Why not the Predators?
In the days before the trade deadline, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile, like so many other GMs, sought a solid defenseman to bolster the blue line. He got one in a deal with the Minnesota Wild that landed Brad Bombardir. Poile also added center Sergei Zholtok. To get both, all he gave up was a third- and fourth-round draft pick.
Poile has done his job gearing up for a playoff run. Now it’s the team’s turn.
Yes, the Nashville Predators are playoff contenders, and a little lesson is in order for fans who didn’t know there was more to Music City than the music.
Three key dates from the Predators’ past make their future promising:
– Dec. 12, 2002. The Predators traded goaltender Mike Dunham to the Rangers for forward Rem Murray and defensemen prospects Tomas Kloucek and Marek Zidlicky.
The deal made Tomas Vokoun the Predators’ No. 1 goaltender, and he since has blossomed into one of the best. Vokoun, a name that a spell-check program appropriately suggests be changed to “vacuum,” finished last season learning what it took to be a goalie every night. He took on the responsibility, got in great shape and came back ready to lead the Predators.
But Vokoun’s emergence wasn’t the only upside to this deal. Zidlicky, who hadn’t played a game in North America when the trade was made, has become the team’s leading offensive defenseman. He is third on the team in scoring with 46 points. He is second on the team with nine goals on the power play, where he excels.
– Nov. 8, 2003. Predators 4, Red Wings 3, at Joe Louis Arena.
The Predators had won once in 14 games at the Joe and fell behind in their 15th, 3-0. Between the second and third periods, coach Barry Trotz told his players they shouldn’t take a back seat to anyone and must battle back.
They got the message. Martin Erat, Scott Hartnell, Scott Walker and Vladimir Orszagh scored third-period goals to give the Predators the win. The victory kicked off a stretch in which the Predators won nine of their next 11 games, including a victory in Denver.
That night in Detroit showed the Predators they could compete with the elite. The next few weeks let them know it wasn’t a fluke. It gave them confidence in their team and in Trotz’s system.
– Feb. 16, 2004. The Predators acquired winger Steve Sullivan from the Blackhawks for two second-round draft picks.
This deal, for the first time, told the team and fans that ownership is committed to winning. The trade was a statement: The Predators are taking the playoff chase seriously.
But do they have a shot at anything other than a first-round ousting?
Why not? Who could look at the past two years of playoff upsets and dismiss any team, particularly one with such a talented goaltender who could get on a roll?
“It’s a short sprint,” says Predators color commentator Terry Crisp, a former NHL player and coach. “If our goalie gets hot, we can do something in the playoffs. Why not our team? We’ve worked hard and put the pieces together.”
The Predators aren’t without talent, but they certainly don’t stack up with the top teams in the Western Conference. They don’t even have one superstar forward as the Flames do. Nashville wins with great goaltending, hard work and a balanced attack from four forward lines and three defensive pairs. It will depend largely on Vokoun, the vacuum, whether this team adds more days to remember this season.
