Poile picked Peter, Predators primed for postseason

The acquisition of questionably the best all around hockey player in the world has dramatically changed the playoff landscape as we head into the second half of February.

Before Predators GM David Poile brought in Peter Forsberg, his team boasted the league's best record at 39-16-3 and an even more impressive 21-4-3 mark at home. It's almost sickening that a team doing this well just got one Peter Forsberg better. If I was a betting man, which in this case I just may be, I would give some serious thought on this one. The Preds, at least for the moment, are not the odds on favorites. The slumping Ducks and injury-riddled Sabres share that distinction.

Coming out of the West will be no easy task, but the Preds have a lot in their favor right now. The home record speaks for itself. If the Preds retain the top spot in the West until the season ends, which looks like a very likely scenario, they will likely meet a team like Dallas, Calgary, Minnesota, Edmontion, Colorada or maybe even the St. Louis Blues. Calgary is probably the most playoff ready team of that bunch and they are 7-14-7 away from home. Minnesota shares a similar mark on the road. It would be an uphill battle for any of these teams.

Not to mention, I can almost guarantee that at least one of the 6,7,8 seeds will knock off one of the top finishers.

The Preds also have a great mix of youth and experienced guys and a whole lot of depth. Down the middle, we are now talking about Forsberg, 6'2 David Legwand (leads team with +28 rating and has 20-28-48 scoring line) and 6'4 Jason Arnot. All big, talented guys for the top three lines. Then you have your grit guys in Jordin Tootoo and Scott Hartnell. Experienced vets who still have tons in the tank in Kariya, Sullivan, Dumont, Arnott and Forsberg. A great rookie in Radulov. An excellent group of top four defensemen in Timonen, Weber, Zidlicky and Suter.

In net where it counts most, Chris Mason and Tomas Vokoun have put up almost identical numbers. Mason has a 2.35 GAA while Vokoun is at 2.38. Save percentages are at .927 and .921 respectively. Mason, the backup, has better numbers than the number one guy and has shown the ability several times over the last few years to step in as The Man when Vokoun has dealt with his many health issues.

The power play, at 16.8, is tied for the fourth worst unit of teams currently qualified for a playoff spot in either conference. Mr. Forsberg should give that unit a significant boost. Perhaps even a whole five percentage points. And he's certainly not going to hurt the penalty kill either.


Forsberg leaves the Flyers, the team he was drafted by, to join the Preds looking for his third Cup. He makes his debut when Nashville hosts the Wild on Saturday night. His 1991-92 Upper Deck rookie card (right) remains a bargain at just $10.





No team in the East, with exceptions in a completely healthy Buffalo squad and a Jersey team with Brodeur at his very best, will likely be able to match Nashville in depth, grit, speed, talent and goaltending come Cup time. Only Buffalo has scored more goals this year, but minus Afinegenov as of last night for a while and plus Forsberg for Nashville, I'm sure the Preds will overtake the Sabres when all is said and done. Pittsburgh looks great right now, but that ship will sail at some point. If not in the regular season, surely in the first couple rounds when experience really matters.

The Predators are having a franchise season, and with this move, they went from the league's top team in the standings to an instant Cup favorite as the most complete team from top to bottom. It's going to be fun to watch this team make a run at it. And for Forsberg, it could be his last attempt at another championship.


In the Hobby:
Stock up on issues of these Preds guys that are still quite unknown and undervalued. Rookie Alexander Radulov is among the top newcomers in the league, but his talents won't go unnoticed much longer. Take a look at the roster and there are plenty more little known faces to study up on.