except for probably FF and maybe Beck.

 

[worstfaceoffmanever]

Vancouver wins, so we now have to make up 9 points and leapfrog four teams in 28 games to make the playoffs.

I have zero faith in our ability to do that. This team simply isn't good enough to string together that kind of run.

 

[Dave is a killer]

Vancouver wins, so we now have to make up 9 points and leapfrog four teams in 28 games to make the playoffs.

I have zero faith in our ability to do that. This team simply isn't good enough to string together that kind of run.

So it's gone from 2/3 to 3/4 of the remaining games we must win to have a better than 50 % chance to get in ... ****, we done

94 18 6 - 4 75.1 No 0 2 25 48 22 3 0 0 518,052*
93 18 7 - 3 61.6 No 0 0 1 15 45 31 7 0 0 924,247*
92 17 7 - 4 46.6 No 0 0 8 38 39 13 1 0 1,576,511*

 

[GeauxPreds]

Time to start lurking the prospects forum in preparation for this years draft.

 

[Dadof5boys]

Time to start lurking the prospects forum in preparation for this years draft.

Better concentrate on Defensemen or hard working 2 way forwards with 3rd line potential because that's who we're going to draft.

 

[GeauxPreds]

This draft is surprisingly low on defensemen with only 2 in the projected top 10. I'd be shocked if we didn't take a forward of some kind, and there are a few that are very offensively talented that could still be available by our pick. We could have Draisaitl, Nylander, McCann, or Perlini all of which have at the very least top 6 potential and good shots or playmaking ability.

 

[worstfaceoffmanever]

With his goal tonight, Spaling now has a higher PPG (0.431) than Wilson (0.426). Spaling has seven points in his last eight games, and is playing at a 44-point pace in the month of January (as opposed to a 33-point full-season pace). Wilson's career-low PPG is a 0.415, and he might end up hitting that if his January slump continues.

Also, he has missed the last two games, but Cullen has gone 28 active games since his last goal (November 27). On Friday at Calgary, it became the longest drought of his career - Cullen went 27 games until scoring his first NHL goal in 1997. Ouch.

 

[token grinder]

Before the trip started, was 5 out of 8 points good enough?

I think so, but it is hard to see a good roadtrip knowing the full 8 was within reach

 

[PredsV82]

Before the trip started, was 5 out of 8 points good enough?

I think so, but it is hard to see a good roadtrip knowing the full 8 was within reach

If we intended to make a move to get in the playoff race we really needed at least 6 or 7 points on this trip…

we really need to obtain two out of every three available points the rest of the way to have any shot at the playoffs, and getting only one point against the two worst teams in the entire NHL is not the way to do that

 

[nomorekids]

With his goal tonight, Spaling now has a higher PPG (0.431) than Wilson (0.426). Spaling has seven points in his last eight games, and is playing at a 44-point pace in the month of January (as opposed to a 33-point full-season pace). Wilson's career-low PPG is a 0.415, and he might end up hitting that if his January slump continues.

Also, he has missed the last two games, but Cullen has gone 28 active games since his last goal (November 27). On Friday at Calgary, it became the longest drought of his career - Cullen went 27 games until scoring his first NHL goal in 1997. Ouch.

I've heard from a couple of people that the team has actively been trying to trade Cullen for most of the season, another case of "mutual realization of a lack of fit."

 

[nomorekids]

If we intended to make a move to get in the playoff race we really needed at least 6 or 7 points on this trip…

we really need to obtain two out of every three available points the rest of the way to have any shot at the playoffs, and getting only one point against the two worst teams in the entire NHL is not the way to do that

Basically a nice way of stating my opinion. For a team in the wildcard race, 5 of 8 is good.

For a team that's dangling above the cellar, you basically need all 8, or at least 7.

 

[Enoch]

I hope Cullen does get moved. Insert Wilson in at center, move forward.

PS: I've always liked Spaling as a third liner, and in truth, he is STILL a third liner. He has been playing great offensive hockey of late. I have a hard time understanding how he got into the role he is in, but it is working for now. Maybe he has turned a true corner.
- To add to that comment, Trotz has given Spaling the ultimate opportunity. He has been the team leader in ice time for forwards for 5 straight games. You heard me right. Spaling over the last 5 games has LED THE TEAM in ice time for forwards, in each game. He has been averaging right around the 19-20 minute mark. In January, Spaling has been one of the top 3 forwards in TOI in almost every game with the usual culprits Fisher, Hornqvist, Smith taking the other spots. Wilson has never had anything remotely like that kind of dedicated ice time. It speaks volumes that it takes a 3rd line tweener to get that ice time.

 

[glenngineer]

I hope Cullen does get moved. Insert Wilson in at center, move forward.

PS: I've always liked Spaling as a third liner, and in truth, he is STILL a third liner. He has been playing great offensive hockey of late. I have a hard time understanding how he got into the role he is in, but it is working for now. Maybe he has turned a true corner.

Hard work, willingness to go to the corners, willingness to go to the front of the net and good chemistry with Legwand and Smith for whatever reason. Has been one of the brighter spots on the team this year.

 

[nomorekids]

I hope Cullen does get moved. Insert Wilson in at center, move forward.

PS: I've always liked Spaling as a third liner, and in truth, he is STILL a third liner. He has been playing great offensive hockey of late. I have a hard time understanding how he got into the role he is in, but it is working for now. Maybe he has turned a true corner.
- To add to that comment, Trotz has given Spaling the ultimate opportunity. He has been the team leader in ice time for forwards for 5 straight games. You heard me right. Spaling over the last 5 games has LED THE TEAM in ice time for forwards, in each game. He has been averaging right around the 19-20 minute mark. In January, Spaling has been one of the top 3 forwards in TOI in almost every game with the usual culprits Fisher, Hornqvist, Smith taking the other spots. Wilson has never had anything remotely like that kind of dedicated ice time. It speaks volumes that it takes a 3rd line tweener to get that ice time.

Wilson started the game on the fourth line with Gaustad and Clune. That said, he's done little recently to justify a higher spot. He's as ice cold as it can get right now.

 

[glenngineer]

Wilson started the game on the fourth line with Gaustad and Clune. That said, he's done little recently to justify a higher spot. He's as ice cold as it can get right now.

Actually, he didn't. They showed the lines on the screen but didn't play with those guys to start the game and if he did it was for one shift only. Just because he isn't producing doesn't mean he's not playing well. People look at stats to decide if a person is doing well. He's doing everything he needs to out there the last two games without getting a point. The points will come.

 

[Enoch]

I watched the game. He played very well btn. You are absolutely correct - he is ice cold.

Glen - I agree on Spaling. He is going to the dirty areas, with surprising frequency. In the past, we would see Spaling have these outbursts of production, but it was typically in an isolated game.... and against Vancouver . Now he is going consistently to those areas. It is working. I still think he is being showered with a wee bit too much ice time, but whatever, he is producing on a team that doesn't produce consistently in the offensive zone.