Smashville’s Offseason Moves
The Nashville Predators regular-season home opener against the Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena is on Friday (NBC SN, 7 p.m.). As discussed earlier, the Predators had a lot of changes this summer with one of the biggest being backup goalie, mid-game broadcaster, and Pekka Rinne’s pump-up buddy Carter Hutton signed with the St. Louis Blues.
Oh, and also, Shea Weber is now a Montreal Canadien/Canadian and P.K. Subban is on the Predators (and blowing up social media with tweets like this (possibly NSFW) and this) and Mike Fisher is now the Captain of the team.
So, you know. Pretty big things for what most people consider a small-market team.
Other moves include signing Matt Carle, Roman Josi (who Shea Weber said should’ve been the Captain in his exit interviews) & James Neal are now the Alternative Captains. The NHL 17 video game has chosen the Predators to win the Stanley Cup this year. Pekka Rinne was the best part of Team Finland at the Worlds according to The Hockey Writers and has a new workout plan (it involves kale) to stay healthy. P.K. Subban’s jersey sales saw a 75% increase after he became a Pred.
The Opening Night roster is stock full of home-grown players:
Forwards: Filip Forsberg; Colton Sissons; Mike Fisher; Craig Smith; Cody Bass; James Neal; Calle Jarnkrok; Miikka Salomaki; Colin Wilson; Viktor Arvidsson; Kevin Fiala; Mike Ribeiro; Ryan Johansen
Defense: Anthony Bitetto; Ryan Ellis; Yannick Weber; Mattias Ekholm; Matt Carle; Roman Josi; P.K. Subban
Goaltender: Pekka Rinne; Marek Mazanec
The verdict is in… #Preds players evaluate Ryan Johansen's "recently proclaimed beauty." pic.twitter.com/Vw6b4KFtz1
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 4, 2016
Catching Up With Former Predators:
- Rich Clune [2013 – 2015] celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving to say what he was thankful for.
- Anders Lindback [2008 – 2012] might be one of the New Jersey Devils backups, either for their AHL team in Albany or in the NHL.
- Kevin Klein [2003 – 2014] has back spasms and might not play in the home opener on Thursday Night.
I showed Shea Weber this Halloween mask #Habs are now selling; he'd not seen it. His reaction: "That's the creepiest thing I've ever seen." pic.twitter.com/Fmp0ZXJ0y3
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) October 7, 2016