Photo Credit: Sarah Fuqua

Nashville entered the compressed 2012-2013 season with nearly the same lineup and near-identical goaltending as they did the season before, that led them to the Western Conference Semifinals prior to being dispatched by the Phoenix Coyotes in five games. Pekka Rinne was coming off his best season with the Predators, 43-18-8 with five shutouts, earning him a Vezina Trophy finalist nomination. Through his previous four seasons with Nashville, Rinne had never finished with a sub-.500 record with the team.

Unfortunately in 43 games with the Predators this past season, that would change.

From Then to Now

Rinne’s 43-18-8 record in the 2011-2012 season not only broke franchise records with the Predators and was easily the best goaltender record in the team’s history, however he also lead the entire league in wins (43), was seventh overall in save percentage, fifteenth in goals against average, and added five more shutouts to his resume. Earning a Vezina nomination was the least the voters could do for Rinne’s efforts with Nashville.

It’s a stark contrast to what the team saw from the stellar Finnish netminder this year.

Finishing with a record of 15-16-8, Rinne was in the bottom of the league in goals against average and save percentage, yet still ranked at the top in shutouts (5, first overall in the NHL) and minutes played (sixth). Interestingly enough, his stats still compare evenly to his career numbers with the organization, but in a shortened season things carry a bit more weight than normal.

Beyond the Stats

Rinne had an off-year; that much is crystal clear. It was rumored he suffered an injury nearing the end of his stint in the KHL during the lockout. While played off as just speculation and heresay, head coach Barry Trotz admitted to Rinne battling an injury all season (which he needed arthoscopic hip surgery to correct). His teammates have also been vocal about their poor play in front of him during the majority of the year as well.

Yet, there were still glimpses of the same Rinne that we’ve been accustomed to at points throughout the season. History shows that players have successfully came back from the same surgery Rinne went through, including fellow countryman Nicklas Backstrom and recent cup-winner Tim Thomas. There’s no reason to think that Rinne won’t come back to his pre-injury state.

The Best of Rinne

Even in a down season, there were still a plethora of highlight-reel saves from Rinne.

Including this  gem of Rinne shutting down Matt Duchene on a completely wide-open empty net:

Another of Rinne ending a Nail Yakupov chance by gloving down a speeding puck off the stick of the Oilers budding superstar:

Finally, a sequence of saves against the Detroit Red Wings near the end of the regular season:

Return to Form?

Rinne’s surgery was the smart and correct way to go for him to get back to the point he was prior to the lockout-shortened season this year. Will he be 100%? There’s no reason he shouldn’t be and other goaltenders have come back from the same surgery to be just as good (or better) as they were prior to the injury. It’s all a matter of the intensity of Rinne’s rehab and off-season training that will determine where his play will be at come the start of the season in the fall.

However, knowing Rinne’s attention to detail, appreciation of the game, and his will to succeed and win, there should be little doubt of how quickly he’ll want to regain his previous Vezina-finalist form.

FINAL GRADE: C

Regardless of what the reasons were of his down year, the fact still remains that the impeccable Pekka Rinne had a rough go-around this season. Taking into consideration some of the factors that were out of his control (like the players playing in front of him) and him being mostly injured throughout the entire regular season yet still finding ways to earn wins and provide spectacular saves, he garners a solid C from us.

Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

Hey, ladies and germs…long time since I hollered at you!

I’ve been promising individual profiles of the top 4 or 5 prospects that the Predators could get the opportunity to draft on June 30 in scenic Newark, New Jersey–but as they say, life happens. On May 16, our first child–Henrik “Zetterbaby” Nelson arrived, and I’ve been pretty tied up with him.  I’ve tried to reason with him, and explain that there a lot of people depending on me for analysis–but I just can’t seem to make him understand.

Fortunately, things have settled down a bit, and I can now deliver the first part of what I expect to be a four-part series. While my draft primer gives a brief overview of the players I envisioned in the top ten at that point in time (now wildly outdated, by the way), I did want to give a more in-depth report on the specific players the Predators will likely pick if they stay at fourth overall.

Today’s focus is the most likely selection, Tappara’s Aleksander Barkov.

The word “safety” can sometimes carry a bad connotation. When people hear it, they tend to think that there’s an inherent limitation. ”Yes, this player will be good, but he’s a ‘safe’ pick.” Maybe it’s because the lack of risk makes a player seem less exciting, less of a gamble. Perhaps calling a player a “safe” bet to make the NHL while also carrying an elite level of upside seems simply too good to be true.

Whatever the case may be, Aleksander Barkov may be the safest player projected to go in the top ten–but don’t be fooled into thinking that he doesn’t have the potential to be a franchise-level center. When Predators fans see things like “responsible defensively” and “strong two-way player,” there’s a tendency to think “David Legwand” or “Nick Spaling.” While both of these players are useful contributors, they’re not the sort of sexy player that you want to take at fourth overall in a deep draft. When it comes to Barkov, “safety” is an exciting adjective–he’s an almost sure-fire star in the NHL. Unlike prospects like Nathan Mackinnon or Jonathan Drouin, Barkov has already been playing against men in the Finnish Elite League. During the lockout, he was competing and outplaying established NHL talent–all while putting up a season that has some whispering that Barkov may be the best Scandinavian prospect in the last 20 years.

Fortunately, the presence of Barkov’s defensive responsibility in no way takes away from an elite offensive upside. While Barkov isn’t the type of player to dazzle with fancy stickwork or electrifying hands, he possesses that innate characteristic that scouts love–hockey IQ. Maybe the best in the draft, in terms of this attribute, Barkov is the sort of player that knows where everyone on the ice is at all times and is cognizant of what that means relative to him. When he has the puck, he is able to use his large frame (6’3 205, and reportedly still growing) to shield and maintain possession. Think Joe Thornton or Rick Nash, in that regard. Through this ability, he can draw coverage to him and create time and space for those on the ice with him…and with perfect timing, he’ll put the puck on the tape. An exciting ability, when you consider that he could be playing with a sneaky sniper like Filip Forsberg.

Similarly, when Barkov doesn’t have the puck, he has an uncanny instinct of “right place, right time.” As I mentioned earlier, he’s not the sort of player that will undress an entire team with dekes and toe drags…but he doesn’t rely on that sort of gambling. He doesn’t have to…he knows where to be, and has the efficiency to accomplish offensively without the need for an electrifying display of offensive acumen. As a result, he’s the sort of player that is an offensive threat both with and without the puck–Barkov should see roughly equal numbers in the goal-scoring and assist categories.

While Barkov’s offensive game is what we’re all clamoring for, it bears mention that he truly does play a complete, three-zone game. This is an important distinction when you consider that players like Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, Scott Hartnell…and once upon a time, the aforementioned David Legwand–have all spent time in Barry Trotz’s doghouse for a one-dimensional game. Aleksander Barkov is essentially tailor-made for the Nashville Predators. From day one, he could and should see time in the top six at even strength, on the first power play unit, and on the first penalty kill unit. There should be very little learning curve when it comes to the expectations on him for a complete game. This is especially important, given that Barkov is considered a slam-dunk to jump straight into the NHL…perhaps more so than any other prospect in the draft. Again…safety can be an exciting virtue.

In terms of weaknesses, that operative “safety” implies that he doesn’t have many. While some scouts have knocked his skating ability, in my own observation it’s acceleration that he lacks. Once he gets going, his top-end speed is actually pretty solid. Fortunately, skating is one of the easiest weaknesses to address, if the player is committed to improving it.

Why the Predators Should Select Barkov:

For all the reasons above. Barkov WILL play in the NHL. In my opinion, he’s no worse than a good second line center, but has the potential to be a franchise-caliber first liner. The sort of player you build your team around for the next 15 years.

Why the Predators Should NOT Select Barkov

Something unexpected happens in the first three selections and the Predators want to go for a more dynamic offensive talent (more on that in the next edition of Prospect Profile, in which I’ll cover Jonathan Drouin). Barring that, the only thing that could give Nashville pause when it comes to Barkov is a shoulder injury that shut his season down during the SM-Liiga’s playoffs. Reports out of Finland are that Barkov is recovering well and already skating, and should be ready by the time NHL training camps open in September. However, since Barkov couldn’t participate fully in the NHL combine, teams are left a little in the dark in terms of his strength and conditioning attributes.

NHL Comparables

Anze Kopitar, Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton, Mats Sundin

“Nashville, Tenn. (June 17, 2013) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Joe Piskula to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 at the NHL level and $135,000 at the AHL level.

Piskula, 28 (7/5/84), was acquired by the Predators from Calgary on Feb. 28, 2013, and split last season between Abbotsford and Milwaukee (AHL), posting 10 points (2g-8a) and 51 penalty minutes in 46 games for the Heat and four points (1g-3a) and 15 penalty minutes in 23 games for the Admirals. The Antigo, Wis., native has 10 career NHL games to his credit – five with Calgary in 2011-12 and five with Los Angeles in 2006-07. The 6-3, 214-pound blueliner has also played 393 AHL games in six seasons at the level, amassing 74 points (9g-65a) and 335 penalty minutes.

Piskula played 112 games during a three-year career at the University of Wisconsin from 2004-07, posting 22 points (3g-19a) and 80 penalty minutes. In 2006, he helped the Badgers claim the NCAA title.”

Photo Credit: Sarah Fuqua

Mike Fisher is the epitome of a natural leader and by example he became an exemplary assistant captain for the Predators this season. Although he missed some time due to injuries (as many Nashville players did), Fisher was able to provide some much needed scoring with a strong defensive effort.

From Then to Now

Coming off a 51-point season (second highest total of his career), Mike Fisher was able to place third in scoring for the Predators despite missing ten games. He also tied Gabriel Bourque for the team lead in plus/minus with a +6.

Although scoring only three points in his first thirteen games, Fisher would turn the season around and finish out the year with 21 points.

Beyond the Stats

Fisher does the little things that help to solidify the Predators into a defensive-first team. Fisher takes a ton of face-offs and was a 48.8% on the year on 563 face-offs taken (second behind Legwand). Aside from his injuries that caused him to lose time, Mike was able to elevate the Predators’ game and earns his spot as #1 center on a nightly basis.

The Best of Fisher

Fisher had five multi-point games on the year. His best came against the Calgary Flames on March 21st where Fisher scored two goals: a beauty from an Erat feed against the grain to tie the game and in the second period scored a wide-open back door goal assisted by Josi.

Big Fish

Much like the example given in the Tim Burton film, Mike Fisher was a big fish in a little pond when he came to Nashville. Without the major media attention, he has been able to make a quiet home here in Nashville with his wife Carrie Underwood as he continues to play for the Predators.

With the influx of talent coming through the Predators system and the youthful scoring finally starting to take shape, the presence of Mike Fisher is a steady, confident role model to the younger players of a perfect balance of drive and talent.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Even the mighty captain didn’t get an A, but Fisher also gets close with stable play and the ability to elevate the game of those around him. He scored goals (third on the team), played defense, was used in all situations and he never quits. Never will you see this player take a shift off and for that he gets the B+.

Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images

Third time wasn’t a charm when it came to the addition of Chris Mason to the Predators roster. The first player to grace Nashville on three different occasions was less than stellar as a back-up for Pekka Rinne. Anders Lindback was sorely missed, especially in light of the news of Rinne playing on an injured hip for most of the year.

From Then to Now

Once upon a time, Chris Mason (much like Dan Ellis), helped the Predators in a desperate situation with their number one goalie going down. In 06-07, Mason played amazing in the backup role prompting some to call it a 1A/1B conundrum with then starting goalie Tomas Vokoun.

With the Blues, Chris Mason was allowed to shine even more with an increase in playing time having two winning seasons with 118 games played. He fell back into a supporting role with the Thrashers/Jets (21-20-4) before rejoining Nashville where he would post his worst career numbers with 1-7-1 record in eleven games played in 2013.

Beyond the Stats

Mason’s only win came in his first game of the year allowing one goal to the Minnesota Wild. He would go 0-7-1 the rest of the season and on three different occasions would allow five or more goals. Mason was fifth worst in the NHL in GAA (3.73) and sixth worst in SV% (.873).

The Best of Mason

The best of Mason unfortunately is in the past if this season is any indicator. His one goal allowed against a potent Minnesota offense was the solitary feather in his Iron Maiden-clad helmet this season.

Where Does Mason Fit?

Mason is a UFA this summer and the Predators will more than likely look to the cupboard or free agency for a suitable back-up for Rinne, especially coming through off-season hip surgery. Mason will remain beloved in Nashville as one of the great on-air and in-game personalities and for his play through the history of the franchise.

FINAL GRADE: F

His numbers speak volumes to how much Mason’s game has fallen off. He needed to step up and play big minutes to give Rinne some much needed rest, however it was a failed mission and the Predators have some work to do over the summer to find a suitable replacement for Mason

FLA trades T.J. Brennan to NSH for Bobby Butler.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 14, 2013

As both are restricted free agents currently, Nashville will be getting a young left-shooting defenseman from the Panthers. Scoring nine points in 19 games last season with Florida, Brennan was formerly drafted 31st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2007, bouncing around the AHL in both Portland and Rochester.

A product of the QMJHL, Brennan had two straight 41-point seasons for the St. John’s Fog Devils in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 respectively. Nashville will be getting back a defenseman with a heavy slapshot, a big body (6’1″ and 213 pounds), and can level an opposing player in an instant

Here’s a 4-minute pre-draft montage:

Also, here’s a video of Brennan scoring his first goal in his first NHL game with Buffalo back in 2011

If signed, Brennan should give a good young presence on the blueline, however I don’t believe it will be in Nashville. Milwaukee could definitely use a big body presence on their blueline, as the Predators have some better and more experienced options already available at their disposal. While Brennan will probably be at training camp if signed, I’m doubtful he makes the opening night roster unless he really shines.

Photo Credit: NHL.com

With the news of the Roman Josi contract, the Nashville Predators have locked up more of their core players for the next several years. This news comes a summer after the team’s two franchise defensemen earned themselves a nice hefty payday; one signed his lifetime contract in Minnesota and the other signed an even more impressive offer sheet that was matched by Nashville. The inability to sign a pro-active contract was due to a few factors, including instability with the franchise with an ownership change and business savvy from a generational player. Whatever the reason, the previous two summers in Nashville have been laden with contract stress, and anxiety.

This off-season has been a departure from duct taping the roster together from year to year and more pro-active building. Over the course of the previous two years, Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber, Patric Hornqvist, Kevin Klein, and now Roman Josi have pledged to play in Nashville for the next 5 seasons or longer. Couple this fact with the acquisition of Fillip Forsberg, and the development of Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, Gabriel Bourque, and Taylor Beck (along with draft picks such as Austin Watson), the roster is now formed for years to come. Something the fans in Nashville haven’t been used to is stability, and it may be finally coming together.

With that, we look at where these deals stack up on the list of “Greatest Contracts done by David Poile as General Manager of the Nashville Predators”.

Obviously, Shea Weber’s contract was not written by David Poile or anyone associated with the Nashville Predators’ front office. So that’s excluded from this list. 

Paul Kariya
2005- Two Years, $9 Million

The Story
Coming out of the lockout, Nashville needed to make hay with fans and the city. This was a period of severe instability and Craig Leipold was losing his patience. However, the team was pretty good. Kariya agreed, and for a brief period he became the team’s highest paid player in franchise history by signing that two year deal. The Predators won his services even bidding against nine other teams.

Kariya’s presence ignited the offense and put together two of the best regular seasons in team history. They were both ended in the first round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks and Leipold put the team up for sale. Kariya exited.

The Legacy
The lasting impression of this contract is that it showed players that Nashville isn’t a hockey prison or even a mobile hockey prison en route to Hamilton. The playoff appearances likely garnered enough attention to attract a local group to purchase the team, and that excitement might not have happened without the presence of Kariya.

While Nashvillians booed him mercilessly upon his return as a member of the St. Louis Blues, his contributions have earned him a bit more respect for his bravery to sign with the fledgeling team in Music City when it wasn’t cool to do so.

Patric Hörnqvist
2013- Four Years, $21.25 Million

The Story
Earlier this year, Patric Hörnqvist was the primary target on the board for the Nashville Predators to-do list. He was coming off of a tough year where he was sidelined with an injury, but showed incredible toughness while on the ice.

Weeks before signing his new deal, Hörnqvist was seen diving across the goal mouth to prevent an empty net goal during a game against the Blackhawks. While people can glorify this obvious example of his toughness, which sacrificing his body during a meaningless game for an overmatched team battling terrible injuries with a rookie saturated lineup is, it’s but a small sample of what Hörnqvist has done since arriving in Nashville. He scores goals, plays in an area of the ice few Predators dare to travel into, and outworks his opposition. That’s not bad at all for a player taken with the last pick of the 2005 Draft.

The Potential Legacy
Hörnqvist is a player that can feature on any of the top three lines and is superb on the power play. Signing a player with his skill set for a reasonable sum of money for the next four years is a move toward the future. Most of his stats can be attributed to his effort. Jerry West, an NBA legend known for greatness on the floor and in the front office, has been quoted saying that playing with sustained energy is as much of a talent as shooting and passing. West never played a hockey game to our knowledge, but he would appreciate Hörnqvist’s game.

As the roster is assembled for the future, don’t be surprised to see more and more fans wearing #27 jerseys in Nashville, and maybe with a letter “A” on them someday.

Pekka Rinne
2011- Seven Years, $49 Million

The Story
Critics of this contract said that it was throwing crazy money at a player during his contract year. Fans of this deal will say that it was a bargain then and still a bargain now. Rinne would’ve commanded a deal that rivaled Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist, and other comparable netminders. The Finnish native has the disposition of a simple, fun-loving man while not wearing the goalie pads while his contract is just as simple.

Rinne was coming off a season where he was nominated for the Vezina Trophy during the 2011 season and was the first of Nashville’s three crown jewels to commit to David Poile and the team. He went on to earn his second nomination in 2012.

The Legacy
While Rinne may not be on the level of Dominik Hasek, Mitch Korn’s other standout pupil, Rinne is the bedrock from which Nashville will build outward from. He has become the most beloved athlete in the city and his is the most popular jersey in Nashville. While his 2012-2013 season was one hindered by injury, Rinne still was able to steal a few wins for a Predators team that was overmatched on most nights.

As of this summer, the Predators have settled pieces of their roster and cemented pieces into the future. Rinne is part of the plans for most of the remainder of his career. If his play on the ice isn’t enough to earn the fans’ respect, his boldness to stay in a team facing some serious challenges in 2011 has.

Joel Ward
2008- One Year, $500,000

The Story
What a find Joel Ward turned out to be. Picked from Minnesota’s scrapheap, Ward was signed for near the league minimum. For a team that’s always needed size, Ward made the opening night roster for the start of the season, scored in the opening game, and played very well for a scrappy team that missed the playoffs narrowly.

Ward was rewarded with a 2 year, $3 million deal that saw him play at his best during the postseason. His powerful skating style was a match for the Preds system, and he earned top-six minutes on many nights.

The Legacy
David Poile might receive a card during December from Ward these days. After the 2011 season, Joel Ward hit the open market and signed a 4 year, $12 million deal in Washington. At times, he’s struggled for a Capitals team that’s been in the state of flux behind the bench with their coaching changes, but his game excelled in the playoffs in 2012.

Upon his first trip back to Nashville, Ward was well-received with a standing ovation and a tribute highlight video. For a hockey market that’s come to know good effort and overachieving, Ward still has a good amount of fans in Nashville. For David Poile, it was a master stroke of finding players to work in the system Barry Trotz employs. His eye for talent has never been doubted.

Roman Josi
2013- Seven Years, $28 Million

The Story
Roman Josi is coming off of a year of change, but certainly no “sophomore slump”. In 2011-2012, Josi was brought up from the AHL to play alongside Kevin Klein and relieve Jon Blum of his spot. He flourished next to the physical defenseman and made very few rookie miscues. After the departure of Ryan Suter, even more was asked of the young Swiss star. He stepped up to the first pairing alongside Shea Weber and earned the confidence of the fans and ownership alike.

Josi turned in a respectable season for a team that was riddled with injuries. His partnership with Weber developed as the season went on, despite the woeful record. During the off-season he shined in the IIHF World Championships, being named the MVP of the tournament.

The Potential Legacy
Coming as a mild surprise, Josi signed a long term deal keeping him in gold until after he’s 30. His cap hit is averaged to $4 Million, but his starting rate is $2.5 Million for next season. Much is now expected for him, but thus far he has done nothing to disappoint.

This contract even further cement the Predators as a team not just built for the next two years, with veterans such as Paul Gaustad and Mike Fisher, but with players such as Roman Josi with their best years ahead of them. It’s a gamble, but Poile and company plan on using the new CBA to their advantage.

In Closing…

It’s a simple man’s thought that David Poile has learned a lesson about today’s league with the Ryan Suter contract. The lesson is that Nashville isn’t Montreal, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, the Upper Midwest, or British Columbia. Players don’t come to Nashville to “move back home” and get closer to their family. Instead, they come to Tennessee the way the settlers did over 250 years ago; they come seeking opportunity.

Joel Ward is a fine example of that, and the same can be said of a few others. Yet while it doesn’t have the NHL history of the more tradition-rich markets, it does have its own unique advantages. With this new found stability forged by good draft picks, fans can argue that the team has never been in better position for the long term. Much of this is the work of David Poile, who can now lock his prized draft picks into place with pro-active contracts, a far cry from 2011 when the future seemingly rested on the offseason decisions of one man.

Photo Credit: Sarah Fuqua

Last July, Predators fans waited with bated breath as the team decided if it would match Shea Weber’s offer sheet from Philadelphia. Ultimately, management decided the captain was worth paying $110 million over 14 years. Some fans felt betrayed that Weber would put the organization in that position to begin with, but most would agree that matching the offer was in the best interest of the organization. Would he live up to the expectations as the highest paid player in the NHL?

From One Year to the Next

Weber had his second highest career point total in 2011-2012, notching 49 points in 78 games. His plus/minus was +21, good for best on the team. He was also a Norris Trophy finalist.

He finished the 2012-2013 season with a respectable 28 points. He led the team in points (28), assists (19), TOI (25:55), and SOG (124). Most importantly, he failed to lead the team to the playoffs for the first time as captain.

Beyond the Stats

Weber finished second on the team in penalty minutes with 48 minutes spent in the box.  This doesn’t seem like a big deal until you compare it to the prior campaign when he had 46 PIM in 30 more games. Penalty minutes are not innately a bad thing, but every minute spent there by #6 is a win for the opponent. The team’s best player needs to be on the ice, not watching from the sin bin.

Although he is probably best known for his offensive game including a 100+ MPH slapshot, Weber’s defensive game is equally important to the team. Not only does he lead the power play, but he leads the penalty kill unit as well. The Predators’ penalty kill was terrible last season, finishing second to last in the NHL at 75.5%. Weber was not the sole culprit, but he would be the first to tell you that he needs to be more efficient at keeping the puck out of the net when the opponent has the man advantage.

Without a Suter

Ryan Suter famously left Nashville to join Minnesota where he had an excellent, Norris-finalist caliber season. Adjusting to life without Suter did not prove to be an easy task for Weber. He started the year with Roman Josi, was briefly paired with Scott Hannan, and then returned to playing with Josi. Things started off slowly, as the captain registered just one point in his first 13 games. The Weber/Josi duo started to develop chemistry as the season went on. Josi proved to be a serviceable line companion and should continue to get better.

Unfortunately for the Predators, the void left by him on the second defensive pairing was never filled. Kevin Klein had a great year, but never found a consistent partner.

Best of Weber

Is there any doubt that Weber’s best moment of the season was his overtime winner at home against the Red Wings? It was his third consecutive game with a goal and his only game-winning goal on the year.

The Future

Once the season ended, rumors starting swirling about Weber’s future with the team. People speculated that he would be traded during the offseason. Weber quickly squashed the gossip when he publicly expressed his commitment to the team.

Weber will almost certainly stay paired with Josi on the top line. This duo will continue to log heavy minutes and contribute in a variety of ways. They will lead the powerplay and possibly the penalty kill as well. It is doubtful that they will ever be at deadly as Weber/Suter were for so many years, but they can still be an elite pairing.

Weber should be a perennial Norris Trophy candidate for years to come. Nashville has an arguably the best tandem of defenseman and goalie in the league with Weber and Rinne. With hopes that it can continue to build around these franchise players to put together a Stanley Cup contender, maybe the Predator’s fourth overall draft pick this year will evolve into creating a second edition of the “Big Three” for years to come.

FINAL GRADE: B

I jokingly asked a friend who knows little about hockey what grade he would give Weber for the season. He responded with this gem: “The team was terrible and Weber is responsible since he is the captain. I give him a C because of that.” While this seems a little harsh, the logic isn’t too far off.

For almost any other player, Weber’s season would have been excellent. By his lofty standards, however, it fell slightly short of expectations. Still, he did lead the team in multiple statistical categories and was one of the league’s best defensemen once again. We give him a solid B.

“Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Roman Josi to a seven-year, $28 million contract. He will make $2.5 million in 2013-14, $3 million in 2014-15, $4 million in 2015-16, $4.25 million in 2016-17, $5 million in 2017-18, $5.25 million in 2018-19 and $4 million in 2019-20.

“Re-signing Roman was a top priority as we look to regroup heading into the 2013-14 season,” Poile said. “Roman has proven, with his growth and success here in Nashville and on the international stage, that he is one of the best young defensemen in the NHL. Roman’s skating ability and instincts have allowed him to play in all key situations. With today’s signing, we have our top defensive pairing locked up long-term, and we look forward to Roman’s continued development and contribution to the Predators’ on-ice success.”

Josi, 23 (6/1/90), posted 18 points (5g-13a) while appearing in all 48 of Nashville’s games in 2012-13, surpassing his 52-game total from his rookie campaign in 2011-12. The Bern, Switzerland native saw his average ice time increase by more than five minutes from his rookie campaign (from 18:23 to 23:31), leading the team in ice time on nine occasions while ranking 19th in the League in total minutes played (1,129:25) last season.

The 6-2, 198-pound blueliner had a standout 2013 World Championships, becoming the first Swiss player to be named Most Valuable Player, Best Defenseman and a tournament All-Star after helping Switzerland to a silver medal, the nation’s first medal in 60 years. Josi led all tournament defensemen in goals (4) and points (9), in addition to leading Switzerland in points and average ice time (20:08).

Nashville’s third choice, 38th overall (second round), in the 2008 Entry Draft, Josi has posted 34 points (10g-24a) in 100 regular-season games.”

Join your hosts Kristopher Martel, Dan Bradley, and Chris Link as they discuss what the Predators could do with the number four pick, the possibilities of picking up Mark Streit, injuries and the playoff mentality, and 5 Tough Questions.