Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

News last night out of Denver from Adrian Dater is the report that the Colorado Avalanche, directly from the mouth of Joe Sakic, will pass on presumable first overall selection of the draft Seth Jones. Conflicting reports scattered across the first half of Wednesday ranged from Colorado’s likely selection to be Nathan MacKinnon all the way to Aleksander Barkov.

If the Avalanche do intend on passing on Seth Jones with the first overall pick in the draft, it could prove to make what is sure to be an already interesting first round even more enthralling.

Right now, the Predators are looking at choosing a player around Barkov or Nichushkin with their fourth overall selection, however this could easily get jumbled up depending on the actual choices by the teams above them. Based on how Nashville’s organizational draft board is drawn up, there are a multitude of different options that could unfold come time for the Predators to make their selection:

If Colorado doesn’t select Seth Jones

Taking a forward first overall wouldn’t be a real shock to the system. However as most already believe that Jones is likely going to go first, any deviation from that path still throws that wrench in the gears. Colorado choosing one of the top forwards in the draft would give the Panthers an opportunity to draft the highly-coveted Portland Winterhawks defenseman with the second overall selection…

If Florida doesn’t select Seth Jones

Assuming Jones falls, I don’t believe Florida takes a run at him. The Panthers, in my opinion, will take the best available forward come their selection with the second overall choice in the draft. That being the case, Jones could easily fall from first to a possible third selection by Tampa Bay if the Avalanche do not choose him.

If Tampa Bay doesn’t select Seth Jones

Even if Jones gets past Colorado and Florida, it would be incredulous to see a team in need of defense like the Lightning pass over him as well. While a player like Drouin, Barkov, or even Nichushkin could work well in Tampa’s system, the idea of Jones not being drafted by the top three teams makes for quite a different draft scenario for the Predators.

Seeing Jones drop past Colorado and Florida is possible, but dropping lower than the Lightning is where planets truly start aligning.

If Seth Jones is available with the fourth selection in the draft…

This is where things get interesting. If enough coincidences unfold and Jones is still available when Nashville is on the clock, it sets up a very tense selection with their choice in the draft. I believe that Jones is firmly slated as the first selection on Nashville’s draft board. I also believe that Nashville has no intention on faltering from their choices on their own draft board.

If Jones does indeed drop to fourth, expect the Predators to select him if they don’t find a last-minute trade offer that they cannot refuse. Is it possible that a trade offer that sweet comes Nashville’s way in this unlikely scenario? Absolutely. A team like Edmonton for example, who own the seventh overall selection and are direly in need of a great defensive talent on their roster, could easily package up a deal to make any team fawn over.

Teams with multiple selections in the first round like Calgary (three selections: 6th, 22nd, 29th), Buffalo (two selections: 8th and 16th), and Columbus (three selections: 14th, 19th, and 27th) could also try to make a play to get themselves into Nashville’s spot as well.

While I still think Nashville would decline a possible trade offer, anything can happen in the minutes leading up to and during a team’s draft selection, oftentimes when some of the best deals are offered and agreed upon.

Is it far-fetched to think Seth Jones will be available for Nashville? Probably. Is it possible? Never say never.

This is the second part of a four-installment series documenting the most likely players the Predators could select at the NHL Entry Draft in Newark, NJ on June 30. 

Part 1: Aleksander Barkov

2013 NHL Draft Primer

If you’ve been following me on Twitter  for any length of time, my unabashed mancrush on Halifax Mooseheads winger Jonathan Drouin should be no secret to you. I initially identified him as a player the Predators could select in the draft position they’re typically accustomed to–the bottom half of the first round.

However, as the QMJHL season played out, Drouin’s stock began a meteoric rise, culminating in an appearance on the 2013 Canadian World Junior Championship roster. While Canada achieved a disappointing fourth-place fate, Drouin opened a lot of eyes. Going into the tournament, Halifax linemate Nathan Mackinnon was the center of attention, in light of the years-long hype that he carried as the top forward available in the 2013 draft.  It didn’t take long for the talk to shift to Drouin, who was arguably one of Canada’s best forwards, despite being one-two years younger than most of his teammates.

Scouts, analysts and draft nerds haven’t stopped talking about Drouin since.

Drouin’s performance in the Memorial Cup (which Halifax eventually won) did nothing but bolster his draft stock. As a result, my hopes of seeing Drouin fall to the mid-first have long since been dashed, but fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), the Predators had such a historically dreadful season that they may still be in position to draft this talented winger.

Of course, there will need to be a series of cosmic events for Drouin to fall to the fourth selection, but it is possible–and in the minds of some, even likely. This, despite Bob McKenzie’s revelation that some scouts rate Drouin as the best player in the draft–even ahead of Mackinnon and Seth Jones. Essentially, some wildcard player will need to jump into the top three–the most likely suspects being Russian power forward Valeri Nichushkin or the previously profiled Aleksander Barkov. Assuming that happens, and that Seth Jones doesn’t dip out of those first three picks, the Predators could find themselves in the enviable position of claiming Drouin.

So what is it about Jonathan Drouin that has brought about my borderline-obsessive interest?

Essentially, Drouin is the counterpoint to Barkov. Now, I know what you’re thinking– “Didn’t you just write a lengthy blog extolling all of Barkov’s virtues, calling him the perfect Nashville Predator?”

Well, yes…but I like Drouin for a different set of reasons. While Barkov embodies that “safety,” and while I believe he’s going to be a star player–Drouin is the rare sort of player that wins games on the ice and fans off the ice. If “safe” is Barkov’s word, “electric” would be how I would sum up Drouin. Jonathan Drouin is the sort of marketable superstar that is just as important to ticket/jersey sales as he is to the team’s powerplay.  The Predators have never had this sort of “highlight reel” homegrown player.

While the fans love Weber’s slapshot, Rinne’s improbable saves–as Greg Maddux once put it, “Chicks dig the long ball.” I’m not sure what the hockey lexicon could offer as an equivalent, but the idea is clear enough. Fans like goals. Fans LOVE goals that come as a result of dizzying dekes and wizard stick-work. That’s Drouin’s calling card.

Ignoring the subjective intangible benefits to drafting Jonathan Drouin, he possesses a skillset that is essentially a bottomless bag of tricks. Possessing the best set of hands in the draft, in my opinion, Drouin’s a playmaking wizard. His vision is such that he always seems to find the open man, no matter how impossible the logistics of getting the pass through may be. He has a combination of speed and stickhandling that opposing defenders can’t seem to get wrap themselves around. Whereas Barkov uses his size and frame to protect the puck, Drouin creates that sort of time and space through his puck-on-a-string stickhandling.

While Drouin is definitely an elite playmaker, he’s equally comfortable scoring the goals himself, as evidenced by his stat-line: 41 goals and 64 assists. His 41 goals ranked him seventh in the QMJHL in goal scoring. However, it’s important to note that he put up those totals while playing in only 49 games, as a result of a minor injury and his participation in the World Junior Championships. For comparison’s sake, that’s a full 18 games less than the league leader, 2013 draft eligible (and likely first rounder) Anthony Mantha.

From an offensive standpoint, there’s not really a weakness in Jonathan Drouin’s game. While he’s not a “big” forward, at 5’11 and 176 pounds, his size is adequate when combined with his skating and skill. Defensively, Drouin isn’t what I would classify as a penalty kill specialist, but he’s responsible enough that I think he could stay afloat in a Barry Trotz system. He did spend time killing penalties in Halifax, but I wouldn’t project that as the best use of ice-time for him in the NHL.

The only other minor criticism I could draw from my observation of Drouin is that he sometimes needs to be more mindful of providing an outlet to his defense on the breakout, but that’s easily fixed via minor coaching tweaks.

Why the Predators Should Select Drouin

Aside from the obvious “it would make me weep tears of real joy?”

As stated, I think this is the sort of player that the Nashville market has been craving for 15 years. David Legwand, while a useful player, didn’t live up to the offensive promise.  Alexander Radulov…well, I’m not going to pick at that scab.  Jonathan Drouin is a deadly scoring threat, the sort of player that brings fans into the seats and then out of them. He may not be the “system fit” that Barkov is, but he brings a different dimension of value and should be equally conducive to winning.

Why the Predators Should NOT Select Drouin

I’m not one that ascribes to the “Barry Trotz dislikes offense” folklore, but I guess you could make an argument that as a mid-size, defensively-okay winger that Drouin might possibly clash with the Nashville Predators.

Nevermind, that’s ridiculous.  There’s literally no reason the Predators should pass on Drouin if he’s somehow still there at the fourth selection.

NHL Comparables

Patrick Kane, Martin St Louis, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Bartley’s route has taken him to the WHL, the AHL, the ECHL, back to the AHL, to Sweden, again to the AHL, and now a one-way deal in the NHL. A tough path to take, however he’s finally earn himself a one-way NHL contract.

From the Nashville Predators PR Department:

“Nashville, Tenn. – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Victor Bartley to a three-year, $2 million contract. He will be paid $600,000 in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, and $800,000 in 2015-16.

Bartley, 25 (2/17/88), appeared in his first 24 career NHL contests down the stretch for Nashville in 2012-13, recording seven points/assists. He ranked fourth on the Predators in average ice time (19:32) and led Nashville defensemen in plus/minus rating (+2) last season. The Maple Ridge, B.C., native started the 2012-13 campaign with Milwaukee; he led Admirals defensemen and was ranked among the AHL’s Top 20 defensemen in points with 26 (7g-19a) in 54 games at the time of his last AHL regular-season game, and represented the club at the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic. Bartley spent his first season in the organization in 2011-12, tying for 10th among AHL defensemen, and second among AHL rookie defensemen, in points (39) for the Admirals.

Undrafted, and signed as a free agent on May 24, 2011, the 6-0, 212-pound blueliner spent the 2010-11 campaign with Rogle of Sweden’s second division (Allsvenskan), ranking second among league defensemen in points and assists, and tied for third in goals (11g-23a-34pts, 52gp). He played his amateur career with Kamloops and Regina of the Western Hockey League from 2004-09, amassing 168 points (36g-132a) and 466 penalty minutes in 336 games.

Bartley is on Twitter @VicBartley8.”

“Nashville, Tenn. – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Kevin Henderson to a two-year, two-way contract. He will make $550,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the AHL level in 2013-14, and $550,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 at the AHL level in 2014-15.

Henderson, 26 (12/3/86), suited up for Nashville’s final four regular-season contests in 2012-13, scoring a goal in his NHL debut on April 19, 2013 at Chicago. The 6-3, 210-pound left wing also ranked third on the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) in goals (17) and plus/minus rating (+13) during the 2012-13 campaign, his second season with Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate. Since 2009, Henderson has 76 points (31g-45a) in 234 AHL games with Worcester and Milwaukee.

Signed by the Predators as a free agent on July 1, 2012, the undrafted Toronto native helped the University of New Brunswick win the 2009 CIS National Championship, receiving 2008-09 CIS All-Canadian Honorable Mention after tying for fifth in the nation in points (19g-31a-50pts) and goals, and ranking fourth in assists and plus/minus (+31). He was also teammates with current Predators Nick Spaling (2005-07) and Matt Halischuk(2006-07) with the Kitchener Rangers during his OHL career.”

- Predators’ secondary developmental affiliate the past six seasons has won two Kelly Cups and three division titles since 2008-

“Nashville, Tenn. (June 18, 2013) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has renewed its affiliation with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. The Cyclones have served as Nashville’s secondary developmental affiliate since the 2007-08 season, winning a pair of Kelly Cup titles (2008 and 2010). In 2012-13, the Cyclones won their third North Division title (2008, 2009, 2013), made their fourth conference finals appearance (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013) and advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth consecutive time since partnering with the Predators.

The Cyclones will function as a developmental affiliate for both Nashville, and its primary developmental affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Cincinnati plays its home games at the 14,453-seat U.S. Bank Arena, located downtown next to the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ballpark.

“We look forward to continuing to work with such a class organization that creates a winning environment for our players to develop,” Predators Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton said. “Led by Jarrod Skalde, the Cyclones have been a model of consistency the past six seasons and have been critical to the success of the Milwaukee Admirals and the Nashville Predators.”

In 2012-13, the Cyclones finished with the Eastern Conference’s second-best record, going 42-22-8 to claim the North Division title under the guidance of Jarrod Skalde, the recipient of the 2013 John Brophy Trophy as the ECHL’s coach of the year. Forward Josh Shalla, a fourth-round selection of the Predators in the 2011 Entry Draft, represented Cincinnati at the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game, while Nashville Prospects Magnus Hellberg (second round, 2011), Taylor Aronson (third round, 2010), Anthony Bitetto (sixth round, 2010), Charles-Olivier Roussel (second round, 2009) and Jack Maclellan (free agent) all spent time with the Cyclones as well.

Four ECHL graduates – Victor Bartley, Rich Clune, Kevin Henderson and Chris Mueller – suited up for the Predators in 2012-13, with both Henderson (2011-12) and Mueller (2010-11) being Cyclones alumni.

Founded in 1990 as an ECHL franchise, the Cyclones competed in the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1992-2001. The Cyclones went 23-17-4 (.568 winning percentage) in games versus Milwaukee during that nine-year stretch.  After the IHL ceased operations in 2001, the Cyclones returned to the ECHL for three more seasons.

After two seasons of inactivity – including one without professional hockey in Cincinnati – the Cyclones rejoined the ECHL in time for 2006-07, and quickly captured two Kelly Cup championships (2008 and 2010), two North Division titles (2008 and 2009), a Brabham Cup (league’s best record) and made three consecutive trips to the American Conference Finals (2008, 2009 and 2010).

Skalde’s award-winning 2012-13 campaign was his third at the Cyclones’ helm. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native has more than 20 years of service in professional hockey, 17 as a player in the NHL, IHL, AHL and overseas, and as a head coach since 2008.

The ECHL is the leading professional developmental league for the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.  The league began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast circuit that saw 23 teams playing in 15 states in 2012-13, its 26th season.  There have been more than 500 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL.”

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