Post-Game Talk: Last stop on Diva's hockey tour Perds @ Kings 7 pm CDT

[Armourboy]

It could happen.

The makeup of the team will change from now to next year. That's guaranteed.

And part of the expectation level coming into this season and the failure "fluke" was a direct result of a similar (though longer and earlier) hot streak last season that vaulted us into a playoff spot. Were we the team before that hot streak? The team that had the hot streak? Or the no-show playoff team?

This season seems to confirm that we were the bumbling team last year before the hot streak. I brief winning streak against some other bad teams that sold at the TDL isn't terribly convincing that we're not still the stumbling, bumbling team we were all season and that we won't return to that game.

Exactly people shouldn't read too much into the last 5 or 6 games, all of them until LA were against non-playoff teams just like us. Being able to squeak out a win against teams as bad or worse than you are doesn't mean the team has suddenly stumbled onto something. The team the last two years has basically been good for one 17 game stretch, and outside of that has pretty much been garbage. Anyone thinking next season is going to suddenly be different is getting their hopes up a bit too much, especially if Brunette is still coach.

Frankly I see more of the same dumb decisions continuing. Willie and Mason are already talking like Evangelista is running out of time, and if they are saying stuff like that publicly its coming from somewhere. The fact they keep trying to pump up guys that just aren't that good tells me Trotz is going to double down on some dime a dozen guys, and probably overpay some 35 year old UFA and we will find ourselves bitching about the exact same things next season.

The young guys are not going to get to play, not as long as Brunette is coach and Trotz is GM. The only reason the guys we currently have are on this roster and getting what time they get is because they don't have a choice. If ZLH and Svechkov are still waiver eligible next season don't be surprised if they start in Milwaukee.

 

[Kat Predator]

Exactly people shouldn't read too much into the last 5 or 6 games, all of them until LA were against non-playoff teams just like us. Being able to squeak out a win against teams as bad or worse than you are doesn't mean the team has suddenly stumbled onto something. The team the last two years has basically been good for one 17 game stretch, and outside of that has pretty much been garbage. Anyone thinking next season is going to suddenly be different is getting their hopes up a bit too much, especially if Brunette is still coach.

Frankly I see more of the same dumb decisions continuing. Willie and Mason are already talking like Evangelista is running out of time, and if they are saying stuff like that publicly its coming from somewhere. The fact they keep trying to pump up guys that just aren't that good tells me Trotz is going to double down on some dime a dozen guys, and probably overpay some 35 year old UFA and we will find ourselves bitching about the exact same things next season.

The young guys are not going to get to play, not as long as Brunette is coach and Trotz is GM. The only reason the guys we currently have are on this roster and getting what time they get is because they don't have a choice. If ZLH and Svechkov are still waiver eligible next season don't be surprised if they start in Milwaukee.

I have no doubt that Bruno will be the coach next year. Most likely for as long as Trotz can keep from getting fired himself.

The writing is on the wall for Evangelista, unfortunately. They elevated him quickly because he had obvious talent. Then they cut the legs out from under him like he was a proven veteran who'd been around 10 seasons and wasn't living up to their expectations that he'd continue to improve at an exponential rate. They'll trade or waive him and he'll get a chance to settle in at a place where they know what they are doing and be a productive player. And we'll sign a guy like the 35+ Brad Richardson (of a few seasons ago) to plug the hole because he's a Froot Loop winner.

 

[herzausstein]

They're preparing to get another aging vet in the off-season and trading Evangelista for scraps. Should also prepare for svechkov and kemell to be moved at some point. Bruno won't give young guys and extended run even when we have zero chance of making the playoffs and Trotz is enabling Bruno screw things up.

We will be better next season but still nowhere near good enough to be considered a cup contender. Cup contenders don't rely on the 30+ aged crowd like we do. They have young talent in their top 6.

 

[wmupreds]

I honestly think they've improved to the point where next year is not going to be a repeat of this year even if we have the same personnel -- core squad, scouts, coaches and GM. This was a fluke, a factor of too many "top" players who were truly beyond the point where they have to earn their spots. If memory serves, some weren't even playing in the preseason games. As Ted Lasso made all too clear, "it's just PRACTICE" but practice matters. Those around them (including myself!) believed the hype and thought wins would be easy. But failure made them reestablish themselves and I think (hope!) they've come together and made themselves into a team. They've looked like it in the past 10 games or so, win or lose.

I just think continuing the trend of improvement is long term better for the franchise than a top 5, which you KNOW would be traded at the point he became serviceable. It's just the Predators way.

I mean, the Preds have only picked in the top 5 twice. One was Legwand who played almost 1000 games with the team. Sure the other (Jones) got traded, but he got us Johansen who damn near won us a Cup. I don't think it's this foregone conclusion that the pick won't turn out useful.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I mean, the Preds have only picked in the top 5 twice. One was Legwand who played almost 1000 games with the team. Sure the other (Jones) got traded, but he got us Johansen who damn near won us a Cup. I don't think it's this foregone conclusion that the pick won't turn out useful.

Even Hartnell, Upshall, Suter, Wilson were useful players at #6/7 and I would expect us to get at least a player in that range with our pick this year, which at the upper end (Suter) is probably as good as or better than Legwand or Jones/Johansen. But none of those players are "franchise players" or "superstars". That's what this franchise really needs. The 2025 draft unfortunately doesn't provide any guarantees of getting a "franchise player" even if you had the #1 OA pick. But I do feel like if we get any of Misa, Frondell, or Hagens, they should contend for our best 1st round pick ever anyway. Which is still significant... even while not providing a sole saviour type of player.

I don't know how far we can slide down in the draft without opening up the risk of NOT getting at least a pretty goo player... I won't be surprised if the dropoff to 50/50 happens fairly early in this draft compared to some years?

 

[herzausstein]

I honestly think they've improved to the point where next year is not going to be a repeat of this year even if we have the same personnel -- core squad, scouts, coaches and GM. This was a fluke, a factor of too many "top" players who were truly beyond the point where they have to earn their spots. If memory serves, some weren't even playing in the preseason games. As Ted Lasso made all too clear, "it's just PRACTICE" but practice matters. Those around them (including myself!) believed the hype and thought wins would be easy. But failure made them reestablish themselves and I think (hope!) they've come together and made themselves into a team. They've looked like it in the past 10 games or so, win or lose.

I just think continuing the trend of improvement is long term better for the franchise than a top 5, which you KNOW would be traded at the point he became serviceable. It's just the Predators way.

I disagree to some extent. The core of this team is just too old to win anything. And the Last 10 games isn't anything special. It is mostly comprised of teams we should be beating if we aren't complete crap and yet we managed a meager bubble pace of 90 points (11 out of 20 available points)

Wins against:
WPG
SJS
CHI
SEA
BOS

losses against:
NYR
NYI
ANA
FLA

OTL against: LAK

We have beat exactly 1 playoff bound team. Heck the other 4 teams we beat have an average league placement of 29 out of 32. The 4 teams we lost in regulation to average out to 18 out of 32 and LA is 9 out of 32. WPG is an outlier in this data set and is not indicative of the norm. Sure we are playing better but we also just got done a 10 game run where FLA, WPG, and LA are the only for sure playoff teams. NYR are a bubble team and everyone else is bottom 1/3 of the league.

The schedule isn't always going to have such low end opponents and not coming out of that 10 game stretch with more points is a bad omen. I can't wait for trotz to read the tea leaves wrong and grab a couple more retirement home contracts in the offseason

 

[Kat Predator]

Even Hartnell, Upshall, Suter, Wilson were useful players at #6/7 and I would expect us to get at least a player in that range with our pick this year, which at the upper end (Suter) is probably as good as or better than Legwand or Jones/Johansen. But none of those players are "franchise players" or "superstars". That's what this franchise really needs. The 2025 draft unfortunately doesn't provide any guarantees of getting a "franchise player" even if you had the #1 OA pick. But I do feel like if we get any of Misa, Frondell, or Hagens, they should contend for our best 1st round pick ever anyway. Which is still significant... even while not providing a sole saviour type of player.

I don't know how far we can slide down in the draft without opening up the risk of NOT getting at least a pretty goo player... I won't be surprised if the dropoff to 50/50 happens fairly early in this draft compared to some years?

If they f-it-up this season down the stretch, we can run it back next year and maybe get that top 3 unicorn.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

I honestly think they've improved to the point where next year is not going to be a repeat of this year even if we have the same personnel -- core squad, scouts, coaches and GM. This was a fluke, a factor of too many "top" players who were truly beyond the point where they have to earn their spots. If memory serves, some weren't even playing in the preseason games. As Ted Lasso made all too clear, "it's just PRACTICE" but practice matters. Those around them (including myself!) believed the hype and thought wins would be easy. But failure made them reestablish themselves and I think (hope!) they've come together and made themselves into a team. They've looked like it in the past 10 games or so, win or lose.

I just think continuing the trend of improvement is long term better for the franchise than a top 5, which you KNOW would be traded at the point he became serviceable. It's just the Predators way.

I hate everything about this post and am so sick and tired of even hearing this. I’ll be dead before I ever see us win a cup. We’re old and we f***ing suck.