2009-10 NHL Preview: Nashvile Predators
Sometimes you really got to feel for the folks who run the Nashville Predators. This team has no money to either resign their own players, or to attract high quality free agents. They also have a hard time attracting a decent size crowd, and year after year they are the focus of NHL contraction or relocation rumors. All that and one of their owners is headed to prison. Not a great situation to be in.
Yet before last season, where this team barely missed the playoffs, they qualified for the playoffs for five straight years. However this team continues to lose money and there is an out clause in the lease for their arena if the team loses 20 million dollars or more. How long this team remains in Nashville is any one’s guess but they do have a few pieces of a playoff contender.
After sitting out much of the 2008-09 season with an injury, the Predators were able to resign Steve Sullivan. While Sullivan is a fan favorite the Predators have are 50 games better than .500 with Sullivan in the line up. Others who can make a difference for this team are defenseman Shea Weber, Ryan Sutter and Dan Hamhuis. These three comprises one of the best defense trios in the NHL today. The Predators also have a very talented goalie in Pekka Rinne. He emerged last year as a premier goal tender.
Key Additions- F Marcel Goc, C Ben Guite, and LW Peter Olvechy
Subtractions- C Radek Bonk, C Vernon Fiddler, D Villie Koistinen, G Drew MacIntyre, C Scott Nichol, RW Jed Ortmeyer, LW Antti Pihlstrom, and D Greg Zanon
