Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Last pick 2005 to First line in Predators 2009


He was the longshot of the 2005 draft, the 230th pick off the board, the final selection of the Nashville Predators.
Yet there was Patric Hornqvist on the first line for Monday's meeting with the Oilers. The Swedish winger is blossomimg into a gem for the Preds, who had sent him to the American Hockey League last season so he could polish his game.
He did just that and in his first three games with the Preds he put away two goals and assisted on two others. He has stepped into the vacancy left by J. P. Dumont (concussion) and proven he should remain in the top six when the veteran returns.
"Sometimes you're a late bloomer," said the rookie, "and I got a good opportunity in Sweden the year after my draft year ... It's all about opportunities. When you get the chance, you have to take it."
Since 1969, only eight of the 41 players selected with the final pick have gone on to play at least one NHL game. Of those eight, only three have scored more than four goals.
"I feel more confident now, more comfortable on and off the ice," said Hornqvist, who broke the Sweden Elite League record for goals scored by a junior (23) in 2006-07. The record had belonged to Peter Forsberg.
"Last year I learned what I needed to do to be in the NHL. I saw how fast the game was and made the adjustments. I feel stronger and faster on my skates."
"The game has slowed down for him," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz.
"That's the biggest thing with young players. The game quickens so much that when they do have time and space they don't realize it--and when they don't have it, they don't realize it either, so they tend to lose their confidence.
"When it does slow down, they can use their vision, their skills, all the things that made them good players. If he doesn't score now, he's creating a chance for somebody else. He goes to the hard areas, battles for pucks."
Chorney moves in
Sheldon Souray was moved to the injured reserve list, opening up a spot for Taylor Chorney.
The rookie defenceman was recalled from the Springfield Falcons to round out the blue-line. Not only is Souray out with a concussion, but Steve Staios has a few lingering symptoms from the knock to the head that kept him out of Thursday's game against Calgary.
He was scratched again on Monday.
"(Staios) still has some fuzz going, on so we want to be cautious," Oilers coach Pat Quinn said, "and we liked (Chorney) at camp. He's a real prospect for this team."
Chorney did have a strong camp, but didn't have a shot at making the team with the depth the Oilers had on the blue-line.
"Training camp is different for me than it is for a guy who's played five, 10 years in the league," said Chorney, who flew from Hartford to Nashville on Monday morning, then found hmself playing alongside Ladislav Smid.
"I'm trying to establish myself and camp is important," he said. "Then, if you do get sent down, you're still on the radar screen."
small world for coaches
It was Edmonton assistant Wayne Fleming who saw to it that Barry Trotz would be bitten by the coaching bug.
Back in his playing days, Trotz, the long-serving Predators bench boss, was a student of Fleming's at the University of Manitoba.
When a broken back put an end to Trotz's playing career, Fleming asked if he wanted to stay on.
"For the rest of the year, I pushed pucks and listened and put my two cents in whenever he asked," said Trotz. "I got the coaching bug back then."
The ties don't end there. Every summer, Trotz joins the crowd at a golf tournament in Kamloops that Tom Renney helps organize.
Doubling up in net
Tandem 'tending has become a tradition in Nashville where this season's goaltending duo, Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis, had the NHL's second-lowest goals against average prior to the arrival of the Oilers. The two were 1.67 and had not given up a first-period goal.
Rinne, a tidy 3-0 against the Oilers last season, got the start on Monday and was rung up for four first-period tallies.
Ellis will get the next two games.
"I wanted to take the indecision away from them. It clears the air," said Trotz.
"You get focused on being the best you can be for two games and the other guy does the same.
"I see no reason not to do it. In this situation, both goaltenders are going to be in ... (and) if you can't get games and wins from your second goaltender, you're not going to make the playoffs. It's plain and simple. There's too much at stake and too little wiggle room when it comes to getting in (to the top eight) in this conference."
Welcome to the big time
Colin Wilson made his NHL debut on Monday for Nashville. The rookie is following in the footsteps of his father Carey Wilson, whose career spanned 12 seasons.
The younger Wilson turns 20 next week.
"He's a mountain of a man, so I think he'll be fine," said Trotz.
The Predators made the Boston University standout their first pick in the 2008 draft. His NHL debut had been postponed because of a strained groin.

Lidstrom almost there


Nicklas Lidstrom already has enough individual NHL awards, Stanley Cup rings and international hockey accomplishments to fill a wall-sized trophy case.He's just two point away from adding something unique to his collection.Lidstrom enters Detroit's visit to Buffalo on Tuesday night with 998 points -- two short of becoming the first European-born defenseman to reach 1,000 for his career.The 18-year NHL veteran is currently eighth on the list of all-time NHL defensive scorers, trailing only Ray Bourque (1,579), Paul Coffey (1,531), Al MacInnis (1,274), Phil Housley (1,232), Larry Murphy (1,216), Denis Potvin (1,052) and Brian Leetch (1,028). He'll be the 74th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

Now im going back to my Xbox360, i need an hour more to play NHL10! Hockey all the way baby!


Friday, October 9, 2009

Avalance@Predators 8/10-09 Sommet Center

Colorado @ Nashville 2-3


Patric Hornqvist scored two goals 2:17 seconds apart in the third quarter as the Nashville Predators rose to a 3-2 victory in the home opener in front of just under 15k fans. The Predators had 37 shots on goal and Dan Ellis made 22 stops on 24 Avalanche shots in the victory. Jason Arnott also had a goal and an assist for Nashville, which is now undefeated after two games. Just before the late comeback, officials
waved off an apparent goal by Jason Arnott,
saying that he kicked the puck in.

Highlights from the game:

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Good morning

Good morning! I begin by telling you that the Predators have acquired Dave Scatchard in a 1 year, two-way contract. I do not know much about the player except that he played in Boston in reaching years. The guy is 33 years and played in Milwaukee Admirals season 07-08. He has had a long NHL career and hopefully he will play a major role in the Predators.

Last night was the two games between the Penguins-Coyotes, and between the Canadiens and Canucks. Coyotes took a surprising victory over the Penguins 3-0. Canucks won big against the Canadiens 7-1. Henrik Sedin scored twice for the Canucks who are probably happy with the victory.

I saw an article about Hörnqvist. It was about Hörnqvist journey from being drafted last in the entire draft 2005 until now he has got himself a regular place in the Predators. Read the article here:


Ask Patric Hornqvist about his low point last season and he doesn't even blink.

For sure, it was starting the season here and then being sent down," he said.
The Predators forward began last season in Nashville, but was demoted to the minors soon afterwards. He bounced back and forth between Milwaukee and Nashville and was recalled three times.
It's difficult to imagine now. Hornqvist had a stellar 2009-10 preseason camp and followed it up with an assist at Dallas during the Predators regular-season opener at Dallas on Saturday. Nashville won 3-2 in a shootout.
"Patric has been one of the most consistent forwards right through training camp," Coach Barry Trotz said. "He goes to those hard areas and does the hard work that you need to do. And he has his scoring touch back a little bit, too. All those things combined, I think he's playing well."
It's difficult for Hornqvist, 22, to look back to last season but he forces himself to remember. He said the up-and-down journey reminds him of what must be done if he wants to stay in Nashville.
"I think he got surprised by how much it ramps up from the preseason to the regular season," Trotz said. "He started doubting himself."
Added Hornqvist: "It was a tough time getting sent down. I knew I needed to show the guys I wanted to be back. I worked through it all last year. It was big for me to learn how everything works."
Instead of sulking, Hornqvist spent the offeason finding ways to better his game. Knowing he had to improve his skating, Hornqvist worked with a skating coach involved with the Finland Olympic Team. Over a two-month period, he endured six grueling workouts that helped him improve everything from smoothness to maintaining control while jumping.
"It was pretty intense, but I feel like a stronger and better skater," said Hornqvist, who hails from Sweden. "Maybe that's not the main reason I'm more confident, but I do feel better."
Hornqvist is accustomed to overcoming odds. Nashville selected him with the final pick in the 2005
NHL Entry Draft. It came in the seventh round and the pick was No. 230. To put into perspective how difficult it is to go from there to the NHL, consider this: only nine players in history were taken with the final pick and made it to the NHL.
Still, despite his stronger-than-usual will to succeed — including the recent skating training and offseason conditioning — Hornqvist points to one reason for his recent sustained success: the experience that comes with playing in the NHL.
"Confidence is the biggest thing," he said. "And hopefully people will see that on the ice."

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

New season, More fans!

Fans consumed NHL hockey in record numbers during In the first five days of the 2009-10 regular season as the National Hockey League roared back into action, building off the strong momentum it built during the 2008-09 regular season and 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the season less than a week old, more than 420,000 fans have already attended NHL games. Through the first 25 games this season arenas continued to be filled. Of the 21 games played in North America, 19 were sellouts.

Of the teams who have played in North America, 17 have posted attendance numbers above or even with the comparable number of games from last season, while eight teams have yet to play their home opener.

More than 250,000 fans attended NHL games on Saturday alone, as the League played 15 games in 15 cities in four countries on two continents. NHL teams played to 99 percent capacity during opening weekend.

Ovechkin and Backstrom show.

Ovechkin and Backstroms first games this season has been very good. Backstrom is leading the assist league while Ovechkin has done most points so far in NHL. Is Backstrom the new Peter Forsberg? I think he is, He is young and play with the best player in the world and they play very good together.

A rumour says that Forsberg is interest to play in Capitals. When i asked Forsberg last week about hes future and Capitals interest he answered:

'' I want to play another season in NHL if my foot allow me to. I like Backstrom and played with him in a All-star game in denmark this summer. Capitals is one of the top options for me but nothing is done yet. ''

This is very good i think! can you guys dream about a line with Ovechkin, Backstrom, Forsberg!
Oh my god!

I really hope that Forsberg is going to Capitals!

Dont forget to vote in my new poll this week.!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

My interview with Patrik Berglund after the second NHL-game in Sweden

what did you think when you scored?
I got the puck from someone and i didnt find someonde to pass. So i tried to shoot and the puck went in, i think it was a easy first goal for me this season.

Did you expect to win both games this week against Red wings?
Yes ofcourse, you cant play if you dont think you can win. They are not unbeatable and that is what we proved this weekend.

How was it to play in sweden?
It is a big dream to play in NHL but play a NHL game in sweden was for me a very big dream that was coming true.

Last question: Can we see you in the Olympics in February?
Well see, i hope Bengt-Åle ( Swe Manager/Coach ) wants me in the roster but i got to prove him that i deserve that place.



Thats was my interview with Patrik Berglund ( St.Louis Blues ) / Pontus