The Predators jersey series moves on to number 15, with Botox and goal gaffes highlighting this set of candidates...

Drake Berehowsky

When Berehowksy was claimed from the Edmonton Oilers by the expansion Predators in 1998 (along with Eric Fichaud and Greg de Vries), the Canadian defenseman was crucial on the Preds powerplay and was instrumental in their transition game. In 1999-2000 he set career highs with 12 goals and 32 points, leading the Preds defense in goals. That same year, he led the team in time on ice (22:40) and blocked shots (tied with Karlis Skrastins with 110). The following season was the second best of his career, with 6 goals and 24 points. His solid performance turned him into a very sought after defenseman at the 2001 trading deadline, when the Predators dealt him to the Vancouver Canucks. He would never achieve the same level of play in the NHL that he attained with the Predators.

Petr Tenkrat

The Czech forward came to the Predators from the Anaheim Ducks for Patric Kjelberg on November 1, 2001. Tenkrat played in only 58 games for the Predators before returning to Europe to play in the Finnish Elite League, yet while he was in Music City, he managed to register 24 points (8G-16A).

Rem Murray

Murray came to the Predators from the New York Rangers along with Tomas Kloucek and Marek Zidlicky in exchange for Mike Dunham on December 12, 2002. He spent two seasons with Nashville, playing a total of 82 games and accumulating 14 goals and 36 points in this span. Murray was soon diagnosed with cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder in the neck, during the 2003-2004 season, which forced him to retire shortly from the NHL.

At the end of 2003, Murray started experiencing severe pain and stiffness in his neck, which progressed to the point where his head was involuntarily forced to face the left. Murray was nevertheless determined to keep this secret from his teammates, the coaching staff, and even his pregnant wife. In January 2004, the symptoms became so severe that they became unavoidable. He was brought to the emergency room after a game in Toronto. Luckily, one of the most renowned Canadian neurologists, Anthony Lang, M.D, was on call that night. Dr. Lang, however, instantly diagnosed Rem with cervical dystonia and immediately referred him to a neurologist for treatment in the U.S. where Rem was living and playing with the Nashville Predators at the time. Murray soon began treatment with injections of Botox. Within a period of two years, Murray recovered and was eventually signed by the Edmonton Oilers in 2006, for whom he was a quintessential contributor to the 2007 run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kris Beech

In the summer of 2005, the center from British Columbia, Canada, was acquired by the Nashville Predators from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were disappointed with his development at the time. Beech only played 5 games for the Predators before being sent down to Milwaukee. After 48 games with the Admirals, with whom he amassed 18 goals and 50 points, he was traded at the trade deadline to the Washington Capitals for Brendan Witt.

Josh Langfeld

Signed as a free agent on September 4, 2007 by the Predators, Langfeld played only 2 games in Nashville before being relegated to Milwaukee. In 44 games with the Admirals, he scored 22 goals and 29 points. Unable to live up to the hallmark moment of his career, when he scored the 1998 NCAA championship-clinching goal in overtime for the Michigan Wolverines against Boston College and earning NCAA All-Tournament Team honors, he moved on to play for the Frankfurt Lions in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga the following year.

Matthew Lombardi

Nothing other than a black hole of money for the Predators, the speedy forward was deemed to be a key offensive component for Nashville following a 53-point season for the Phoenix Coyotes. Lombardi, an unrestricted free agent, signed a three-year, $10.5 million with the Predators in the 2010 offseason. However, after only two games with the Predators, he suffered a concussion and was unable to return for the remainder of the season. Due to uncertainty about his health and performance following Lombardi's hiatus, the Predators decided to deal him along with Cody Franson to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason for Brett Lebda and Robert Slaney, neither of whom would even play a game with Nashville themselves following the swap.

Craig Smith

Selected by the Nashville Predators in the 4th round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Smith would become the first player since Colin Wilson to bypass the Admirals and play for the Predators directly. He was selected by Nashville for his excellent offensive instincts and awareness on the ice, as well as his good size and versatility to play both center and wing. On October 7, 2011, Smith scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Playing 72 games for Nashville this past season, Smith spent the majority of his time on the 4th line alongside Nick Spaling and Brandon Yip, scoring a total of 14 goals and 36 points. No Nashville fan will forget Craig Smith's most memorable game, joining the ranks of Patrik Stefan, when Craig Smith missed an empty net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Your links for today:

Devils Links

The Devils' debt deadline is likely to pass without any action from their lenders. [Fire and Ice]

Hockey Links

Ellen Etchingham takes a great historical look at one of the predecessors to the NHL, the IHL, and how it revolutionized hockey in North America. [Backhand Shelf]

Mile High Hockey has an open letter post from an average fan to the NHL, RE: a possible lockout. [Mile High Hockey]

Surprise, surprise, Gary Bettman makes a lot of money. [Sports Business Journal]

With Rick Nash now playing for the Rangers, are the Blue Jackets a better team? [PHT]

A few observations from Team USA’s World Junior Championships evaluation camp in Lake Placid: [PHT]

The Avs have signed goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to a one-year extension. [TSN]

Max Pacioretty has scored a 6-year, $27 million extension with the Canadiens. [Puck Daddy]

Don’t worry, the NHL will only forfeit $100,000 of its $3 million stadium rental fee if the Winter Classic gets cancelled because of a lockout. Phew. It can cancel the game as late as January 1. [NY Times]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Welcome back to the LBC's All-Time Roster Countdown, Chapter LXVIII. For an explanation of the standards and conditions that the list was based on, click here.

In yesterday's entry, we looked at original Panther center Jesse Belanger (180 games, 49 goals, 68 assists), and current goaltender Scott Clemmensen (31-25-15, .912, 2.68). Today, we'll check out a defenseman from Toronto and a Swedish right winger.

To continue with today's article, follow the link.

42. Jason Woolley

Woolley was a 6'1" defensemen from Toronto with the Michigan State Spartans. He was selected in the third round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals with the 61st overall pick. In 132 games over three seasons of collegiate hockey, he scored 37 times with 107 assists.

Woolley spent most of the 1991-92 season with the Canadian National Team, scoring 14 goals and 35 assists in 68 games of international play, helping them to the Olympic Silver Medal. He also made his professional debut, in 15 games scoring one goal and 10 assists with the AHL Baltimore Skipjacks. He played one game late in the NHL season with Washington.

1992-93 would see Woolley split the year between the Skipjacks (29 games, 14 gaols, 27 assists) and the Caps (26 games, two assists, plus-3 rating, 10 PIM). He repeated the pattern the following season with Washington's new AHL affiliate, in 41 games with the Portland Pirates (12 goals, 29 assists), and 10 contests with the Capitals (one goal, two assists, plus-2 rating, four PIM).

Woolley started the 1994-95 season with the unaffiliated Detroit Vipers in the IHL, scoring eight times with 28 helpers in 48 games. The Panthers signed him as a free agent on February 15. In 34 games with Florida, he scored four goals on 76 shots with nine assists, registering a minus-1 rating with 18 penalty minutes. On April 22, he collected two assists in a 4-2 win over the Quebec Nordiques.

In 1995-96, Woolley had a big impact on Florida's blueline offensive capability. He scored six goals on 98 shots, ranking second on the Panther's defense with 28 assists. He finished at minus-9 with 32 PIM. On Halloween, he scored two goals in a 5-4 overtime victory over the New York Islanders. In 13 playoff contests, he totalled two goals and six assists.

Woolley appeared in three games for Florida in 1996-97, failing to score a point. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 19 with Stu Barnes for Chris Wells (yeah, we lost that one). He played 57 games with Pittsburgh that season (six goals, 30 assists, plus-3 rating, 28 PIM).

Woolley later played five and a half seasons with the Buffalo Sabres (365 games, 40 goals, 125 assists, plus-31 rating, 258 PIM), getting traded to the Detroit Red Wings for "future considerations" on November 16, 2002. He finished out his NHL career in two and a half seasons with the Wings (170 games, 11 goals, 50 assists, plus-34 rating, 78 PIM).

All-Time Statline: Three seasons, 89 games, 10 goals, 37 assists, 47 points, minus-9 rating, 52 PIM, 10.0 APS.

41. Marcus Nilson

Nilson, a 6'2" right winger from Balsta, Sweden, was playing with the Djurgardens IF Stockholm of the Swedish Elite League for three seasons beginning in 1995-96. After his first season with the team (12 games), the Panthers picked him up in the first round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft with the 20th overall pick. He played two more seasons with Stockholm (88 games, four goals, 10 assists) before making the jump to North America.

Nilson spent most of the 1998-99 season with the AHL Beast of New Haven (69 games, eight goals, 25 assists). He was twice called up to the Panthers. He averaged 12:24 TOI over eight games, remaining scoreless until his final Panthers game, scoring a goal and an assist in a 3-2 overtime victory.

In 1999-00, Nilson played a big portion of the year with Florida's new affiliate in Louisville. He played 64 games, scoring nine goals and 23 assists. He was again twice called up to join the Cats, assisting on two goals over nine games in just under eight minutes per game.

In 2000-01, Nilson made the Panthers out of training camp, playing in 15:46 TOI over 78 games. On March 9, he had his first three point game with two goals and an assist in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He scored 12 goals on 141 shots, ranking second on the Panthers with 24 assists. He finished the season with a minus-3 rating and 74 penalty minutes.

2001-02 would see Nilson score a team third best 14 goals on 147 shots in 16:31 ATOI over 81 games. He scored twice in a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on New Years Eve, one of five times he put up more than one point in a contest. He finished the season with 19 assists, a minus-14 rating and 55 penalty minutes.

Nilson was one of three Panthers to appear in all 82 games for Florida in 2002-03, averaging 15:31 TOI on Florida's second line. He scored 15 goals on 187 shots, assisting on 19 others and ranking fourth on the team with 34 points. He finished out the season with a plus-2 rating and 31 penalty minutes.

In 2003-04, Nilson scored six goals on 110 shots while playing 15:30 over 69 Panthers games. He made 13 assists and a minus-9 rating with 26 penalty minutes. the Panthers traded him to the Calgary Flames on March 8 for a second round draft choice (David Booth).

Nilson finished out the season with the Flames (14 games, five goals, plus-3 rating, 14 PIM). When the following season was cancelled, he rejoined his old Swedish team, Djurgardens IF Stockholm (48 games, 17 goals, 22 assists). He went back to the Flames for three more seasons beginning in 2005-06 (180 games, 14 goals, 23 assists, plus-22 rating, 63 PIM). In 2008-09 he spent one year with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv (36 games, five goals, three assists) before returning for a third tour with Stockholm (143 games, 42 goals, 64 assists) over the last three seasons.

All-Time Statline: Six seasons, 327 games, 48 goals, 78 assists, 126 points, minus-20 rating, 193 PIM, 10.0 APS.

Thanks for joining us today. Make sure to check back tomorrow as we take a look into a current Panthers defenseman from Strathroy, Ontario, and a goaltender from Manitoba.

Welcome to the first edition of Dan P.'s Mailbag here at The Cannon! Thanks to everyone who sent in a message. As always, you can send me an e-mail with your question. Be sure to include your Cannon commenting name, so that everyone knows who's writing in if your mail message gets chosen for the week.

Alright, this week we have three excellent questions that came in from the Internets. On with it!

What's the real reason we still have Jared Boll? He can't score, he can't win a fight, he can't skate with the puck. Heck, he's lucky if he can even hit someone when he bangs into the wall. --Mark2112

Boll has certainly become a polarizing figure over the past year or so. You certainly bring up some valid points, but it must be noted also that Boll is a popular guy in the dressing room. There aren't too many guys that work harder, and Boll gets by on pure grit alone. I think a couple of things factor into the decision to keep him around: 1) He's cheap. Boll is signed for two years, and his cap hit is essentially $1 million. That's a drop in the bucket for an NHL team in this day and age. 2) His teammates like him. Boll is a pretty quiet, unassuming guy off the ice, but once he's on it he's a guy that will drop the gloves to defend a teammate. Whether he wins those fights or not, his teammates will always love the fact that he's willing to mix it up on behalf of his team. I've seen his hands after games he's fought in, and he goes through a lot to stick up for his guys. That matters in the dressing room. 3) Most fans like him. Maybe not the nuts-and-bolts fans, but the casual hockey fans really like Boll. 4) He's more capable than he showed last season. I'm not going to sit here and sell you a bill of goods about Boll's skill level, but he's shown flashes of offensive competency at times. As a 19- and 20-year-old in the OHL, Boller put up 96 points in 131 games. In the four seasons prior to this past season, he averaged five goals a year. In 2010-11, he scored seven goals (12 points) in 73 games while shooting at 10.6%. Obviously, he's probably never going to breakout like Derek Dorsett did this past year, but Boll does have the ability to drop in some offense from time to time; he's better offensively that someone like Colton Gillies.

This past season was a bit of a washout for Boll, because he suffered through injuries and never really got a chance to get into any kind of rhythm. All of this having been said, this Jackets team is going to have to get to a place where they expect more from fourth liners. They also need to get to a place where more guys stick up for each other, and someone like Boll whose main asset is the willingness to lay it on the line wouldn't be so important to the culture of the team.

What if both the Jackets goalies (Mason and Bobrovsky) bomb before we even hit the halfway mark of the season? Will the Jackets call up York and send Mase or Bob to Springy? Or will they do a trade to bring in a true #1 goalie? Who could that possibly be? Bernier? --Doktor Z

Well, you've touched on what is probably the biggest thing that keeps both the Jackets' FO and Jackets fans up at night. Sergei Bobrovsky brings a new look to the goalie corps, but comes with faults of his own. They are still thin in the AHL, with Allen York and Curtis McElhinney and really nothing else. They have finally addressed the pipeline with Anton Forsberg, Oscar Dansk, and Joonas Korpisalo. But, those guys are probably 3-4 years away, at best.

I suspect that there aren't too many people that feel like this is a playoff team if the goaltending is good, so it they both bomb out this year it won't derail a season of expectations. That said, it can't be a good thing to have sent some assets to Philadelphia to be right back in the same boat again next summer.

If they both struggle, Allen York would probably get a chance to come up. I can't see both Mason and Bobrovsky going to Springfield due to being exposed to waivers; Mason would be the most likely candidate, because the odds that someone would claim him this close to his free-agency are slim. At the end of the day, though, if this is the roster the team breaks camp with, they will most likely ride-or-die with Bobrovsky and Mason. There just isn't much else there, and given the expectations for this team I can't see the team panicking and mortgaging the future to bring in a goaltender this season.

That said, I think Scott Howson and Craig Patrick are still leaving no stone unturned to try to get better in goal. The thing about a trade is that there's no way--short of bringing in Roberto Luongo--to trade for a "true #1". It's no secret that I like Jonathan Bernier, but I freely concede that there's now way to know whether he will be a true #1 or not. I think he could be, but he's unproven.

One of the other things that was hard about the Rick Nash trade was "the list". Ottawa seemed to be making a push for Nash, and they had both Robin Lehner and Ben Bishop as trade chips. Of course, Columbus could never get serious with Ottawa because they weren't on Nash's list. At the end of the day, I can't imagine a scenario in which Howson is content with his current NHL goaltending roster, but I don't see him making a "panic" move to trade for another goalie. That said, if the deal is right for a guy he really wants, a move is certainly possible.

Did the Blue Jackets officially kill/retire Boomer? Or do you think he's lurking beneath the surface of Nationwide Arena, ready to re-appear at the most opportune time? --ducktrance

Ahh, Boomer. Honestly, I didn't know the answer to this question, so I reached out to Todd Sharrock, who is the VP of Communications and Team Services for the club. Todd told me that Boomer hasn't been "killed" or officially retired, but that the team has no current plans for him at this time. In a conversation I had with Todd a couple of years ago, he noted that Boomer was originally created as a fun character for kids, and that kids had responded very positively to him.

Unfortunately for the Jackets, kids don't write blogs on the Internet; smarmy adults (such as myself) do.

In my own opinion, I can't see the team bringing him back anytime soon. This past year was about as tough on the ice--and by extension, off the ice--as any season in the team's history. Given the fact that most people would probably immediately pile on Boomer--AND the team--were he to return, I just don't see this as a good time for him to come back without some modifications.

***************

Thanks to everyone who sent in questions! See you next week!

Welcome back to LBC's exclusive All-Time Roster Countdown, where we won't stop until we get to the top. For an explanation as to how I figured out who goes where, click here.

Yesterday, we looked at former Florida defenseman Jason Woolley (89 games, 10 goals, 37 assists) and former right winger Marcus Nilson (327 games, 48 goals, 78 assists). In today's listing, we check in on a current Panthers defenseman from Strathroy, Ontario, and a goaltender from Manitoba.

For more on this, follow the link below.

40. Brian Campbell

Campbell was a 5'11" defenseman from Strathmore, Ontario with the Ottawa 67's when he was selected in the sixth round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, 156th overall. In four OHL seasons in juniors, he totalled 38 goals and 172 assists in 260 games, adding five goals and 36 assists in 50 postseason contests. He made his professional debut with the 1999-00 AHL Rochester Americans (67 games, two goals, 24 assists), also scoring a goal and four assists in 12 NHL games with the Sabres.

In 2000-01, Campbell again spent the balance of the season in Rochester (65 games, seven goals, 25 assists), making a brief eight game stop in Buffalo. The following season, he continued to have trouble cracking the NHL roster, scoring three goals and three assists in 29 contests with Buffalo. He also scored twice with 35 assists in 45 Rochester games.

2002-03 would see Campbell promoted to the NHL on a permanent basis, spending the next four and a half NHL seasons with the club. He made the All-Star team for the Sabres in 2007 and 2008. In total, he scored 32 goals and 144 assists in 391 games with the Sabres, adding three goals and 10 assists in 34 playoff games. He spent the 2004-05 season with Jokerit Helsinki in the Swedish Elite League (44 games, 12 goals, 13 assists). The Sabres traded him to the San Jose Sharks on February 26, 2008 with a seventh round pick (Drew Daniels) for Steve Bernier and a first round pick (Tyler Ennis).

After scoring three goals and 16 assists in 20 games for San Jose, then another goal and six assists in 13 playoff games, Campbell signed an eight-year, $57,143,000 contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played the first three seasons of the contract with the club, making his third career All-Star team in 2009 and helping Chicago to win the 2010 Stanley Cup. He racked up 19 goals and 98 assists with a plus-51 rating and 46 penalty minutes in 215 games with the club. He also scored four goals and 14 assists in 43 playoff games. The Blackhawks traded him to Florida for Rostislav Olesz in what amounted to a salary dump for Chicago following the 2010-11 season.

2011-12 would see Campbell turn in his fourth All-Star campaign, leading the Panthers (and the NHL) with 2,206 minutes of ice time. He opened the season by assisting on both Panthers goals in a 2-0 win over the New York Islanders on October 8. Just a week later, he notched four assists in a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 17. He had nine multipoint game over the course of the season, including four three assist games. He averaged 26:54, appearing in all 82 games, scoring four goals on 131 shots and a team best 49 assists. He finished the season with a minus-9 rating and a ridiculous six penalty minutes. The postseason would see him add a goal and four assists in Florida's seven game series loss to the New Jersey Devils. After the season, he was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for excellent sportsmanship.

Campbell makes a great d-zone poke-check 1/9/12 (via NHLVideo)

All-Time Statline: One season, 82 games, four goals, 49 assists, 53 points, minus-9 rating, six PIM, 10.3 APS.

39. Trevor Kidd

Kidd was a 6'2" goaltender from Dugald, Manitoba when selected by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft with the 11th overall pick. He posted a 53-67-4 record in three WHL seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Spokane Chiefs, allowing 4.05 goals per 60 minutes.

In 1991-92, Kidd started in goal for the Canadian National Team (18-4-4, 3.51), helping them to a Silver Medal in the 1992 Olympic games. He made two appearances with the Flames late in the season (1-1-0, .857, 4.00). He ended up playing five seasons with the franchise, ranking sixth on their all-time victory list with a 72-66-26 record. He collected 10 shutouts, an .898 save percentage and a 2.83 GAA. Just prior to the 1997-98 season, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes with Gary Roberts for Andrew Cassels and Jean-Sebastian Giguere.

Kidd played for two season in Carolina, totalling a 28-31-9 with five shutouts, a 2.34 GAA and a .916 save percentage. After the 1998-99 season, he was picked up in the Expansion Draft by the brand new Atlanta Thrashers franchise. He was only a Thrasher for a short time, getting traded later that day to the Panthers for Gord Murphy, Herbert Vasiljevs, Daniel Tjarnqvist, and a sixth round pick (Darren Cox).

Kidd posted a 14-11-2 record as the 1999-00 Panthers second goaltender. He shut out the Thrashers on November 27 by a score of 3-0. He allowed 2.63 goals per 60 minutes, ranking eighth in the NHL with a .915 save percentage.

In 2000-01, Kidd shared number one netminder responsibilities with wunderkind Roberto Luongo. He posted a 30-save shutout on November 17 in a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He allowed 3.31 goals per 60 minutes with an .893 save percentage and a suboptimal 10-23-6 record.

King Louie started his reign proper with the 2001-02 Panthers, as Kidd accepted his role as the first backup option. His 4-16-5 record was on par with Florida's 14th place Eastern Conference finish, posting a 22-50-12 record.He shutout the Buffalo Sabres on November 16 on 31 saves in a 2-0 shutout in one of very few highlights that season. He stopped 89.5% of total shots faced and allowed 3.21 goals per 60 minutes TOI. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed him as a free agent after the season.

Kidd played two seasons with the Leafs (12-15-4, .888, 3.17) before moving on to international play. He last played professionally with the Hannover Scorpions in the Deutsch Elite League in 2005-06.

All-Time Statline: Three seasons, 103 games, 5,611 minutes played, three shutouts, 28-50-13 record, 2,883 shots faced, 2,594 saves made, 28 goals allowed, .900 save percentage, 3.00 GAA, 10.5 APS.

Thank you for reading today's article. Make sure to check back tomorrow as we keep moving up the chain of past, present, and future Panther heroes, with a center from Ontario and another center from Slovakia.

Maybe you're feeling a bit down on hockey right now.

Perhaps you're staring at a closet of Rick Nash jerseys that suddenly became a sign of the past.

Maybe you're watching the current CBA negotiations (or lack thereof), and getting a little bummed.

You might just be thinking "Man, I'm not sure if I can even think about ice right now when the thermometer keeps climbing."

You're not alone...and there are friends out there who can help you.

Think of this weekend's Cannonfest as three hours of group therapy....with beer.

If you haven't heard of Cannonfest, let me give you a brief history.

Back in the far off days of 2010, I wanted to have a little bit of a Blue Jackets get together with some of my friends. Planning for a nice cookout in my backyard, I started to get a little in over my head when the list of people who wanted to come hit 30 people.

So, talking to both Mr. Dark Blue Jacket and Greg May of Full Mental Jackets, I asked if they had ideas...and as it turned out, Greg has a whole freaking restaurant he could offer to the cause.

It turned out it was a very good idea we moved it out of my backyard, because 100 people showed up, and I can only flip so many burgers.

Last summer, we knew we had to do it again...and it was even more awesome.

So, now, we go for round three. But as much fun as it has been to help organize, it's you, the awesome community of Union Blue fans, who make it into a truly magical event, and I hope you'll help us make this year's edition even bigger and better when you come out to have fun, talk hockey, watch some brand new Skraut videos, and maybe raise a little more money for the Blue Jackets Foundation while we're at it.

The AHL schedule was released earlier this afternoon, much to the excitement of AHL and NHL fans alike. There's more interest than I can ever remember in the league from NHL fans, which makes this kind of even more exciting. Any publicity we can get, any chatter we receive, any news that's shared outside of the usual sphere of AHL fans and organizations can only be great for our league.

Every team in the AHL plays a 76 game slate during the regular-season. The league used to play 80, but last summer the powers-that-be asked the AHL to cut down the schedule in order to help the players deal with travel time and help young prospects adjust to the grueling schedule. The league complied, leaving us with our 76 games. One of the immediate effects of that adjustment was to eliminate 4-in-5's (four games in five nights), something that was quite often scheduled in this league before the change. Although 76 games still left room for plenty of 3-in-3's (three games in three nights), many of the of the players were thankful for the slightly roomier schedule. Most teams average about six to eight 3-in-3's a season.

Due to the geographical differences between the two teams, the Crunch's schedule probably looks a bit different from what you've been used to with the Norfolk Admirals. I have some highlights behind the cut!

• The Crunch will play 30 of their 76 games against East Division opponents. The Crunch is located in the East Division. Those teams are Binghamton (Ottawa Senators), Hershey (Washington Capitals), Norfolk (Anaheim Ducks), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pittsburgh Penguins). The Baby Sens will be played 8 times, Hersey 6, Norfolk 8, and WBS 8.
• The new farm team of the Ducks comes to town for the first time since the affiliation switch on December 28th. The Crunch then returns the favor and visits Scope Arena in Norfolk on January 4th and 5th. The Admirals and the Crunch play each other a record 8 times this year. I think both front offices must be figuring this will be a great new rivalry for both teams. NOR and Syracuse met only four times last year.
• Elsewhere in the league, Syracuse will play Adirondack (Philadelphia Flyers) 8 times, Albany (New Jersey Devils) 8 times, Bridgeport (New York Islanders) twice, Connecticut (New York Rangers) twice, and Springfield (Columbus Blue Jackets) twice. They also play Hamilton (Montreal Canadiens) 4 times, Lake Erie (Colorado Avalanche) twice, Rochester (Buffalo Sabres) 10 times, and Toronto (Toronto Maple Leafs) twice.
• The Crunch does not play 17 teams in the AHL. Some notables not in our schedule: Charlotte (Carolina Hurricanes) and Providence (Boston Bruins). Norfolk played both of those teams fairly often last year.
  
• The Crunch start off the season away on Friday, October 12th, at Rochester. The Crunch has a rather large rivalry with the Americans, so absolutely no one was surprised by this. Syracuse was 4-6 against the Amerks last year. One interesting thing to note here is that Norfolk didn't play Rochester at all last year, so the whole Amerks/Crunch thing is going to be very new to our players.
• Opening Night at the Onondaga County War Memorial will be October 13th against Hershey. The Crunch was 2-4 against Hershey last year. More relevant is probably Norfolk's record against the Bears., going 5-5 against them last season.
• NHL fans, take note: The Crunch's 11/9 tilt against the Hamilton Bulldogs will apparently be in Montreal.
• We have our first 3-in-3 almost right off the bat. The second weekend of hockey the Crunch is completely away, playing three games in a row against Albany, Binghamton, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
• The Crunch has an insanely home-loaded end of the season: its final 5 games are all at home. The Crunch usually does very well at the War memorial, so this could be a huge advantage for the team.
• The Crunch closes the season at home on April 21st against the Baby Sens. This is the first time in recent memory that the Crunch actually ends the year at home. We've been away the last few years.
  

Like usual, I need about a day or so for my head to stop spinning and put coherent thoughts together, but I can tell you that once again this fan community came together and made an amazing event happen.

I don't have final numbers yet, but attendance was by all estimates over 300 people, and raised ~$1000 for the Blue Jackets foundation. When I get the exact totals, I'll update the post.

To put that into some perspective, we're talking about filling the entire restaurant from entrance to exit, bar to patio, with hockey fans. In August. On a Sunday. During a point in time where we're staring down the all too likely threat of another lockout. For the team that finished dead last this past season, and got kicked every possible time they were down.

We put the word out, and you came together. Because your love of the sport, because of your love of the team, and because of the bonds that have been forged through these long years in the wilderness.

Columbus as a hockey team may get kicked around by other fan bases, but no one should doubt the way that this town has become a hockey market. Once again, I am amazed by how defiantly we shout our joy into the face of so many struggles, and I cannot wait for the day when this team becomes the contender that the fans deserve.

My sincere thanks to Greg May, Tom Felrath, Rick Gethin, Nick Johnson, The Cannon Report, the Jacket Backers, the Arch City Army, Fox Sports Ohio, and of course the Blue Jackets for all their help.

Meanwhile, please enjoy the amazing videos that Skraut unveiled for us this year...

Good morning and welcome back to the Florida Panthers all-time Roster Countdown. If you need more information on how the list was compiled, click here.

In yesterday's article, we looked into two former Panthers, defenseman Bret Hedican (202 games, 17 goals, 48 assists) and original Panther, goalie Mark Fitzpatrick (43-42-22, .902, 2.71). Today, we'll get a look at a Swedish left wing and a currently rostered Russian defenseman.

To continue reading, follow the jump.

28. Kristian Huselius

Huselius, a left wing from Osterhaninge, Sweden, earned his pre-NHL hockey chops with five seasons in the Swedish Elite League starting in 1996-97, first with Farjestads BK Karlstad (75 games, eight goals, five assists), then later with Vastra Frolunda HC (119 games, 55 goals, 60 assists). This, in spite of having been selected by Florida in the second round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, 47th overall.

2001-02 would see Huselius finally make the jump to North America, joining the Panthers out of training camp. In his NHL debut, he scored a goal in Florida's season opening 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored 10 points (seven goals and three assists) in a six game stretch from October 24 through November 3. On January 21, he scored a season high three points with a goal and two assists in a 7-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He led the Panthers with 23 goals on 169 shots, pitching in with a team second best 22 assists.He posted a minus-4 rating on the 22-44-10-6 club, getting yanked for only 14 penalty minutes all season. He averaged 16:55 for Florida through 79 games on the second line.

In 2002-03, Huselius enjoyed eight multi-point games, including a season high three points with a goal and two assists in a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 6. He ranked third on the Panthers with 20 goals on 187 shots, assisting on 23 others. He averaged 17:20 TOI through 78 Panthers games, earning 20 PIM and a minus-6 rating.

2003-04 would see Huselius score 10 goals on 168 shots, ranking fourth on the Panthers with 21 assists and with 31 points. He had a minus-6 rating and 24 PIM. He averaged a career low 14:14 TOI in 76 Florida games. He went back to the Swedish Elite League in 2004-05, this time with Linkoping HC (34 games, 14 goals, 35 points).

Huselius returned to Florida for the 2005-06 season, scoring five goals and three assists through the first 24 games of the season. He was traded to the Calgary Flames on December 2 for Steve Montador and Dustin Johner. In parts of three seasons with the Flames, he scored 74 goals with 108 assists in 216 games. This includes career highs of 34 goals and 43 assists in 2006-07.

After the 2007-08 season, Huselius signed on as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets (189 games, 58 goals, 84 assists). He missed most of the 2011-12 season with a groin injury and recovery from pectoral surgery. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.

All-Time Statline: Four seasons, 257 games, 58 goals, 69 assists, 127 points, minus-27 rating, 62 PIM, 12.4 APS.

27. Dmitry Kulikov

Kulikov is a 6'1" defenseman from Lipetsk, Russia. He made his North American debut with the 2008-09 Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL (57 games, 12 goals, 50 assists). He was drafted by the Panthers soon afterwards, in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, 14th overall.

Kulikov made the team out of training camp in 2009-10. He took 87 shots on goal, potting three, including two in a 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 27. After suffering a knee injury in mid-December, he came back strong, appearing in a total of 68 games while averaging 17:56 TOI. He managed 13 assists, a minus-5 rating and 32 penalty minutes.

Kuli blasts Mike Green [Dual-Feed] (via NHLArchive)

2010-11 would see Kulikov score a career high six goals on 83 shots, averaging 19:57 TOI through 72 games, mostly on Florida's second pairing line. He ranked second amongst the teams defensemen (and fifth overall) with 20 assists, and finished the season with a minus-5 rating and 45 penalty minutes.

Kulikov's OT Winner vs. Devils (crowd View) 1/15/11 (via vektoriousproduction)

Kulikov finished the 2012 season with a career high 28 points in a career low 58 games, due to a knee surgery in February. On December 5, he scored a goal and two assists in a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals, one of four multi-point games on the season. He totalled four goals on 104 shots, pitching in with a career high 24 assists and finished with a minus-5 and 36 PIM. For the third time in his first three seasons, he saw his time on ice increase by two minutes, averaging 21:51 per game, third best on the blue line. He added an assist in seven playoff games after the regular season, finishing at minus-4.

Kulikov sometimes likes to show his aggressiveness on the offensive side of the ice, and he possesses a nice hard slapshot from the point. He was the only defenseman to play any shootout rounds (he was a better-than-average two-of-four). The departure of Jason Garrison opened a spot next to Brian Campbell on the first blue line pairing. If Erik Gudbranson does not wind up there, look for Kulikov. Still only 21-years old, Kulikov is currently unsigned, but as a restricted free agent, the Panthers have the best shot at signing him.

All-Time Statline: Three seasons, 198 games, 13 goals, 57 assists, 70 points, minus-15 rating, 113 PIM, 13.1 APS.

Thank you for stopping by today and wasting a little time. Make sure to vote in the poll, leave comments, and check back tomorrow as we get right back to it with one of eight Panthers with over 500 career games and a recent ex-Panther, a defenseman from Toronto.

Normally when you hear a hockey player or coach say they have the greatest fans, it's just another tired cliche, simple pandering for the local audience. When the Commissioner says it in the context of how well the league recovered from the Great Lockout of 2004-2005, however? That spells trouble, and our around-the-league hockey notes today start off with some dire updates from the latest round of NHL/NHLPA talks...

Best of Nashville 2012 - The Nashville Scene

This year they have a reader poll for "Best Sports Blog". Can you help us defend our title from 2011? Vote daily!

Nashville Predators News

2012 NHLPA Rookie Showcase Will Feature 30 NHL Prospects - NHLPA
Austin Watson will represent the Preds at this year's event.

The bobblehead movement… | Section 303
The masses are nodding their heads in approval.

Smashville 24/7 - Players react to eventful summer
A smattering of comments from various players, mostly about how glad they are that Shea Weber's offer sheet was matched.

Brian McGrattan - LockerDome
Big Ern's got himself a video collection, where you can take in some of his favorite bouts over the years.

Based on Donations, N.H.L.'s American Owners Prefer Republican Candidates - NYTimes.com
According to this study, the Preds' owners are the league's second-biggest backers of the GOP.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

NHL and NHLPA argue over the fundamentals of surrendering players’ salary to owners | Puck Daddy
It's getting ugly, folks. We've reached the point where Gary Bettman no longer feels the need to sugercoat the owners' naked desire for a massive player salary rollback.

Bettman: We can lockout because you'll be back -- and he's right - Broad Street Hockey
Hockey, we just can't quit you.

Imposing Again : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com
Dangit, I knew Tom's optimism was too good to last.

The Cup is ours: a manifesto - Colby Cosh - Macleans.ca
Colby attempts to stoke the fires of Canadian pride to make sure the Stanley Cup has a 2013 champion no matter what.

KuklasKorner : The Malik Report : Swedish Eliteserien prohibits teams from signing NHL’ers not willing to play full year in SEL
In the event of a lockout, don't expect to see guys head over to Sweden.

Why Limiting Term Is A Bad Idea | Overtime
Richard ignores one reason why it's a very good idea for owners - limiting the liability they're taking on that a player gets hurt and can't perform at his expected level for the duration of a long-term deal.

15 Years Gone: Remembering the Hartford Whalers | Backhand Shelf
Some of the best uniforms in hockey history... and now they're long gone.

Former Blue Jacket Huselius: "They Acted Wrong Against Me" | BlueJackets Xtra
It sounds like Kristian Huselius is not at all happy with the Columbus Blue Jackets, saying they rushed him back into the lineup, which led to a groin injury.

Video: Sports Fans Digest Their Own Mistakes after Loss - Lighthouse Hockey
We've all been here, I think.

Pot, Heroin, and Playing Hockey - Battle of California
Megalodon brings you an important Public Service Announcement.

Gordie Howe on TV has a 100% success rate | Backhand Shelf
You've got to love "Mr. Hockey".

Journalizm | mc79hockey.com
Few can tear into a mainstream columnist for their lazy writing like Tyler.

Odor Gladiator keeps your game (and your hockey bag) fresh | Hockey Gear HQ
This little wonder fights for you against that signature smell that comes from your hockey equipment bag.

And lastly... courtesy of The Triple Deke, here's a creative way of describing how each team approaches the salary cap (warning, it gets pretty gross halfway through when they hit the Maple Leafs):

In case you're somehow totally divorced from blogs, social media, facebook, email, or phones (and in that case, however did you get here?), you may not have noticed the Blue Jackets making a major social media push over the last few days.

Firing up a campaign calling on fans to "Defend Nationwide Arena" by boosting home attendance, and using the "#DEFENDNWA" hash tag to go along with the new #JTB slogan, it's been accompanied by twitter avatars, facebook icons, and even a call to arms by James Wisniewski.

Tying the campaign to a pre-sale promotion on the club's facebook page and ticket giveaways, the goal is to energize fans and prevent incidents like the infamous Pittsburgh takeover.

But it's worth asking if this is working.

To their credit, the Jackets have been ramping up their use of social media for the past several years, including the addition of a dedicated social media / digital marketing manager this summer. The club has worked to engage fans more and more, helping to combat more than a few on-ice disappointments by extending their ties into the fan community and embracing twitter and facebook to help build connections.

On the other hand, it can be seen as too much - a stream of visually identical avatars from staff, players, and the official accounts makes it difficult to quickly understand who is speaking, and the increasing flood of hashtags begins to feel like an overload.

Consider that this article, when tweeted, will feature the #DEFENDNWA, the club's long standing #CBJ, and perhaps a #JTB or #NHL.

Will it catch the attention of someone different thanks to each of those tags? Yes. Is it going to interest them in reading it? That's another question. How much becomes simply trying to grab attention, rather than genuinely creating interest?

It's legitimate to look at the search engine results or social media trending and saying that the more these tags and campaigns circulate, the more successful they are, but the real success or failure of these efforts is going to be measured in how many tickets are sold - and specifically, how many tickets are sold to Blue Jackets fans who will wear the home colors with pride when teams capable of drawing many more fans into the area (Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, etx) come to town.

Given the challenges the team faces in a post-Nash, potential lockout, last place offseason, that's a tall order, and while I am hopeful we'll see improvements in the on-ice product, I'm not so sure we're going to see the same thing in the stands.

Our jersey number series continues with #24, where we find a mix of wingers, including one who was chosen by OTF readers as part of an All-Time Nashville Predators team voted on a few years ago...

Scott Walker

Walker joined the Predators for their inaugural campaign, where he ended up playing for seven consecutive seasons. The Cambridge, Ontario native was given more responsibilities and expanded ice time, allowing him to score a career-high of 15 goals and 40 points in his first year. Walker's next explosive season came in the 2000-2001 season, breaking his previous record with 25 goals and 54 points and leading that team with most goals and powerplay goals (9) scored. Walker underwent a slump during the next two years, though he was named as the Predators' interim captain from January 12-25, 2003 when Greg Johnson was sidelined with injuries.

Nevertheless, he bounced back again in the 03-04 season when he accumulated 25 goals and 67 points in 75 games, becoming the highest-scoring player in Predators history. Not only did he have the most goals, assists, and points of the entire team, but he was also named the NHL Offensive Player of the Week of December 22^nd. After an unimpressive follow-up season, Walker was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Josef Vasicek on July 18, 2006.

Brandon Bochenski

Spending the majority of his career honing his skills in the AHL, Bochenski was traded to the Predators by the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations on February 26, 2008. After 8 regular season games with the Preds, he scored 1 goal and 3 points. Bochenski followed the team to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings, though he was unable to record a single point in the three games he was put on the ice. That summer, Bochenski signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ben Guite

Another tenured minor league player, Guite signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 14, 2009, spending the majority of the season with the Admirals (6 games with the Predators). In 64 games with the Ads, he recorded 8 goals and 21 points. Guite left as a free agent in the offseason and signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on August 18, 2010.

Matt Halischuk

"Hally" was traded to the Predators on June 19, 2010 from the New Jersey Devils for the Preds' beloved captain Jason Arnott, who returned to the team for which he scored the Stanley-Cup winning goal in 2000. In his first season with the organization, Halischuck split his time between the Admirals and the Predators, scoring 4 goals and 12 points in 27 games for the Preds in the regular season (along with a fairly impressive +5 rating). Halischuck was called up to play in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Preds. Not only did he help the Predators win their first ever first-round series in the playoffs, but he also scored the game-winning goal in the 2nd overtime of Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal series against the Vancouver Canucks to even up the series at 1-1. It was Nashville's first-ever win in the second round of the playoffs. Though the Predators' remaining time in the playoffs was cut short, Halischuck's contract was extended to two more years with the Predators in the offseason. This past season, Halischuck amassed 15 goals and 28 points while playing on the third line with Nick Spaling and Gabriel Bourque.

Halischuck has proven to be a phenomenal addition to the Predators and he is not even close to reaching his fullest potential. He is aggressive on plays and does not hesitate to take shots, which explains him scoring the seventh-highest amount of goals for the team this past season. Expect the right winger to be paired up with rising stars Craig Smith and Gabriel Bourque now that Jordin Tootoo has gone to the dark side.

I don't think you'll see many fans of the Jackets argue with you if you say the Columbus Blue Jackets defense has traditionally been the weakest part of the roster.

That is, until this upcoming season, providing the CBA nonsense gets cleared up.

For the first time since expansion, the Jackets' strength is on the back-end. Take into consideration the moves that GM Scott Howson has made in the last year or so. He signed James Wisniewski after finishing fifth in defenseman scoring the year prior. Midway through the season, he acquired Nikita Nikitin from the Blues, and "Nikki Six" wert on to have a very strong season. At the trade deadline, Jeff Carter was dealt to the Kings for Jack Johnson, who was instrumental in changing the culture of the team for the better, regardless of what the stats geeks will have to say about him. When free agency opened up, veteran Adrian Aucoin was brought on board to mentor the young guys. Most recently, Howson picked up top prospect Tim Erixon from the Rangers in the Rick Nash deal. This was after taking highly-touted Ryan Murray second overall in June's entry draft.

Those are just the new guys. You can't forget about Fedor Tyutin, arguably the team's most complete defenseman- for now, anyway. Former first round pick John Moore is also in the mix, along with high-end prospect David Savard and AHL veteran Nick Holden. Dalton Prout is another name to keep in mind, he had a cup of coffee with the Jackets last year and didn't look out of place.

It will be interesting to see how the three defense pairings look when the Jackets start the regular season. Based off the lineup from last season, I think it's easy to put Tyutin and Nikitin together again. The duo showed chemistry, and their skill sets offset eachother nicely. Johnson and Wisniewski played together for a spell, and when together, dubbed themselves "Controlled Chaos". I think it's safe to say we'll see more of #CCCBJ in the future.

Things get muddy after that.

Is Murray ready for NHL-duty? He was touted as being the most NHL-ready at the draft. In talking to followers of the Rangers, Erixon is ready to make the next step. Moore and Savard each spent time in Union Blue. Aucoin is a wily veteran, who can still put the puck through, rather than past a goaltender when given the opportunity. Holden and Prout have both shown that they can hang in the NHL.

That's a lot of talent for two to three spots. I've always been a proponent of letting the best players play. They are wasted if they are sitting the press box more often than not. Let's assume that the top four that I mentioned earlier, the All-American pairing, and the Russian duo, make up the first two pairings.

I'd like to see Murray get in as much action as possible, with Aucoin backing him up as his partner. One of Prout or Holden would make a good seventh defender.

That would allow Moore, Erixon, Savard and either Holden or Prout to get major minutes with Springfield of the AHL. Based off of their level of play in Springy, these guys would be called up when/if injuries happen.

Never in the Jackets' history have they had the luxury of having so many defensemen with such talent. The coaching staff are in for some hard discussions when deciding on which seven guys make the team. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if the team carried eight blueliners and rotated the bottom pairing in and out for the first few weeks of the season.

Either way, both the Columbus and Springfield bluelines are chock full of excellent defensemen, and this, my friends, is a good problem.

The problem with CBA negotiations is that they're rarely entertaining to read about for the fans. Quite the opposite, normally, in fact. AP does a solid job of breaking down the central issue of revenue sharing today in the Dispatch, but it's about as fun as watching grass grow.

Backhand Shelf, at least, tried to break the ice a bit with some fun at the NHLPA meetings, and taking a look at Chris Phillips alternate career as a brewmaster.

Over at Distinct Kicking Motion, the CBA rears its' head in a nightmare scenario, and it's one of the many items of hockey on the mind of Jeff Little over at Ten Minute Misconduct.

Back to something fun, take a look at the madness of the late 90s and Pro Beach(!) Hockey over at THW:Overtime, some ideas for who to root for should there be a lockout, and DBJ investigates just how crazy James Wisniewski's gloves are.

Ellen Etchingham offers some good ideas about redefining assists, more bogus trade rumors are swirling around Evander Kane, Shane Doan is setting a deadline, and Gallos has an idea for something completely different.

At DBJ+, Tom takes a deeper look at Todd Richards, The Burnside Carbine thinks about what to expect from #51 in your program, and #CBJ speaks out about the "Defend Nationwide" campaign.

That's all for today - enjoy what's left of your weekend!

As the National Hockey League and the Players Association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, hockey fans everywhere are concerned that another work stoppage may occur. I understand and sympathize with these fears. In light of the intense scrutiny during this time, I made some statements last week that may have been misconstrued by media and the public and I would like to clarify them for our wonderful fans.

When I said the NHL recovered from our last work stoppage because we have the greatest fans in the world, I meant it sincerely. Some in the media think I was intimating that hockey fans were "suckers" and that we are taking advantage of their loyalty. This could not be further from the truth.

I mean, what's not to love about hockey fans? They came back after our work stoppage in 2004. They came back after our work stoppage in 1994. They pretty much forgot that the 1992 strike even happened. They spend a lot of money on tickets and jerseys and third jerseys and jersey shirts and special one-time-only jerseys that will just be worn during the Winter Classic.

And hey, how about that big party, huh? That one game makes more money than the franchise values of all three California teams combined. Why? Because hockey fans are the greatest in the world. Case closed.

Speaking of money, I also said last week that the owners feel they're paying out more money to players than they think they should be. Some short-sighted yellow journalists called this hypocritical - that somehow signing players to lucrative long-term contracts while saying you want to spend less money is contradictory.

Frankly, this is hogwash. What the owners want is a larger share of Hockey Related Revenue. I could try to explain HRR further, but most laymen wouldn't understand this very complex amalgam of assets. I don't expect readers of this or any other hockey blog to have the intelligence or business acumen to follow this fundamental issue that we at the negotiating table are trying to hash out. So let mommy and daddy talk, OK kids?

Let me clarify that. There are a lot of ways for team owners, whom I consider to be my friends, to make money. Right now, most of that money goes to the players. My friends want more of it coming back to them. Why should the players get the lion's share? What did they do to earn it?

Let me clarify that. Players make a lot of money, mainly because the owners sign them to very expensive contracts. What the owners want is a new system that keeps them from spending too much on player contracts. Seven years ago, we lost an entire season because owners wanted to add a salary cap to curb salaries and close the gap between big and small market clubs by keeping teams from spending too much on player contracts. But that system simply does not work.

Let me clarify that. Because it sounds like the owners got the exact system they wanted during the last work stoppage. They did, but...they really didn't.

Let me clarify that clarification...

On second thought, forget it. I find it unproductive to get into a public debate about this. Games will get played when we're good and ready and not a minute before.

And would it kill you guys to use some pictures that don't make me look like either a vampire marionette or The Penguin? I mean, geez.

Gary Bettman
Commissioner
National Hockey And Periodic Lockout League

___

This is a work of parody. Although, ironically, the funniest lines in it are the ones that are real.

This will be an interesting week to follow the NHL CBA talks, as the two sides are expected to meet again starting Tuesday, after decamping for informational and strategic updates over the last several days. Meanwhile, players are doing the on-ice work to get ready for a mid-September opening of training camp, including the mysterious Jack MacLellan...

Best of Nashville 2012 - The Nashville Scene

This year they have a reader poll for "Best Sports Blog". Can you help us defend our title from 2011? Vote daily!

Nashville Predators News

In Search of Jack Maclellan | PuckScene.com
Patten stalks some big game.

It’s not believed many Predators will play in Europe if there’s a lockout… | Section 303
Especially since most observers expect a short lockout, not a full season lost, don't expect to see guys heading over for short-term gigs in various leagues.

Hold on to your hats, we’re going on the air! | The Predatorial
So it looks like Kris is taking over the Monday Night Forehand podcast, as Justin & Big Ben are joining 102.5 The Game as Penalty Box Radio next month.

Analysis: Nashville Predators may still have edge over Detroit Red Wings | The Tennessean
Have we finally reached the point where the Preds come into a season favored to top Detroit?

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Players standing beside, learning from Donald Fehr - National Post
The players do seem to be better prepared for this battle than they were in 2004, that's for sure.

Player Choices : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog :: CanucksCorner.com
Tom says that the players should either fold early, or plan for an entire year cancelled.

NHL: Labor talks focus on revenue sharing | BlueJackets Xtra
Aaron Portzline points out that on the revenue sharing front, the players and owners aren't quite as far apart as has been portrayed.

CHLPA claims players ‘forfeit their youth’ in latest error-filled manifesto - Buzzing The Net
Remember, it's all about "EDUCATAION"! *facepalm*

Let's Chat About the Columbus Defense - The Cannon
Is the balance of talent on the Blue Jackets' roster tilting towards the defense?

All eyes will be on the latest round of NHL CBA talks, which are slated for later today. Any chance that the logjam breaks and the two sides come outside singing show tunes together? Nah, I don't think so either, but a fan can hope. Our hockey notes start today with Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber, and his take on how things are moving along...

Join us Tuesday, September 4 at Sam's Sports Grill for an OTF Meetup!

Nashville Predators News

First up, Shea Weber talks with CBC's Daybreak program about the CBA negotiations and assorted Nashville notes:

Who the Lockout or Shortened Season Will Hurt the Most | The Predatorial
Jeremy points out the cost to local individuals and businesses which would come from each game lost.

Who’s ready for more BIG NEWS? The Predatorial is teaming up with Sam’s Sports Grill in Murfreesboro! | The Predatorial
For those of you in the 'Boro, there will be some viewing parties down there, too. Remember, we're holding an OTF Meetup at their Nashville location.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Bettman, Daly and Fehr ready to reopen NHL contract talks - The Globe and Mail
The talks are supposed to get rolling again today in New York. Will the wheels just spin, or will there be movement by either side?

NHL CBA Meetings: When Do We Know We're in Trouble? - Lighthouse Hockey
I'd say about 3-4 weeks from now, that's when regular season games would have to start being cancelled.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Marty St. Louis says he'll play in Europe in event of NHL lockout - Tampa Bay Times
Unlike some of the Preds who Jeremy of Section 303 talked to the other day, Lightning players are openly planning on heading across the pond. If the players want to have any leverage during a lockout, they'll need to earn money somewhere.

Taking Sides | Backhand Shelf
E argues that getting emotionally invested in the CBA battle can, possibly, matter.

How media coverage, public opinion are shaping NHL talks - SportsBusiness Journal
The players may be winning the PR battle, but the owners don't seem to care.

NBC Sports Network To Get Boost From Channel Relocation - Awful Announcing
Make no mistake, this could provide a nice shot in the arm for NBC Sports' ratings, moving them into the neighborhood of other sports channels and the likes of HGTV, Cooking Channel, etc.

NCAA Might Combine Division III Title Game with Frozen Four " Hockey World Blog
An interesting idea to raise visibility for the D3 schools, but obstacles remain.

If You See Something, Say Something Officials PSA | Homeland Security
Refs from the NHL and other major pro sports all chipped in for a new public service announcement.

Following the Money: The Effect of the 2005 CBA on Forward Salaries | mc79hockey.com

Tyler takes a deep dive into the trends which have affected salaries over the last seven years.

Glendale, NHL extend Phoenix Coyotes arena agreement for fourth time - AZCentral.com
Another minor extension while the paperwork on a franchise sale gets completed?

The Shootout – A Roundtable Discussion on the NHL | Overtime
A number of questions to keep your hockey brain humming.

Can Ryan Murray Make An Immediate Impact in Columbus? | The Hockey Writers
Will the #2 overall pick play a major role on the Blue Jackets' defense this season?

How risky is the Taylor Hall contract? | Backhand Shelf
Taylor Hall is dogged by talk of him being injury prone, but is it fair? He had his faced sliced up pretty badly in a freak warmup accident, for example.

Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey: The Top 100 players for 2012-13 | Puck Daddy
My lesson to you regarding Fantasy Hockey? Generic "Top 100" lists are meaningless. Your draft board needs to consider the specific scoring categories used by your league.

Swedish league player Eric Przepiorka punches coach, gets promotion, sparks conspiracy theory | Puck Daddy
Do NOT try this at your workplace.

Welcome back to another edition of Dan P.'s Mailbag here at The Cannon! Thanks to everyone who sent in a question. As always, you can send me an e-mail with your question. Be sure to include your Cannon commenting name, so that everyone knows who's writing in if your mail message gets chosen for the week.

Alright, this week there are two items that I wanted to touch on. Here we go!

Where do you see the Jackets's power play ranking against the other teams of the NHL? Maybe I'm being a tad too optimistic, but I think we'll finish in the upper half of the league primarily because of our blue line quarter backing the PP. So many of our defensemen have (Cannonesque) booming shots and can pass the puck around well, freeing time and space for our wingers to bury the biscuit. What say you, good sir? --CannonGoesBOOM

You know, this one really gets me at the core. You may remember my expectations piece from around this time last year:

If we decide that 20% is our stated goal of conversion, that would give the Jackets 69 goals. That's quite a bump up, but when you look at the raw numbers of the players who will be joining the unit and combine that with Todd Richards' experience at running a Power Play unit, these numbers aren't unrealistic.

At the end of the day, this gives us some variables and parameters for predicting where the 2011-2012 Power Play might come out. I'm going to use all of those, and go with:

2011-2012 Power Play: 66-for-345, 19.1% - 9th in the NHL

Cue the sad trombone. The actual numbers? 49-for-317, 15.5%, 24th in the NHL. In other words, right around where they'd been for most of the past five seasons.

As for this year's unit, there are two factors to take into account, in my estimation. First, you lose Rick Nash, and you lose your top PP scorer. Nash had six goals and 13 assists on the PP. On top of that, the PP goal leader for the club last season was actually Jeff Carter (8 PPG), and he only played 39 games for the club.

That's a pretty big chunk, when you consider that 14 of your 49 PPG--or, more than 28.5%--are gone now. And, the guys that have come in--Nick Foligno, Artem Anisimov, and Brandon Dubinsky--weren't really counted on to be PP contributors: they combined for five goals and five assists. Adrian Aucoin also brings one PPG from last season to the table. So, by pure (and not apples-to-apples, of course) numbers, the team has a deficit to make up from last year. That's factor one.

Now, factor two goes the other way. We've added Jack Johnson for a full season. Johnson had just three PP assists in Columbus, but his whole season's numbers were five goals, 12 assists. So, that should be a plus. In addition, James Wisniewski will hopefully play more. In just 48 games, he had two PPG and 10 PPA. If he can play closer to 70 games, that should add a few more goals and/or assists on the PP. If those two can combine to form a solid top PP defensive pairing, they could certainly affect the unit: Wiz has the calm presence at the blue line, and the booming shot. Johnson has the mobility and the shot to pinch in on the backside of the play. That should help the Jackets, provided those guys stay healthy and continue to play well.

By my estimation, the Jackets' biggest flaw last season, however, was systemic. They struggled at times consistently just to establish themselves in the zone on the man advantage. All the boosts to your D pair in the world won't help you if you can't hold the zone and set up. Johnson's skating can help with that as well, as they push the puck up the ice.

Beyond that, if they can establish the zone regularly, that improved blue line play should help unclog the middle a little bit. The Jackets should have a few more guys willing to get into the dirty areas to score. As you note in your question, a great Power Play is predicated on being able to move the puck to open up shooting lanes and then having guys willing to take a beating down low to clean up the trash. It's why R.J. Umberger has averaged over seven PPG per season since coming to Columbus.

That said, I'm not tricking myself into thinking they will be able to climb into the top half of the league until I see it. I've been burned by expectations so many times before. So, in an answer that's not really an answer, I think there's potential for the PP to be better this season, provided everything breaks right. That said, there just isn't enough scoring talent for me to really buy in that they will be a ton better. Call me cynical, I guess.

When trying to project lines I’m always faced with the question of who plays on the right side? So, which left-handers among our forward(s) are likely to play the right wing? And who plays the right side between Tyutin and Nikitin? --jkcpwilkin

I'm sure there are more hockey-coach type people that can speak to this better than I, as I've come to trying to actually play the game a little later in life. For me, I shoot right-handed (the efficacy of my "shot" is up for debate, of course), and I feel more comfortable playing the right wing because I'm much, much better with the puck on my forehand, as are most beginners in hockey.

I really do think, however, that once you get to the NHL level, it's not a huge factor. I remember talking to Marc Methot last pre-season, and him saying that for a defenseman it was much easier to play on your natural side. Then again, Methot always struggled on his backhand. Conversely, when I asked Rick Nash about moving back to the right side, he told me it didn't really matter to him, though he preferred the right (which would technically be his backhand side).

With respect to the Fedor Tyutin--Nikita Nikitin pair, they lined up last season with Niki Six on the right almost exclusively. That pairing was rock-solid, so look for Niki to be back on the right again.

As for the roster and forward line combinations, I think it warrants mentioning that the Jackets are not exactly devoid of right-handed shots: Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson, Mark Letestu, Derek Dorsett, and Jared Boll are all righty shooters, and that spans all four lines.

In the end, I think it really comes down to personal preference. There are also some other factors, however. For example, there's one other guy that I think needs to be in the right-wing discussion, too: R.J. Umberger. The night that Umberger netted his hat trick against Carolina this spring, his third goal came on a play where he was coming down the left wing off of a turnover, and Derick Brassard was looking to feed him the puck from the right. Part of the difficulty in getting Umby the puck was that Umby shoots left-handed, and Brassard noted in the post-game that it was tougher because it wasn't on Umby's "one-timer side":

For a player like Umberger, that may make a difference. Playing on the right side, he's able to open up for a one timer much more easily. For example, check out Umby's second goal from that game:

So, there's that, too.

But, all in all, I can't really say that there's one thing that makes a player more or less comfortable. Each player is different, and has different strengths and weaknesses to his game. Again, I'll defer to those more experienced with the nuts and bolts of playing hockey at a higher level, but I don't think this is really a big issue for the Jackets. Johansen played on the right side when he played wing last year. Umberger has time on the right wing as well. Atkinson is a right-handed shot. Between Dorsett and Letestu, you have two righties on the third line most likely. And Boll has always played right wing on the fourth line.

As for the D pairs, Wisniewski is a right-handed shot. Aucoin is a right-handed shot. Nikitin has shown the ability to play on the right side, and so I think the club will have no problems there. In addition, David Savard, Dalton Prout, Cody Goloubef, and Theo Ruth are in the pipeline as right-handed defensemen as well. So, the Jackets have plenty of options to balance out the blue line.

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Thanks to everyone who sent in questions! See you next week!

If you're in the US, happy Labor Day! Hope you're enjoying the holiday. If you're not inside the US, it's just Monday, and we apologize for that.

Speaking of labor, there's still no movement from the NHL or NHLPA after talks came to an abrupt end on Friday, but that hasn't stopped fan groups from trying to get fans together to send a message, even though there's little reason the Owners or Players will heed them.

In what could be a sign of optimism, the Red Wings did unveil a Winter Classic logo, but it's also been pointed out that this logo does not feature a year. At the same time, Ellen Etchingham talks about taking the game outside, and wondering if it's better suited for an all star style format.

Backhand Shelf also features some talk about labor economics, and Puck Daddy gets a guest post about marketing. Don't we sound all grown up?

Just to dial things back a bit, #CBJ takes us back to school with a plan to attend OSU hockey in case of a lockout, while Puck Rakers finally offers Fedor Tyutin's report card.

Over at Burnside Carbine, we've got "What to Expect" posts on Nikitin, Aucoin, Atkinson, and Gillies.

Over at DBJ, they're starting a new series to examine the team in detail, starting with the team's executives, and a call for J.P. Mac to vote "No" on a lockout. Symbolic or not, I suspect it would mean a lot to the fanbase if they saw their owner take that stand.

Finally, some hockey school for you courtesy of "The Coach" over at Union Blue, as he details what it means to play on the left or right side.

The New York Rangers' biggest move of the off-season was acquiring Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, when the Blueshirts hit the ice at the start of the 2012-13 season (whenever that will be), the biggest changes that fans will see are the forwards that will play on the bottom two lines.

In the off-season, the Rangers cut ties with forwards John Mitchell, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Brandon Prust. In order to replace them, general manager Glen Sather made three signings, and brought Taylor Pyatt, Arron Asham, and Jeff Halpern into the fold.

In essence, the three signings the Blueshirts made replaces each role player that was lost. The signing of Pyatt is meant to replace Fedotenko, who was a mainstay on the Rangers' third line in 2011-12. The purpose of signing Asham, who will become the first player to play for all five Atlantic Division teams, is to bring in toughness that was lost as a result of Prust's departure. And the addition of Halpern replaces Mitchell as a depth center and faceoff specialist.

Join me after the jump for more.

So, did the Rangers' change in personnel actually improve their bottom-six forwards heading into 2012-13?

Well, despite the loss of a fan favorite (Prust), the Rangers did improve the club. However, the bottom-six as a unit is still lacking depth that could hinder the Blueshirts throughout the year.

At face value, the Rangers didn't lose out on any of the deals. Fedotenko's point production declined in every season since 2008-09, culminating last season when he scored nine goals and added 20 points in 73 games.

Although Pyatt put up almost identical numbers last year (nine goals and 19 points in 73 games), he is only two years removed from scoring 18 goals. Also, at age 31, Pyatt is younger than Fedotenko, and adds more size at 6'4''.

Letting Prust go was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation for the Broadway Blueshirts. Prust was a character player, and a big part of the team's identity as far as penalty killing, toughness, and shot blocking. However, even Prust's most loyal supporters would have a tough time justifying him receiving a contract similar to the four-year/$10 million deal he received from Montreal.

Prust offensively isn't the player that will put up 13 goals and 29 points on a consistent basis (his goal and point totals from 2010-11). His five goals, 12 assists, and 17 points from last year are all the second most goals, assists, and points he recorded in any season, and if he maintains those numbers, there isn't any drop off in production when comparing him to Asham.

In Halpern, the Rangers are getting a much-needed upgrade in one of their weakest areas: faceoffs. His 58.3% winning percentage ranked fifth in the NHL last season, and a $700,000 contract certainly isn't overpaying for a center that could play on the third or fourth line. And even though it was five seasons ago, Halpern flourished under Tortorella after being traded to Tampa Bay in the deal that sent Brad Richards to Dallas. The 36-year-old scored 10 goals and recorded 18 points in 19 games with the Lightning in 2007-08.

But while the Blueshirts didn't lose out on their offseason signings, it's difficult to say that they brought in the scoring depth that they needed from the bottom-six forwards. When Marian Gaborik is healthy, the Rangers bottom-six forwards will likely include: Pyatt, Halpern, Asham, Carl Hagelin, Brian Boyle, and Mike Rupp.

These forwards have a good collection of speed, size, and experience. However, they haven't proven that they can add enough goal-scoring depth to complement the Blueshirts' top guns throughout the season.

Although Boyle scored 21 goals two seasons ago, his regression last season made his 2010-11 campaign look like an aberration. Hagelin scored 14 goals in 64 games last year, but if he isn't given the same opportunity to play with either Richards or Derek Stepan, his total output likely won't be the same.

Putting the fatigue factor aside, the Rangers were done in by the New Jersey Devils in large part due to New Jersey's fourth line. If the Blueshirts want to take the next step in their development this year, they will need more than just their superstars to contribute offensively.