Player News - Predators

Date: Team: Pos:

Brendan Leipsic has agreed to terms with the Nashville Predators.

Leipsic was taken by Nashville with the 89th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He had 120 points and 103 penalty minutes in 68 WHL games with the Portland Winterhawks this season.
May 22 - 11:10 PM

The Nashville Predators tabbed Phil Housley to replace fired associate coach Peter Horachek.

Housley, who coached the U.S. in the 2013 world juniors, will be an assistant on Barry Trotz's staff. It'll be interesting to see how Housley affects Nashville's long-dormant offense, particularly on the power play. Trotz very much prefers a defensive, two-way game, which seems to contradict Housley's playing style. Then again, Horachek was fired Monday after the Predators finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, which also included one the lowest goals-score totals in the league. At the very least, the former All-Star should have a big impact on the organization's wealth of young defensemen.
Source: NHL.com
May 21 - 4:44 PM

Pekka Rinne said he expects to be much better next season after undergoing hip surgery.

Rinne wouldn't blame his sub-par year on the injury, but he was pretty clear about how much he expects it to help matters. "I’m positive it will be better," Rinne said Monday. "Right now I’m just happy it’s taken care of and hopefully I can return stronger. I’m sure once I get back on the ice, I’ll notice the biggest differences." Rinne is expected to remain on crutches for six more weeks and hopes to ready to play by the time training camp opens in September.
May 21 - 10:39 AM

The Nashville Predators fired associate coach Peter Horachek, sources close to the team told The Tennessean on Monday.

Horachek has been with the Predators organization since the 2002-03 season when he was hired to coach Nashville's AHL affiliate. In 2003, he joined the staff of the NHL club and was promoted to associate coach prior to the 2011-12 campaign.
May 21 - 10:35 AM

The Nashville Predators will make the signing of Roman Josi a priority in the off-season.

Josi will become a restricted free agent in the off-season and the Predators want him to add muscle in the off-season as they think he lacks "man strength" according to coach Barry Trotz. Josi is second on the Predators depth chart on the blueline, behind Shea Weber and is expected to be an integral part of the Nashville defense for many years to come. He had five goals and 18 points in 48 games this season and should hit the 35-40 point mark next season if he remains healthy.
May 18 - 7:49 AM

The Nashville Predators don't have the best history with goaltenders.

Before Pekka Rinne, the Predators' previous four starting goaltenders - Mike Dunham, Tomas Vokoun, Chris Mason, and Dan Ellis - all either lost their job to injuries and/or an unexpected decline in play. Nashville obviously bet on that trend ending when they inked Rinne to a seven-year, $49-million contract. Unfortunately, Rinne battled through an injury this season and recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip recently. He's projected to need four months to recover, so he should be fine by the start of 2013-14 campaign. However, given the Predators history, there is some concern that this won't be the end of Rinne's problems.
May 13 - 9:57 AM

The Nashville Predators want Roman Josi to get bigger in the off-season.

Josi worked on his nutrition last season and dropped from 12.5 percent body fat to 8.5 percent and will work on bulking up this off-season. "His conditioning was better," GM David Poile said. "We talked about his nutrition, his strength. When you're going to be playing big minutes like he did this year, you're going to need that." Josi increased his playing time over five minutes per game this season and should get a bigger share of ice time again next season, if he can handle it.
May 12 - 10:11 AM

The Nashville Predators are unsure as to whether or not they will re-sign RFA to be Bobby Butler.

Butler is currently with Team USA at the World Championships. His inconsistent play caused the Devils to place him on waivers where the Predators grabbed him in March. "He hasn’t been consistent. If we can get his 'A' game all the time, we have a spot for him. But his inconsistency is what has held him back," GM David Poile said. "We have to get a handle on whether he’s 'A' game Bobby or something less than that,"
May 12 - 10:04 AM

Colin Wilson underwent stabilization surgery on his left shoulder on Monday.

If you're experiencing deja vu, it's because Wilson had the same procedure on his right shoulder a few weeks back. Wilson's right shoulder was injured in March, but he's had chronic problems with the left one. He's expected to need four-to-six months to recover.
May 10 - 10:00 AM

Nashville GM David Poile said Thursday that number one netminder Pekka Rinne underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip recently.

His recovery is set at four months and he's expected to be at 100 percent in time for training camp. Rinne had an off year in 2013, which says a lot about how good he's been since he posted a respectable 2.43 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 43 games. The Finnish keeper was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in his two previous seasons and the procedure should help him get back on track.
May 9 - 5:49 PM

The Nashville Predators have inked Marek Mazanec to a two-year, entry-level deal.

Mazanec had a 2.49 GAA and .912 save percentage in 21 Czech league games this season. He was taken in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
May 3 - 12:09 PM

The Nashville Predators haven't made much progress recently in their contract negotiations with Roman Josi.

Josi is eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer. The Predators have already locked up Patric Hornqvist to a five-year deal before he could become an RFA. "We’re talking to Roman just as we were with Patric and his representatives, and we’re trying," Predators GM David Poile said. "You never know in a negotiation, but the intent on both sides is to get something done."
May 1 - 11:16 AM

Patric Hornqvist is upbeat about the Predators' future after signing a five-year, $21.25 million contract.

Hornqvist would have been a restricted free agent this summer. "I think we have something really good here going," Hornqvist said. "I want to stay here. I like it here. Great place to live and a great place to play. The fans are great; it was a quick deal." Hornqvist, who was limited to 24 games this season, is one of the few offensive weapons the Predators have so locking him up was vital.
May 1 - 11:13 AM

Nashville Predators sign Patric Hornqvist to five-year, $21.25 million contract.

Hornqvist had a disappointing, injury-filled 2013 campaign and registered just four goals and 14 points in 24 games. He was scheduled for restricted free agency this summer and it's possible the Shea Weber experience last summer scared Nashville into locking Hornqvist up for the long term before an offer sheet even became an option.
Source: NHL.com
Apr 30 - 3:43 PM

Shea Weber wants to remain with the Nashville Predators and is committed to their rebuilding process.

"For sure, definitely," Weber said Sunday. "I’m committed to everything here -- committed to the team and coaching staff and my teammates, and committed to being better for them and getting back to the postseason." Weber's been locked in to the process since Nashville matched a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet Weber signed with the Flyers last summer. There have been rumblings that Weber might want out after flirting with leaving already and while these words seem to dispute that notion, what one says in public can be entirely different to what is said in private. Time will tell if Weber is true to his words and if the Preds can afford to pay the defenseman the full freight on that massive deal.
Apr 30 - 11:58 AM


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