Tag: NHL

The Radulov Rundown: Why Predators Fans should Celebrate

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Should Predators fans be excited about Radulov's possible return? We say, "YES."

We we going to try to avoid jumping on this “Radulov Watch” shenanigan, but after reading into many of the reports from the KHL and the NHL, it seems we should do a rundown of our own as well (just in case the big man himself decides to come back tomorrow).

So the big question is, why should Nashville Predators fans be excited about all of this Radulov talk? Most fans of today’s Predators never got to see #47 in action at the Bridgestone, so most don’t know what all the fuss is about. Sure, you can watch YouTube videos like this one:


… Or this one:

… Or heck, even this one:

From any of those videos above, you can tell Radulov’s an extraordinary player and why he’s considered the best hockey player in the world outside of the National Hockey League. So why, why, why (?) would he run to the Kontinental Hockey League instead of playing with fellow great players in the NHL?

In the beginning… 

Alexander Radulov was drafted in the 1st Round (15th Overall) in the 2004 NHL Draft at the tender age of 18 but did not hit ice with the Predators until the 2006-07 season. In that season alone, Radulov racked up 18 goals, 19 assists, and 37 points. His 2007-08 season was even better, totaling 26 goals, 32 assists, and 58 points. Gaining that much momentum at only 21, could you imagine if he returned now with the experience and maturity he has generated over in the KHL?

Running Back to Russia…

With such a prominent career in the NHL blooming, why would a young, 21-year-old aspiring athlete ditch what so many young hockey players strive to reach and return home? There are many theories behind Radulov’s motives:

  • Immaturity – Take a note from last year with Colin Wilson, Radulov had some immaturity problems, but what 21-year-old male finally on his own doesn’t? Isn’t that what college is? Unfortunately, college is nothing like a professional sports team in a foreign country and, if things aren’t going your way, why not run back to the safety net that is home?
  • Pride – On the same lines as immaturity, pride can sometimes make people do some silly things. When you know you’re great, why wouldn’t you want to go somewhere you’re the greatest player in the league and you have no rivals? In the NHL, although Radulov was outstanding in his own rights, he still had to compete against the likes of fellow 2004 1st Round draftee Alex Ovechkin and 2005 1st Rounder Sidney Crosby. Why not take a deal in the KHL to be your own star instead of possibly competing against the likes of those guys or others?
  • Lack of Confidence – Radulov has a tendency to overreact when scoring a goal. You definitely cannot mistake when he makes a goal, for his celebrations are a little on the eccentric side. Rumor has it that older guys like J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott would give the young Russian a hard time about his exaggeration, thus finally sending the young gun packing.

Beside these three factors, there are probably a ton more circulating about, much more than we can cover in a blog post. However, with this cons come pros:

  • Maturity – Alexander Radulov is now 25 (going on 26 on July 5th) and, after a successful career thus far in the KHL, the young Russian is passing the hump of the twenties. Although most of the time maturity comes with age (most is the key word), Radulov has grown, both as a player and as a person, since leaving the NHL and if he intends to create a legacy in the NHL, now is the time to return.
  • Humility – Though we can’t think of any possible way Radulov has been humbled by his experience in the KHL (he did achieve the title of greatest player in that league), as stated before, pride and immaturity walk hand-in-hand and so does maturity and humility. Hopefully, with Radulov’s maturity, his need for competition has risen and he will set his pride aside to share the podium with fellow teammates.
  • Confidence – Wether it was true or not, Radulov will have no one to “hurt his feelings” due to the fact most of the team, minus David Legwand and Martin Erat, have moved on. In fact, Radulov, Suter, and Weber were all pretty close, so Radulov would be returning to old, familiar faces. That, and could Radulov possibly keep Suter and Weber in Nashville with his return? Let’s not float down that road just yet…

Okay, okay, okay… So you still aren’t impressed. How will he improve the already power lines such as the SK-MF-ME and the AK-SK-DL lines? Although he was embarrassingly terrible in defense, what he lacks in that department, Radulov goes above and beyond to make up in offensive gold. Both patient and skilled with the puck, Alexander Radulov can do just about everything with a puck a defense and goalies have nightmares about. So his defense was terrible while he was in Nashville, that was almost five years ago. Radulov has proven himself as a complete player in the KHL, growing offensively and defensively alike.

It’s truly hard to explain into words how powerful Alexander Radulov is and, with the NHL and the KHL stepping out of his way, Radulov can basically ‘Pass Go and collect $200’.  This, of course, has sent the other Western Conference coaches and General Managers into an uproar, but the NHL sees nothing wrong with Radulov hoping on a plane and hitting the ice in a Predators sweater tomorrow.

Maybe this post helped, maybe it confused you even more; which ever the case, Alexander Radulov would be like the prodigal son returning to his father, or so we are hoping. Not only would Radulov extend the Predators chances in the playoffs, he might help them reach the almighty Stanley Cup. That, or he’ll do absolutely nothing. By the way the other GMs and coaches are having a meltdown of his possible return, we are thinking Radulov will be a force to be reckoned with… Something the Predators have been needing for a long time.

So, until tomorrow, the fateful day that is the Ides of March (and what is also Peyton Manning Watch for Nashville), may Alexander Radulov bid Russia goodbye and hop a plane straight for Nashville, Tennessee.

Until then,
GO PREDS.

(Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Preds Win with Both Trade Deadline and against L.A. Kings

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Patric Hornqvist returns to the lineup on fire with his 18th goal of the season.

NEVER ENOUGH KOSTITSYNS:

The NHL Trade Deadline may have ended at 2PM yesterday, but that didn’t mean the day ended for the Nashville Predators. Although Nashville was thought to be in the running for Blue Jackets captain, Rick Nash, Predators GM David Poile had other plans up his sleeves.

David Poile surprised many Preds fans with the trade agreement between the Montreal Canadiens for Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei’s older brother. Andrei had expressed interest in wanting to be traded to Nashville, but because everyone’s minds were on the Nash-to-Nash situation, no one saw this one coming. The Predators and the Canadiens came to an agreement that, along with the conditional trade that came along with Hal Gill, the Predators would give up a 2nd Round Draft pick for 2013.

Poile made a last minute trade with the Buffalo Sabres, picking up Forward Paul Gaustad for a 1st Round pick in this year’s draft, another unexpected move. If you can remember the Ryan Miller/Jordin Tootoo incident from December 3rd, you might recall a certain player who attacked Jordin Tootoo afterwards and had it out for Anders Lindback. If you guessed Paul Gaustad, you are correct. Although tension will probably cease now that the three are teammates, but it is still a little awkward.

Although most fans, if not all, were blinded by the Nash-to-Nash possible trade (we definitely were), these two additions to the Nashville Predators may (and will most likely have to be) the key to keeping both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber in the gold sweaters. We won’t dive into that controversy right now. However, what’s most important is that these two additions will help the Predators advance to the Stanley Cup.

ON TO THE GAME:

  • Ryan Ellis was called up for last night’s game against the Kings, making many fans think Jack Hillen, if any Predator, would be on the fence during the Trade Deadline. Hillen made it past 2PM and got some ice time, making a Pekka-like save in front of the goal, preventing a clear goal from the Kings. Kevin Klein was the surprising scratch (along with Ellis) and Brian McGrattan is still sitting pretty on the IR.
  • Rookie Roman Josi got the ball rolling at the end of the 1st (18:27), sending a wrist shot past Jonathan Quick for his 4th goal of the season. David Legwand and Gabriel Bourque picked up the assists on Josi’s goal.
  • Patric Hornqvist wasted no time putting his team up 2-0 at 3:52 in the 2nd, sending a wrist shot of his own past Quick for his 18th goal of the season. David Legwand picked up his second assist of the night and Sergei Kostitsyn picked up one as well.
  • The Kings would prevent the Predators from shutting them out at 16:36 in the third with wrist shot from Dustin Brown, his 18th goal of the season.
  • Pekka Rinne saw one of his best nights of the season, blocking 30 of 31 shots on goal. The Predators were also out-shot 31 to 28, adding to their NHL record.
  • The Predators and the Kings both only faced one penalty kill each, with Gabriel Bourque facing a tripping penalty at 4:37 in the 2nd Period.

The Predators are off to Raleigh to face the 23-26-13 Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, but they will have Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Gaustad in tow. Will they blow the Hurricanes out of the water? The puck drops at 6PM!

Until then,
GO PREDS.

Datsyuk’s last Second Goal saves Wings, Preds lose 2-1

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Pavel Datsyuk keeps the game from going into overtime at 19:54.

This is one of the few and rare times we will use a picture of the opposing team to headline our post game write-ups. However, Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk gets the rare opportunity only because he kept the game from going into overtime and sealing Detroit’s 22nd consecutive home game win. The Predators and the Red Wings both put up a tough fight, but it was Datsyuk’s 19:54 goal that saved the Red Wings in the end. Here are the highlights from last night’s game in the Motor City:

KEY POINTS:

  • Patric Hornqvist has now been placed on the IR due to his upper-body injury. Brian McGrattan is also feeling the effects of his injury, finding himself once again on the scratched list. Jack Hillen was also scratched from the game also.
  • Bittersweet news for the Predators on Friday as the Predators and the Montreal Canadiens came to a trade agreement. The Predators acquired defensemen Hal Gill, but for the price of a one Blake Geoffrion along with Milwaukee Admiral Robert Slaney. Along with Gill, the Predators were also given a conditional 5th round pick in this year’s draft. Gill met with his new teammates last night in Detroit, but will officially dawn the gold jersey against the Dallas Stars on Sunday night.
  • Both teams pushed hard in the first period, giving both goalies a run for their money. It was Johan Franzen who struck a nerve first at 12:44 with a wrist shot passed Pekka, his twenty-third goal of the season.
  • The second period only produced one goal as well, but this time under the Predators’ control. At 14:58, Nick Spaling gained his ninth goal of the season with a wrist shot passed Joey MacDonald. Spals was assisted by solely by Jordin Tootoo.
  • After 19 minutes of back and forth play, it seemed as if the game was going to go into overtime. Pavel Datsyuk had different intentions, tripping up the Predators, and wrist shooting one right passed Pekka to seal the 22nd consecutive home game for the Detroit Red Wings, extending their record-setting achievement. Sadly, yet another thing for Red Wing fans to run their mouths about…
  • Pekka did exceptionally well, as always, blocking 29 of 31 shots on goal. Also, only one Predator found time in the penalty box, which was rookie Ryan Ellis in the 1st period with a hooking penalty.

Since the All-Star break, the Predators have been lacking just a wee bit in the winning department, still looking a little groggy from that one week of freedom. However, with the recent acquiring of veteran Hal Gill, the Predators might (and hopefully) get a good grip of playoff potential reality.

The Predators continue their trek against Western Conference rivals on Sunday against the Dallas Stars at 6PM. The Predators have not been able to take out the Stars at all this season, so a nice win in Dallas might just be what the Predators need to get back on the winning train.

Until then,
GO PREDS.