Radulov - A Fiasco That's Crossed the Line

Well, this is an another event that has blindsided the Predators organization and its fans. Most of us are quite upset for many obvious reasons. I'll try to look at this with some objectivity, but it's not easy because there is so much wrong with what Alexander Radulov has done.

I cannot blame him for jumping at the chance to make this kind of money so quickly into his budding hockey career. I understand that the lure of that much money would be most difficult for anyone to pass up and I also realize that there is so much we don't know about what has been said. We don't know what has happened behind closed doors.

What we do know however, is that this man broke his NHL contract and he broke his word. A signed SPC is in place until the end of the '08/'09 season, after which he will be an RFA. Outside of the lure of big tax-free bucks, it is said that he wants out of Nashville and out of the NHL, although I've not heard why. Naturally, one reason is that he knew that once this news came out that no one in this town would want him around, and therefore it makes it quite easy at that point to say that he doesn't want to be here. His presence would be malignant.

If he had honored the last year on his contract and then said "so long", that would have been a different story and acceptable to most fans. However, the underhanded way he has undertaken this move has generated an immense amount of ill will in Nashville. Even if he is somehow forced to stay in the NHL by a ruling from the Russian league, the KHL, we don't want him here. I don't need to list all the obvious reasons why he will no longer be welcome here, but locker room chemistry and a sulking attitude quickly come to mind.

If he's forced to stay in the NHL, then he needs to be traded for something - anything. He has only played two seasons in the league and the prospect of losing our 1st round pick (15th overall) from the 2004 draft doesn't sit too well. Will anyone want him? Absolutely, so that is an option that we might see, although I am beginning to think it's doubtful at this point.

Most fans that I've communicated with are quite upset, and that's putting it mildly. It is pretty much unanimous that we want him gone from this team - the sooner the better - even though we desperately need a player with his skating skills and offensive potential. (Note that I said potential - he's not a star yet, even though he thinks he is.)

My words to Alexander would be simple: "don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out". If you look at it dispassionately, there really is no other answer for us at this point - he has to go. Again, I just hope that we manage to get something in return, although I have no idea as to what that might be.

In closing, beware of more raids of this type and not just for Russian players. Unless fair, iron-clad transfer agreements are solidly in place soon, we will see more of this. The next one might be be for a Canadian or European player for whom an oil-sotted Russian oligarch might pay 5 times what that player could earn in the NHL.

Preds Prospect Camp

Colin Wilson, Chet Pickard & Roman Jusi

Wow! I can see why David Poile and his team wanted center Colin Wilson. This kid is going to be with the big club sooner rather than later. Speaking of David Poile, Edward Fraser of THN had this to say: "Mix all of Poile’s off-season ingredients, stick ‘em in the oven and out pops a cake worthy of (very) early 2008-09 THN Executive of the Year consideration". I agree. Our first round pick in the just-completed draft (#7 overall) will have to eventually put Boston U. on hold for awhile. The player TSN said was comparable to Ron Francis certainly lived up to his billing for the brief time I was able to watch him.

Just returned from observing a bit of the first day of prospect camp. (The Preds have made two one-hour slots available to the public today and tomorrow.) After 45 minutes or so of various drills, the 20 or so prospects from recent drafts played a bit of cross-ice 3 on 2 that was all-out. A lot of fun for us, no doubt. The highlight was Mr. Colin Wilson with a behind the back pass, a deke move, another pass, and then a slick score as he took an elbow to the head. He is a tough athlete with excellent skills. He has good hands, sees the ice and those around him well, can pass, skate and shoot the puck. Plus, I saw early signs of someone that won't be afraid to get in front of the net.

Moving on, Cody Franson is awesome. He has filled out considerably since last year and is skating and shooting the puck with conviction. He exhibited a strong wrister and good eyes for the net. This 6' 5" 205 lbs defenseman won't be in the AHL much longer. He is becoming the young stud so many have predicted.

While not everyone looked great and NHL-ready today, the energy was good and the excitement in these players is palpable. Each one wants to make it to the NHL team, although unfortunately not all will.

Of note, I was most impressed with another of this year's picks, Swiss-born defenseman Roman Josi, a seccond-round pick (#38 overall). He will be an effective NHL player in the not-to-distant future. Great skating and stick handling skills. I had no idea he would be that accomplished. Also impressive was 2006 pick Blake Geoffrion who looked solid and confident. The Preds continue to amass great depth in D. Our tradition of wealth of future high quality NHL blueliners will not be broken anytime soon.

And then there are the goalies. Chet Pickard (another 1st round pick for us this year) was Carey Price's understudy for two years and is going to be a great one, I think. A friend who has watched him develop since he was a kid stated that he was a gem and would ultimately be better than Price, Giguere, and Toskala. Pretty strong endorsement. And we still have two more high-quality prospect goalies in Jeremy Smith and Mark Dekanich who the have potential to be starters in the NHL someday. They too looked sharp today.

Also of note were the skating of brothers Mike and Mark Santorelli, Nick Spaling, and a supercharged Andreas Thuresson, all forwards who are looking to make upward moves in their careers.

Enough glowing praises. All I'll say is that it was great seeing all of these up and coming skaters on the ice working to succeed in the game they love.

Pred Fans Line Up for J.P. Dumont

J.P. Dumont made an appearance during last night's Draft Party at the Sommet Center and hundreds lined up for autographs from our much admired Montreal-born winger. As always, J.P. was accessible and friendly. He brought his kids and they sat in the "signers" chair while J.P. stood next to the table for over an hour signing autographs. He is a class act who seems to always be available for this community.

Meanwhile, the Draft and yesterday's trades! The Preds had a productive day which will further strengthen us we move forward. We resolved the 3-man logjam in goal with the trade of Chris Mason to the Blues and have now placed our bets with Dan Ellis and 6' 5" Pekka Rinne whose time for the NHL is here. I have a feeling that It will be an interesting season in goal.

After trading our 9th pick for the Islanders' 7th (which they had previously received by exchanging their 5th for Toronto's 7th) we landed the consensus favorite of Pred fans I talked to: Colin Wilson, a strong center with great hockey sense and a solid bloodline. He'll contribute sooner rather than later and I believe that this pick will pay great dividends for us.

Then, after another interesting exchange with Ottawa, giving them our 15th for their 18th, the team surprised me by taking Chet Pickard, the goalie who, according to THN, shares many physical and metal qualities to Carey Price. Plus, he was Carey's understudy for two years. He is big, strong, and unflappable. A quote by our GM, David Poile (from Brandon Felder's HB blog): “At 15 we wanted Pickard, but we got lucky and got him at 18 after the trade with Ottawa. Some days it works out and today these were the 2 guys we wanted in the 1st round. I shook Pickard’s hand and he has huge hands. He has comparisons to Olaf Kolzig’s size. We are very excited to draft him.”


In addition, Colin Wison and Chet Pickard, along with their respective families, are best friends. This is good - the more I find out about these two picks, the brighter the picture becomes. I haven't read or seen much outside comment yet, but the analysis I've encountered so far is very positive.

More draft tomorrow and free agents just around the corner with lots of rumors. There is much more to come. It's going to be a fun summer even without any games being played.