Friedman: Predators looking for a center

Porter Stoutheart

Seen Stamkos?
Jun 14, 2017
15,949
12,341
Trotz and Brunette need to get serious about their internal options first. Novak may not be perfectly ideal at center, but he's not bad. Parssinen came in 2 years ago and looked great and has been jerked around ever since. Trotz has 2 internal options on hand, he needs to commit to seeing what they can do, instead of just trying to throw Sissons up there all the time. Maybe Novak lacks a bit in terms of defense, maybe Parssinen isn't the greatest skater (like O'Reilly or Sissons are?), but they can give you a cheap 0.5ppg if you just make a commitment to them. Imperfect as they might be, there simply isn't going to be anything better on the trade market. Time to start making some lemonade Trotzie.
 

TheNewEra

Registered User
Jul 10, 2013
8,175
3,582
copp is probably available
kevin hayes

not at all what i would consider to be a good 2C but definitely cheap options
 

Toene

Y'en aura pas de facile
Nov 17, 2014
5,180
5,312
32 Thoughts: Wild's Kirill Kaprizov should be in Hart Trophy race

On Friedman's 32 Thoughts:

"Know you love the rumours, but it is early. This is the 'we’re-still-seeing-what-we’ve-got' phase. Predators GM Barry Trotz has the second-best hockey radio hit on The Game in Nashville. On Tuesday, he told hosts Willy Daunic, Derrick Mason and Adam Vingan, “No one is trading anyone right now. I would like to get a centre, but no one is giving their centremen away.”

Two toughest things to find: a stud defender and a top centre. No more zero in the win column after Tuesday night, where they opened with Colton Sissons between Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos."


Right now, the Preds have a glaring hole at the 2C positions, almost at the 3C spot, too.
Newhook for Fabbro?
 

SEALBound

Fancy Gina Carano
Sponsor
Jun 13, 2010
42,477
21,212
“No one is trading anyone right now. I would like to get a centre, but no one is giving their centremen away.”
No, rather: "No one is willing to give up a good young 2C for cheap."

The fact is, there's a league-wide shortage of higher-end top 6 center talent. They are super hard to come by at the moment. If you didn't overpay in FA for one or draft one, you're either paying the price or not getting one.

Now, that said, I'll say the same thing that I said in the other thread: The Penguins have Hayes, Eller, Acciari, Glass, and Lizotte. I'm sure one could be made available. Eller is looking damn good for his age. Hayes has been good on the 4th line as well. You have the picks...
 
Last edited:

KingJoffrey

Registered User
Jan 30, 2014
2,296
957
Stamkos were at least in last two years a pp specialist. Like Blake Wheeler in Jets in his last couple of years.

Pp points can mask a decline of player very well. If you don't watch all the games. Blake Wheeler was horribad in Jets, but pp and empty net points keep his stat line fine. Add to that he lead the room and better players like Ehlers and Laine suffered because of that.
 

VaporTrail

Registered User
Mar 2, 2011
5,485
1,558
If Buffalo continues to be bottom feeders I could see both their top centers being available- Thompson and Cozens...no one on that roster should be untouchable..Good chance the roster gets blown up, and we all know how former Sabres do elsewhere- Eichel, Reinhart, ROR, etc....Losers in Buffalo, Stanley Cup Champions elsewhere, lol. 😄
 

Scoresberg

Perpetual Mediocrity
May 28, 2015
10,448
5,407
Earth
Newhook for Fabbro?
Considering Fabbro is in the press-box in Nashville, I’m all for it. Newhook probably ends up in the press-box as well eventually, though.

In all reality we need a true number 1 centre.
That hasn’t come by since 1998, so I’m having a hard time seeing one do anytime soon.
 

Viqsi

"that chick from Ohio"
Oct 5, 2007
55,579
35,036
40N 83W (approx)
With Stutzle/Pinto/Greig, Ottawa might be convinced to part with Norris due to his injury history for defensive help.
You're legit trying to sell that to a team that is still paying Turris and Johansen and Duchene? We've done enough expensive riverboat gambling lately kthx.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barsky

Barsky

Registered User
Jun 22, 2010
50
5
I like Stamkos but the people who were confused as to why Tampa let him go - this is why. He can’t play C anymore and is basically a power play specialist. 8m is a lot of money for a guy like that. Now they need a 2C.
Love Stammer, but he has never been a great centre, was always meant to be a winger imo. Trotz is getting what he deserves for trying to patch a team together with UFA's, as much as I like him too. Yzerman has made the same dumb, impatient mistake
 

A1LeafNation

Good, is simply not good enough!
Oct 17, 2010
27,777
17,890
Why don't they just try Novak at 1C first.

Forsberg Novak Marchessault
Stamkos O'Reilly Evangelista
 
Aug 14, 2011
3,750
917
Considering Fabbro is in the press-box in Nashville, I’m all for it. Newhook probably ends up in the press-box as well eventually, though.


That hasn’t come by since 1998, so I’m having a hard time seeing one do anytime soon.
“Since” 98? We never had one then haha

But yeah my friend, brutal… we really need that number 1 centre one day…
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scoresberg

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad