Confessions of a Predators Fanatic

Can we get some new sheets???

2011-02-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

Because the Preds totally shit the bed last night and I got a great view of it from 3 rows back. That's the last time I pay extra to be close to the action at home.

What's done is done, we'll move on, hopefully to bounce back to the hard working, winning Predators against Detroit tomorrow.

In 2 weeks, I'll be in Columbus. :) Pretty excited since I didn't think a trip would be possible with buying the house but it's cheap enough and it should be a good time.

Anyways, I've been inspired by one of Aubrey's old meme's she used to do (not any of them specifically, just in the spirit). Don't ask what I've been smoking, I'm bored and currently have access to YouTube and decided to blog... whether it makes since or not.... So... My sister has recently moved in with me and has started going to games as my seat mate. The music we listen to together is far different than what we listen to separately (I'm a little country, she's a little punk), and I wanted to share some of our "get pumped for games music" that aren't your typical "Enter Sandman" or "Ladies and Gentleman". We're 80's babies that grew up on boy bands, Britney Spears, and very inappropriate rap music, we like what we like.

and if you take lyrics from each of them, I kind of envision a locker room speech scene similar to the one from Miracle...

"Tonight we're going hard, just like the world is ours, because we're stronger than yesterday and now it's nothing but our way... and if you don't believe you don't succeed and if you don't apply, you won't achieve and we're gonna shine..we're gonna make it, ain't nothing to it, we'll take it because on a 1-10, we're a certified 20. So raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways, all my underdogs, we will never be anything but loud and nitty gritty. So let's say a prayer, and let the good times roll"

... or maybe it's more like Space Jam or High School Musical...

Our top 6 songs, couldn't chose just 5 like I wanted to. :)

1. "Stronger"- Britney Spears

2. "Yeah!"- Usher

3. "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"- Fall Out Boy

4. "I'mma Shine"- YoungBloodz

5. "We R Who We R"- Ke$ha

6. "Raise Your Glass"- P!nk

and I just keep going back for more...

2010-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Let's set the scene: I wake up really excited because it's game day. I take a shower, spend more time on my hair than I should, put on make up, go back and forth on what jersey/shirt/pants/shoes combination I should wear. I grab the (to this point) lucky hockey silly bands. Get in the car, jam to the lucky cd, and drive to my forever always happy place. I sit and watch warm ups, hopeful that it will end up being one of those games to remember. Wilson steals the puck away and beats Lundqvist, the crowd goes insane... Tootoo uses Avery as a human punching bag and again, the crowd goes wild. By the end of the first period, I'm a happy girl. Pins and needles and freaking out for the next 37 minutes and then the Preds give us a big old "Syke!", "We fooled you!" and we lose in a shoot out. I disappointingly drag myself downstairs to the after show and half ass clap for Belak while Willy and Tom seem far less upset than they should be and then freeze my ass off walking back over the bridge to my free parking.

That's been more or less every other game with a few changes like who scores or fights. I get so irritated and frustrated with this team but then I turn around and get excited for the next game. I'm so tired of being let down but would rather be let down than not have a team.

It also really sucks that we are selling out games and have started this season with a really good shot at having really good attendance all year but have to deal with stinkers on the ice.

I was/am so hopeful that this team was going to be a force and I think with all the parts working, we still are but injuries have just killed us this year. Not that that's any excuse but when Suter and Legwand and Goc were all still healthy, this team looked pretty damn good.

I'm not ready to give up on the season just yet but we have got to get something going and soon if we're going to have a shot. Suter and Weber need to return to form and I want to see the Erat that earned his outlandish contract on that ice. Trotz needs to let off of Dumont and just let him play and Sully needs to start scoring again. When everything is perfect, we're unstoppable, time to get perfect guys.

Can I haz Studs back plz???? >:(

2010-11-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know, the first word that pops up when you type "Suter" on T-9 is "Studs"... highly appropriate.

I've been left alone at work and haven't blogged since the season started and it's not much but while I'm sitting here all lonely, looking outside to the gray cold sky that I consider the perfect day, I figured I'd rant about him being out)

Sooo... according to the fishwrap, Suter will miss another week of games by not making the western coast trip with the team. *sob* I wish they would come out and say what's wrong so I'd stop getting my hopes up that he'll return sooner than later but I completely understand their reasoning. I mean, I'd probably go crazy fangirl on someone if they took a run at whatever was specifically wrong with him. I'm also not wanting him to rush back and try to play when he's not 100% but I REALLY wish he'd get better soon. Work has been frustrating and we play better with him and when we play better, we have a better shot at winning, and when we win, I forget about how crappy things have been.

Mr. Lombardi, the new boy that I love that has only played 3 games for us, is also still hurt. :'''( I'm more worried about him than Sutes. He's not doing anything, he's pretty much on bed rest, which is making me crazy nervous because you don't play around with concussions. At this point, I just want him to eventually be back to normal.

BTW, Cory Sarich, F YOU! Dirty hit or not, you proved during that game that you're a dirty player.

A: Someone who elbows people in the face.

Q: Who is Cory Sarich?

Because I have to...

2010-09-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

I went to training camp on Satuday and then again for the scrimmage today, I'm not going to give opinions on anything because honestly I spent the majority of the time catching up with friends and just being glad that I was surrounded by my happy for the first time since April. The only moment that may be of interest was when a lady came up to me to say "Go Badgers" since I was wearing my Wisconsin hoodie... I later found out that it was Geoffion's mom. Pretty cool, glad I didn't say the only reasons for owning it were Suter and her son...

Anyways, I wouldn't be a good fangirl if I didn't post about Suter being named one of the alternates this year. I'm mega excited about this and will be very proudly selling Italian ice at the next couple of MTSU games to afford personalizing my blank third jersey, complete with the "A". I found out in passing so no happy dance or *squee* happened but we are turning our chocolate chip bar cookies into a celebration "cake" complete with a giant "A" on the top with icing. :-)

The long evil summer is almost over and hopefully work will become more bearable for everyone since the days aren't separated by endless weeks of no hockey.

Next Saturday, me and my little sister are taking our Predators lawn gnome on a "staycation" in Nashville. I'll post the pictures Sunday, it's going to be a blast. The main mission is to make it look like he's standing on top of the batman building, if not, we've still got tons of other locations he's going to go see.

I NEED HOCKEY!!!! fiasodjathafjadtjalgj

2010-08-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's me at the moment. My Preds fan recruit/work bff abandoned me and now I'm stuck with people who not only don't know hockey but for some reason think it's stupid. Excuse me while I respond, "you, work people, are stupid". Especially since the only sport they know is NASCAR, which I won't knock because my Ryan Suter of racing is Kasey Kahne and I love everything about him, but come on. Really? Hockey is a bagillion times better than NASCAR if you compare the two which should be a crime punishable by public slapshot.

Anyways, not that that's of any real importance but I desperately need hockey season to start back again.

I need to yell at people. Honest to goodness, make sure no kids are around before ripping someone like Nash or Kunitz or Hossa a new one, yelling. Yelling for no other reason but because you hate someones face or because you feel that that name goes with that insult. Yeah, yeah, I'm probably the only one to have ever yelled for Getzlaf to fix his face or that Armstrong is nothing without Crosby (I actually felt bad for that one after the fact) but it needed to be yelled. I soooo can't wait for another 41+ games to get even more creative.

I need that sudden euphoria of us scoring a goal, which, I must say, there's not anything that I equate a hockey goal to in sports. It's so fast and unexpected and there are times when you don't even know that you've scored until you see some bright eyed kid freaking out around the net ( ♥ Hornqvist) and then the crowd goes crazy and you hug or high five the people around you because they're your hockey family. I sing "I Like It, I Love It", Preds' style every time I sing it but having the whole barn chant it... there's nothing like it.

I need the fights. The "kick his ass!", bloodied nose, jersey's ripped to shreds, fights. The only reason that I willingly unleash my inner redneck is for a hockey fight and it doesn't matter if you're watching a game in good ole' Tennessee or Toronto, everyone lets out a little redneck when a fight breaks out. Don't even pretend you don't.

I need friend time at the glass before each game. I need the walks back to the car after it's over. I need reasons to go downtown or to haul ass after work to catch a Blackstone hockey night. I need there to be something on tv worth watching even if your team isn't playing that night (hello, NHL network/Versus).

I need all of it. I wish I only wanted it at this point but I'm losing it. Last week, I made a paper chain countdown to Opening Night (capitalized because it should be a holiday) and I'm probably making a calendar tonight of all the games. I've watched old recorded to dvd games repeatedly and I more or less refresh hfboards or the Predators site looking for news on us signing Horny or Franson.

September 18th can't come soon enough!

(I am also well aware of the complete and total run-on sentences this contains.)

Fret not you 7ish people who read this...

2010-07-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yet again, I have not died, I am buying a house though and that stress has eaten up all of my time to blog. I did promise myself that I was going to take a break from all of it to go to the Skate of the Union and rookie camp this weekend.

Random thoughts on what the Preds have done this off season.

Austin Watson. American born forward. You had brownie points before you were even named ours. I'm really excited about Poile drafing these big bodied forwards recently.
Beef has been re-signed. This guy embodies Preds hockey. Love that he's back.
MATT LOMBARDI IS A PRED!!! So, if you didn't know, I have LOVED Mr. Lombardi since I started watching hockey. He was my first "non-Pred" favorite and just knew there was no way he'd be one of my boys. ever. but Poile is a giant rockstar and proved me wrong. Welcome to Smashville, Matt. :-)
We signed S. Kostitsyn. (I somehow managed to spell that correctly before checking myself. Yay me!) I'm really excited about this. Yes, he's a primadona that, after last season, needs to get himself in check, BUT he's cheap enough that if he pulls that stunt with us, we can bench his arse. Hopefully everything will be butterflies and rainbows surrounding him and it'll be a magical thing watching him score. Lots.
Weber is captain. Meh. I'll leave it at that. I'll probably be blasted otherwise since it's very clear I'm in the minority.

Anyways, rookie camp is ending today with a scrimmage. I only got to go to yesterdays session but I have 2 observations. Ryan Ellis, as short as he is, is going to be awesome. He's hungry for it and he's good. Geoffrion is my newest favorite outside of the obvious favorite. I have followed hockey career since I got hooked and just love his story. He is also one of the nicest, humbled, grateful players I've met. Can't wait for him to make the big time so I can get that #5 jersey.

On a bitter note, Dan Hamhuis can suck it... and that's me being nice and not using the 4 letter words I let off when I heard his jab at Nashville. I hope the Canadian media is brutal when he turns over the puck the elventy billion times he's going to do it. And to think I wanted us to keep him.

I bleed blue!

2010-05-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

Like for realz. I got a tattoo over the weekend and its blue and awesome and allowed me to bleed blue for a day or so. Exciting! I'm a rebel, I know.

Every team I have publicly supported these playoffs has failed, therefore, I'm not stating which team I want to win. *coughdiehossadiecough* Nope. Sure won't.

I've been looking up Pred stuff on ebay. I don't have the money for it and I really don't need it, but it passes the time.... unfortunately I don't have the self control to not buy cards that are less than a $1.00. You all know whose cards I'm buying too. I will frame them and hang them as my living room art. That's the only way I can really justify what I'm doing. Did you know that they made a Suter/Chelios card? It's awesome and a couple of bffs bought it for me for my birthday. Really wish they would make a set of Team USA cards from this past Olympics. I'd buy that up in a heartbeat.

Not much is going on in Pred land. We've signed some draft picks to ELCs but have yet to do anything about signing Horny or Fruit Cup or Beef or Hammersuxtradehim. Having even one under contract right now would be comforting but then I remember that it was mid-June before Suter signed his and even later with Weber the year they were both RFAs.

Also, *news flash*, totally meeting Tim McGraw and totally getting him to sign a Predators puck.

Hossa is a douchecanoe.

2010-04-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

Me not posting has had nothing to do with my silly superstitions. The week after the Olympics, I tripped over my computer cord at home and ripped it out of the wall causing all the prongs to bend and the fat one at the bottom to split in half. I could probably afford another one but I'm attempting to wing myself from my internet addiction. Add this lack of time on the web at home to actually having enough work to work at work and that leaves very few minutes to goof off.

My boys lost. I cried in front of my roommate, who I think was genuinely concerned when he left me sitting in my seat alone. Not sad that we lost but that another season has come and gone. 5 months without sitting in my seat with my hockey family. 5 months without my happiest of happy places. 5 months of no real excuses to drive to my city multiple times a week. We've got the draft and rookie camp and free agency to look forward to. Then the schedule where I can determine if driving to Buffalo is doable or not and finally training camp. How I love training camp.

I have a new hatred for Chicago, in fact, I'm cheering for the slimeball Canucks in that series.. or maybe for the roof to cave in... that would be nice. Hossa is "Ass Oh" spelled backwards. Maybe his name should be Elohssa, that makes since to me. I hate him and hope that he's cursed the Blackhawks for however many years they signed him to. Can't believe I'm typing this but I would love a Sharks vs Bruins final. I hate the Sharks but to be fair, I hate everyone out of the west that's left and Jed and Scooter are Sharks and I can't hate them.

I'll probably half follow the rest of the playoffs. I watched the Washington Faliures last night and while I enjoyed seeing them lose (that's for you Mike Green), I wasn't as in to it as I usually would be. I think I'm still jaded by our loss.

Anyway, for the few people that actually read this, I'll be around. Go Preds!

zomg!!!!

2010-03-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

DID LAST NIGHT REALLY HAPPEN????????

Ugh. What is with shitting the bed against the Sharks? They play well, carry the flow of the game, and then blow out in the third. Take some pepto bismol and man up!*

*and at this moment, 8:18am while watching the rain fall, I channeled Ferris Bueller again...

F: = Ferris C: = Cameron

F:"Cameron babe! What's happening?" C:"...very little..." F:"how do you feel?" C:"...Shredded..." F:"is your mother in the room?" C:"...she's in Ducater, unfortunantly she's not staying...where are you?" F:"I'm taking the day off, now come on over here and pick me up." C:"I can't stupid, I'm sick." F:"That's all in your head." C:"I feel like complete shit ferris I can't go anywhere".....C:"Do you KNOW what my diastolic is?!" F:"Be a man! Take some pepto-bismol, get dressed and come on over here, I'm tired of this stuff!"

Wow, that makes me feel better. btw, Suter was a -6 and Shea ws a -5.... while we're soaking that in, someone punch me in the face.

It didn't help that it all happened in the 3rd... during a west coast game... that kept me up until midnight... only to ~~dream~~ NIGHTMARE about it for the next 6 hours!

Hopefully that was a wake up call to the boys. That it takes more than just heart and more than just playing well... it takes heart AND playing well at the same freaking time for 60 minutes at a time! They've shown they can play with them, they just need to stay with them.

*sigh* I was pissed last night. Now, I'm kind of jaded about the game and more irritated about who I had to watch the game with.

~note to non-hockey peeps: laughing at a blown lead by someone's favorite team who takes it far more seriously than you could ever imagine can and will eventually result in verbal or physical injury to you. kthxbai.

:-(

2010-02-28T18:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it's over. The greatest thing to happen every 2 years is over. I'm really bummed out that such a great Olympics had to end on such a sour note.

Sidney Crosby. I freaking hate you. Surprisingly, you were only 3rd on my "Canadians not to score the GWG list". I discovered during these past couple of weeks how many Canadian players I actually hate. Look at the list of 23 and I don't like a single one.

I'm happy that my boys got the silver medal. Nobody but themselves and die hard homers gave them any shot at getting a medal, let alone going undefeated until the final game.

I swear they just took all my favorite players and put them in the same jersey and called it a team. It was awesome getting to outright cheer for the likes of Backes and Bobby Ryan while getting to see more of Parise, Malone, and Miller. I have a new renewed love for Kesler too.

Suter played lights out and balls to the wall this entire tournament. I'm glad that the hockey watching world got to see how great he really is and it's not all because Weber is playing beside him.

It was a great run. I'm not as sad that they lost (though it still hurts) but I'm really sad that it's over.

I can't handle this

2010-02-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

I'm upset about the loss but I'm so in awe of how hard they had to try to lose that I can't bring myself to waste the energy being my normal pissed off self. I'm honestly depressed. Depressed at the 180 this team has taken.

What's with the (un)timely penalties? You used to have the least amount in the league. You don't have to make up for those. It was a good thing. Your "resiliency" is gone too. Find it. asap.

Dear Trotz, wtf's up with cutting Suter's PP and PK time? PP, I can understand but yeah, sure, it's a great idea to cut your best defensive D-man from the penalty kill. I completely understand. NOT.

I'm so socially, emotionally, and financially invested in this team that I will be crushed if they don't make the playoffs. It won't be an "oh well, extra money" reaction. I'm libel to hurt someone and that's not a joke.

Opening ceremonies in 2 1/2 days. Still no jersey. Can't wait for a different distraction from work, the one I have currently isn't working out.

I also feel it's worth noting that Jeff Carter is just as nasty as the entire Flyers organization. He, Mike Richards, and the rest of the team are nothing but trash. I'm actually fearful of what shit they might pull when we play them. A hit may technically be "legal" but that doesn't make it necessary or clean. Have some respect, fucking douche bags.

Are you kidding me?!

2010-01-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

Ok hockey gods, you have gone well beyond the appropriate punishment for my lapse in judgment. Cut it out.

Friday night's game was crap. We took 42 1/2 penalties. Belak "fought". Sully "fought". Suter's first goal in 41 games was waived off with a bull shit call. I yelled. I cursed. I cried (combination of frustrations, promise).

I'm ready for a win again.

Also found this which is nice.

Olympics start in 19 days. I'll be welcoming them with open arms. Go USA!

Forgive me hockey gods, I have sinned...

2010-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

After losing to Toronto on Monday, I thought that maybe it was just our boys coming out flat and not being prepared for the game against an obviously lesser opponent but then we lost to the Phoenix Cody's last night, I think a confession is in order.

Hockey gods, please forgive me for flirting with that Red Wings fan on Monday and Thursday. It should have been at most a one time thing... shoot, it shouldn't have happened at all but for it to happen twice? I should go to the box and feel shame forever. I can promise you that I will never flirt, see, or speak to him again. Well, if he wrecks his car I will see and have to speak to him but no flirting. He wasn't even my type past the "Nightmare Before Christmas" pendant and the baby blue eyes. He wasn't at all nerdy or goobery enough to be someone I would look at twice and he wasn't beautiful beyond reason like my hockey boyfriends.

Please let the Preds get back on track. Two games is punishment enough for two lapses in judgment. I know and fully intend on practicing this mantra should the occasion ever occur....

Sorry.

On a side note, I somehow was able to order a USA olympic Suter jersey even though they weren't listed and were "sold-out". My friend Wendy ordered the one I wanted that wasn't available the next day so we're going to swap! Can't wait for it to get here... :-)

Having to keep your composure sucks...

2010-01-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

While I'm sitting here, eating the first meal of many of the chicken pot pie I made for dinner, I figured I'd write something. Chicken pot pie may cost more than rice but I'm getting 5 meals out of it easily. Ordering my jersey Friday...

Today Team USA announced their captain and alternates. Ryan Suter was named as one of those said alternates. Squee much? Sadly, at work, I couldn't. I'm pretty sure I told everyone I talked to from 2:00pm on but it's not the same as the kangaroo dance that I was doing all day inside. I cranked our tv loudly and cooked and danced around alone to make up for it. Have I mentioned that I'm excited about this? btw, I thought this interview was awesome.

Tonight the puck doesn't drop until 9:30. Besides hating Vancouver for pretty much everything associated with the team, I hate the city for being so far west. I need sleep. I pray that they make my exhaustion worth it.

Our post Christmas/pre New Years trip was amazing. 3 out of the 4 games we went to ended with the good guys getting the win. I don't have the patience to type out a long recap right now.

Things of possible interest....

Drunk Chicago fans like to call you a bitch and flip you off when they score, Blues fans don't take kindly to "Let's Go Predators" chants after they've lost yet another home game, Wisconsin is pretty much the best place in the entire world, and it's even more fun to beat the Blow Jackets in the last 7 minutes in their own barn... especially when they think they've got you beat the whole game just to watch it get ripped away from them. The ride up to Chicago is boring but doable. The route our GPS took us through the back roads of Wisconsin to STL were pretty for a Sunday drive with nowhere to be, not so much when we had a game to get to. The drive from STL to CLB was the worst of the trip. It's difficult to find words to speak when you unexpectedly get on an elevator with David Legwand (though, for the record, being him was probably the least awkward of everyone it could have been). Don't talk to people at a bar if you don't want them to buy you drinks. Don't say embarrassingly crazy things when you end up talking to the bar people anyway... especially when that person has already told you that he writes for a paper in Tennessee. Apologize to your friends a lot when you wake up where you're supposed to be after not remembering how you got there.

RYAN SUTER IS GOING TO BE AN OLYMPIAN!!!

2010-01-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

Imagine that the all caps title represents me being freaking STOKED! I don't know if stoked is the right word or not... excited beyond belief? so encompassed with fangirl-y joy? omg! it actually happened?

I found out in the car after listening to the Winter Classic while driving/riding through Kentucky for what seemed like a billion hours. Getting the news in the car only brought about a sigh of relief... I didn't get a feel for how excited I was until I got to my parents house to watch the unveiling on tivo. I'm sure it sounded like a mixture of *squee*awe*yay!!* I didn't even yell at the tv for getting his name wrong until I backed it up a second time. (By the way, it's SuTer. With one "T". Not SuTTer. I get how the Boston announcer guy could be mistaken. There's hundreds of that other name in hockey and it makes since that they would make Olympic teams and such but wrong hockey family this time amigo.)

The way they announced the team was so adorable. They almost had me wanting a little hockey playing baby! (almost) I would have liked a little more background on the players, and the suspense wasn't quite the way it was with Team Canada's 51 Hour Variety Special that was on NHL Network, but it fit. It fit how not flashy our team is going to be and it certainly fit how young we're going to be.
I got chills and wiped away at least one tear when Timmy Thomas skated out in his USA jersey. Can you imagine being Tim Thomas that day? Find out you're going to be apart of the Olympics, win the Winter Classic, and then be the sole player to skate out in full uniform during the unveiling? Awesome sauce. I'm really excited about the majority of the other players on the team too. My love for the notpred David Backes was rewarded, along with my love for Bobby Ryan and Ryan Malone and Ryan Miller. Look at all those Ryans! *sigh* As much as I tell them they suck when they play the Preds, I really do like these guys on the nights they play any of the other 29 teams.

Back to Sutes. He was everywhere after the announcement. Radio spots, SportsExtra interview, articles in the paper, articles online, podcasts. Everywhere. I really wish that more people would focus on him as a player instead of him as the son/nephew of Suter. At this point in time, he's the best defender named to the team. That's not just my bias typing, it's a true and fair assessment. I realize that not everyone knows his family legacy with the sport but for me it's getting pretty worn out and I can only imagine how tired he gets of being asked about it.

I've started limiting myself to the absolute essentials. I need to save as much not bill money as possible to afford that jersey. I tried telling myself I don't want it but it's no use. I've looked forward to the day I finally had an excuse to buy one for the past 3 years. It may be "that girl", I may not need it, and I may have to decide between eating food that isn't rice or the jersey but I'll end up choosing the jersey. It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Yay rice!

If work isn't busy tomorrow and the big bosses aren't lurking, I'll try to write something about that little roadtrip we took just before New Year's. Having new owners doesn't make that likely though. Here's hoping I don't have another opportunity to write for awhile!

Hey Sutes! Shoot the puck!

2009-12-04T08:09:00.001-08:00

Dear Ryan Suter,

This is your biggest fan here. I just wanted to say that it would be much appreciated if you'd shoot the puck towards the net more. You can't score a goal if you don't shoot the puck. Gretzky had some famous quote about that and I'm sure you've heard a few times. I just figured I'd mention it to you... you know, get it in your head.

Do you remember what it feels like to score a goal? I'm having trouble remembering how exciting it is. Here's some pictures to help you out, it'll be fun to reminisce...

This was the OT GWG from the day after Thanksgiving game in ATL. Do you see how excited Arny is? Multiply that reaction times about a million and add drunkness and Olympic fountains in the winter and you've got how happy I was. Repeat. Please.

Look, you were even happy about it. Don't lie.

Then there was this beauty... which happens to be my favorite picture and goal EVER. In fact, I don't know if there's been a more perfect moment in my short hockey loving life than this one. Maybe 9 seconds later when Arny took the lead but it's a packaged deal so it still counts. Chicago would be a perfect team to score against tonight. You'll probably have family there... maybe even your fan club that had a shout out on the jumbotron 3 years ago drove down for the match up. (and no, sadly, I'm not a member of the Ryan Suter fan club but if anyone has info on how to join I'd be sure to look into it.) All you gotta do is put the puck on net and I'll gladly accept assists if it means that someone else got your rebound or a redirection. Just please, shoot the puck!

And finally (and I know you've scored more than 3 goals ever, these are just the pics saved to my work computer since photobucket is blocked), there was this goal from the Ottawa game earlier this season... the one that you've not scored a goal since. It was awesome & exciting & everything a good goal should be. Please do it again. If not tonight, could you please work on getting shots on goal? Eventually one will go in.

Biggest fan and love you, mean it,

♥ Kelly

Just a quick check in (hopefully)

2009-12-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

I've not fallen off the face of the planet, just thought I'd make that clear. My superstition won't let me post after a win because I would totally hold myself responsible if we lost... kind of like how I sat lower bowl instead of in my seats and then we lost and for that I'm really, REALLY sorry. It's also kind of tough because work has blocked all the fun internet sites and I've gotten out of the habit of sitting on the web when I do spend time at home.

So our pretty 7 game winning streak ended against the Bluesers Friday *sorrysob* and then we won again *yay* and then we were shut out in a depressing game against the Flamers last night. *doublesob* Tomorrow we play the Wild and then off to back-to-back games against Chicago and then the Wild again. I don't know how the guys do it, I'm tired and I just watch the games!

In that stretch, we beat 3 division rivals (STL, DET, & CLB), the best in the west (SJS) and the beast of the east (NJD) along with the Habs and the Avs. The ~~Sommet Center~~ Nashville Arena(?) was rocking the entire time and it was fun to be around. Every goal was a celebration, every hit was a cause to cheer or curse (depending which team did the hitting), every impossible save was something to literally say "WOW!" over. I hope that tomorrow starts a new streak that lasts longer than 1, 2, 3, ... games. I really need this season with everything that's changed for me recently, it's my one common thread that's keeping life together.

Guess who's favorite player didn't score a single goal during the awesome stretch? Yeah. I am totally a Preds fan first but it gets really old cheering for everyone else when deep in your heart you want to have a reason to cheer for a specific person. It doesn't have to be pretty or a power play goal or a shortie or the game winner or anything special to anyone else but I would like to be the one to kangaroo dance for once this season. :( It'll happen tomorrow because they're on the road and then he won't score again until they're on the road again because I'm me. (though, hopefully it'll be when we're in STL, CHI, or CLB in less than a month!)

The Preds also played their first 2 games in their new 3rd jerseys and they look really nice. So far we're 1-1 with them on... hopefully they'll catch the mojo that the old mustards had and they'll never want to take them off.

Team USA will announce their roster in exactly a month. ♥ ♥ ♥ *fingers crossed*

Dear Preds, can you give me my heart back?

2009-11-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

This used to scare the beejeezus out of me when I was little but that's the only way I can describe what happened in the final minute of the game last night.

I don't know who did the heart ripping. Was it the Preds overall? (minus Hornqvist because he's not capable of such a thing, he just says "fuck" a lot and bad talks goalie mama's) Was it Dan Ellis? Was it Dan Hamhuis? Was it Dan Boyle? Was it all the Dan's on the ice as a group? Was it the Sharks? Was it my own homerism slapping me in the face for thinking there was a glimmer of a chance that we could win?

I don't know who it was but I know who I want to junk punch. Sorry Dan Ellis but you're Jason Sudeikis in my junk punching fantasy. How could you let in such a soft goal during the final MINUTE of a game we were tied in against THE SHARKS!?!?!?! We've been sucking so hard lately that we deserved to win that game and one soft goal fucked it up!

I wish that our head in butt skating routine that seems to have to appear once per game would have come in the first minute instead of the last. That way, I wouldn't be working on 6 hours of sleep and in a pissed off mood.

This is not one of those "ho-hum", "they were better than us", "at least we tried", moral victories. This loss hurt more than the ass raping that the Oilers handed us. On top of that, the Blues stuck it to Vancouver last night and now we're last in the Central.

You owe me 3 hours of sleep and a box of tissues for last night. I'm attempting to acquire a taste for beer tomorrow night. Don't give me a reason to turn alchy. I apologize for my cursing but those are just a small fraction of what was said last night. Why do you do this to me?

Edit: I've read the article in the Tennessean. I really want to feel bad for being uber pissed at Ellis and eventually I might but right now I don't know if I can forgive so quickly. arg.

Stupid Superstitions

2009-11-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

So, there's a reason I didn't write about any of those wins we had. Last year when I started blogging about my life here, I found that every time I wrote about an awesome game or win we would undoubtedly lose the next one or two or [insert depressing losing streak #] so I figured I'd test it out to see how far it would work. Apparently only to 3. I'd like to think that I'd write after our next win but the same way I wear certain clothes or listen to certain music on game day, I don't know if I can force myself to break these stupid superstitions. I think not hearing old school Tim McGraw yesterday was a telling omen from my hockey gods.

I don't want to think or write about last night's loss. I hate the Ducks and Getzbarf deserves to be beat up by Belak and the one Duck that I didn't hate is a diving sack of shit. I'm exhausted from staying up until it was over when I really should have just crashed but I'll be sitting next to the radio Saturday afternoon waiting for more pain. I can't hate them or give up no matter how mad they make me or how crappy they play.

We had some great, entertaining games over the past couple of weeks. They were certainly attractive and gave us plenty of reasons to kangaroo dance both at home and in the stands. They showed that they're capable of playing shutdown defensive hockey and when everything falls into the right place, they can score some goals too... not just against crappy teams either, we shut out Chicago for crying out loud!

Oh yeah, Smithson somehow gathered every offensive thread in his entire body and created this beauty...

Seriously!?! You're capable of that!? Repeat. Please.

Right now the injury bug is biting the crap out of us. We just got Arny and Toots back and down go Shea, Wilson, Erat, and JP. Everyone but Shea is listed as DTD so hopefully they'll be back sooner rather than later. JP was just starting to come into his point whoring self and I personally love watching Wilson skate with Hornqvist and Scatchard. BTW, I freaking love Hornqvist. How could you not? He's got so much heart and determination that I don't know how you couldn't love him and if that's not enough, just look at him. He makes my heart flutter.

Also, a lot of the guys participated in reverse trick-or-treating again this year too. They are awesome.

In case you missed it, Richie Peverley is playing like a super human. I'm so happy for him and his reputation is now that of a Chuck Norris level. Go you, Richie Peverley. If they made your shirt, I'd totally buy one.

WE PICKED 6!

2009-10-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, enough is enough. Our losing streak stops at six! I'm tired of losing and, at this point, I'm tired of trying to find the silver lining in our loses. We could have won that game. We should have won that game. I thought I'd be okay with it since we played seemingly well but I'm not. Stop losing.

Oh and our power play wouldn't be able to score on a naked, passed out, hooker on Dickerson Pk.

**THE SILVER LINING:
~Colin Wilson scores his first NHL goal ever.
~Oh Cody scores his first NHL point ever.
~Not Fiddler didn't make us lose.... though he is still not Fiddler.
~David Legwand's spirit returned to his body after a massive hiatus in nowhereland.

That's all I'm gonna point out. This game wasn't that bad. We didn't get raped and that's a good thing but sooner than later, not getting raped isn't really an achievement.

When life gives you lemons....

2009-10-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite quotes. Don't know who came up with it, I found it on facebook flair.

Someone must be chucking lemons at the Preds with the intent to injure. Our captain (and leading goal scorer), Jason Arnott, is now on IR and is expected to miss 1-2 weeks. Please, someone hold me while I weep uncontrollably (seriously, that would be appreciated). I know never to say that things can't get worse, so I won't, but things are pretty bad at the moment. Dan Hamhuis was out during Saturdays game. Hopefully he and JP will be back to 100% by the time we take on Boston on Wednesday and by 100%, I mean back to the players they were 2 years ago.

Since shitting the bed against Edmonton and Dallas last week, we've faced Chicago and Washington. We didn't get raped in either game so that's a bonus and a sign that we're on our way back to mediocrity... we have to get back to even before we can go up! Hell, we even took a point with us when we left Washington. I don't know about you but me and Jenn flipped out when we scored 2 goals in one game and then held the Caps off during the 2nd and the 3rd. It may not have been a win but it felt like one! Shea Weber scored a goal and hopefully it will be the first of many as did JP... ditto for him. Also, Ryan Suter was on the ice for just shy of half the game with a TOI of 32:14, a full 3 minutes over the next closest player. ♥ ♥ ♥

We might not have all of the parts but if we can get what we do have to work in sync anything can happen. We've done more with less before... we just need our new bunch of guys to show the heart and determination that the last group did and we'll be better than fine. I'd love to blow peoples minds this week. It's about time to show the rest of the league that we don't plan on staying at the bottom. We can do this.

The Preds face Boston and the Sens back to back on Wed & Thur and then play Chicago Saturday night. Don't know about you or the Preds but I'm ready... bring it on!

(***koolaid can be purchased at most middle TN grocery stores)

There are no words for this...

2009-10-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

that are allowed to be said at the Sommet, according to the douche bag behind me. Whatever. Hoohah man and mustache guy have my back on that one. 2 goals in 30 seconds is surely a good enough reason to drop the F bomb with some helpers, especially with how much money I spend there a year.

♪ ♪ I'm an emotional girl, I can't help myself ♪ ♪

I shouldn't cry after a game. Shouldn't is the key word. After the fiasco against Edmonton, I broke down and cried my eyes out on the way home. After the 2 goals in 30 seconds last night, I had to cover my face in my seats because I thought I was going to lose it. I didn't stand up or cheer after Erat's goal trickled in over the goal line. I wasn't satisfied with that being our goal. I wanted the puck to smack against the net in a fashion to say "fuck you! We're not laying down!" but it didn't happen that way. Instead, our 1 goal after 100 minutes without one did nothing but disappoint. It'll get better, I guess in a way it already has. We only lost last night... we didn't get raped in the process. Franson up (oh cody), Guite on waivers, something is being done. We'll see if it has any affect.

I am so unbelievably frustrated with this team. This is why you NEVER, EVER get your hopes up as a Preds fan. They have a way of not just crushing your dreams but slaughtering them beyond recognition in a wood chipper like we're in Fargo, ND. The worst part is, for some unknown reason, I still love this group of misfits. Why? Why do I turn around right after they've ripped out my heart and skated over it with dull skates and say "hey, it could happen"? I must have watched way too much Angel's in the Outfield as a kid. Not even the biggest of homers are feeling that way right now.

Over this roadtrip...
I hope Wilson finds his scoring flare.
I hope our D starts playing like they're our strength.
I hope our emo team finds themselves.
I hope our spark, Jordin Tootoo, gets well enough to play and then plays like he knows its a contract year.

Any sane person would have no hope for us on Saturday. Alex Ovechkin has more offensive fire power in his tiny pinky nail than we have on our entire team. The last time I said that was about Sidney Crosby last year. My title picture is from that night... we came back and beat them 5-3. I'd love to have another "suck it superstar" moment. Doubtful but, in hockey... nothing is impossible.

I just don't wanna talk about it.

2009-10-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

Just an fyi, we sucked hard core tonight. Like, sucking to the point that we lost 6-1 to a team we've literally owned since 2005. The Titans have sucked hard core for the past 5 weeks, welcome to 0-5 Titan fans. The Twins tricked me into thinking a miracle was going to happen and then decided to allow stupid Jeter to rape them. Kasey Khane wrecked yesterday, fixed his car, came back out, and wrecked again... the first time he actually made the chase and he's throwing it away.

I vote that now that we've come full circle in the world of my sports teams sucking, the universe should be nice and allow me to enjoy the remainder of hockey season. I'll gladly sacrifice Kasey's chance at the cup and the Titans' chance at playoffs (bwahahahahahaha) for the Preds to not suck.

We're now 2-2. They better remove the firm grip they have, as well as removing their heads from their asses, before they set skate on the ice in Dallas. Hell, it might be nice for an entire team worth of players to actually show up on the ice.

Dear Wilson,
I really hope you're the second coming of Bobby Ryan. (I'd say someone better but as Preds fans we've learned to be content with less). If not, we're both going to have a long season.

Dear 303,
I know that they've not given us much to cheer for but you could at least try.

Dear FSN,
Thank you for loving Ryan Suter as much as me.

Dear Defense,
Stop sucking.

Dear Offense,
Score some fucking goals.

Dear Goalies,
Stop the damn puck.

Thank you.

"Are You A Horny Fan?"

2009-10-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

lol, I sure am. Hoo-Ah man rocks for that gem. Opening night was last night and my God was it great to be back in that arena for a real game again. I feel like death after the amout of screaming at the ice I did last night, pair that with Britney Spears "Stronger" in the car beforehand and that's a deadly combination for a receptionist. No recap or even mention of who won, just wanted to share pictures. :-)

BIG BUCKET OF FAIL Preds in-house crew!!! His name

is spelled R-Y-A-N S-U-T-E-R,

not S-H-E-A W-E-B-E-R.

hearts.

WARNING! FANGIRLY GUSHING AHEAD...

2009-10-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

I figured I'd warn anyone who gets upset at the sight (or words) of a female loving an athlete as to make the next couple of minutes or so less painful. Okay, click the X now if the above bothers you, though this isn't all about looks.

First of all, I love the Nashville Predators. Not just the team or the players while on the ice, all of them, all the time. It's like I have an elementary school crush on every last one of them. One of the reasons I'm a fanatic of this team is how down to earth and nice all of them are. Anyway, tonight was the annual season ticket holder's Meet the Team Party and I'm thankful to the powers that be that our fan base can handle this type of privilege without turning it into a zoo.

A gushing breakdown of my night.

Table One: We came in the backdoor of the arena and the first table had Suter, Hammer, and the Cube. I'm not gonna lie, I still get nervous when I get the chance to be around Suter or Toots. Those are the 2 guys that I honestly crush on like a nerdy girl crushing on the popular guy in junior high. I'd never say a word to either of them outside of hockey talk or something like that but it's still nerve wracking.We stood in line for all of 5 minutes. Macy got my bobblehead signed and I got the first 3 signatures on the Suter hockey stick I bought a couple months back. He looked good too. He always ends up wearing blue which is a good thing because he looks damn good in it. He asked about the bobblehead and then there was a slightly awkward conversation where I replay it and feel that I was rude even though mom says I didn't come off rude at all. Damn being a ball of nerves! After walking away, I was able to breath again... btw, totally just started singing the Taylor Swift line "Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breath?"

Table Two: Just across the concourse was the Smitty/Erat/Ellis table with a decently short line. I'll spare you my infatuation with Jerred Smithson. Originally Macy wanted me to walk through this one to get the stick signed but right as Smitty smiled and said hi, I was rudely interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. Son of a whore, really? Now!?! After turning to see what was up I was surprised by one of my 2 guy bffs from high school. The one I don't curse his name to this day. Macy went on to get the other two guys autographs while I tried to be nice to someone I hadn't spoken to in over 5 years. Now, apparently I'm not good at reading signals or something because I was later informed that my cute shirt that may or may not have been worn on purpose was enjoyed by this old bff too much. Mom says he checked me out at least 3 times in our short catch up to which I say this, you are now engaged and you turned me down to prom senior year as just a friend and you just picked the least opportune time to do nothing but say hey and stare at my boobs, I don't really want to be friendly right now.

Table Three: The next couple of tables we passed had extremely long lines so we made our way to the Tootoo/Goc line because mom loves Toots and according to her, that line was worth it. I'll agree. It didn't take too long. Jordin Tootoo has got to be one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Sure, he's a pest on the ice but I've never seen him turn a fan away, I've never seen him not talk to someone, and I've never seen him give any fan a reason to not like him. It's no wonder he's a fan favorite. Besides, he's sexy as hell. Everything about him screams sex appeal. I make a point to thank every player after they've signed something for me or taken a photo with me to show that I appreciate what they don't have to do but before I could get out the "thank you, so much" I had prepared he thanked us for coming out and told us to have a wonderful night. Really? You're thanking us? I heart him. I didn't know what to say. This goes back to the whole "jr high crush" thing from table one. So I just smiled and said thank you like an idiot. Story of my life.

Table Four: After a quick stop in the proshop we decided to just follow the flow of the arena to whatever line was next. It ended up being the table with Leggy, Belak, and Guite. While waiting in line, mom thought it would be the perfect time to dare me to ask the next single player for a hug. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! This table had no nerves and went fairly quickly. I love Legwand. He's so laid back and is that normal guy that you could just hang with. and he's totally adorable. At first I didn't care much about seeing Guite but about 10 people back I changed my mind. Holy cow, he is good looking. Think a slight resemblance to Patrick Marleau. His eyelashes were insane and the salt and pepper hair suit him nicely. :-) Mom agrees. Macy was pretty excited about seeing Belak, I think she likes his hair.

Table Five: Next table up was supposed to be Hornqvist, Jonesy, and JP but unfortunately JP was still "resting" from that nasty douchebaggery hit from Stephanie Rodibas. eat shit and die assclown! Mom and Macy decided that now was the best time to take their free coke and pizza break while I stood in line. This should probably be italicized but I don't care, I freaking love Hornqvist. That lispy blonde Swede stole my heart tonight. He was the first and only player that seemed to try to talk to everyone and his accent is literally to die for. I've always liked the guy and the way he talks makes me melt. Add in his arms and shoulders plus his ass in those pants and you've got a winning combination. I laugh because mom walked by and said, "I just saw Hornqvist and see why you like him, he has the face you like" the face I like? Her further explaination was "you know, that good ole American boy look" Knowing full and well he's Swedish. I told my mom I loved her for that. She does know me too well. It should be noted that Jonesey has a wonderful tattoo on his arm and the group of girls in front of me made me seem normal in comparison. Their 4-5 pictures also gave me the time needed to completely fall for Hornqvist from a fangirly stand point.

Table Six: From there we could see the Arnott line and it was absolutely insane and I really wanted to get Colin Wilson's autograph since I didn't have it so we high tailed it to the Pekka, Wilson, Klein table. The line was about as long but was totally worth it. Mom had attempted to go save a place in line for the Arny table when we were about halfway through this one but the evil nazi lady told her it was closed. I just have to say, Kevin Klein is one of the nicest guys I've ever have the pleasure of meeting. He's fantastic with kids and it is so unexpected if you've never talked to him before. Macy wanted to get the stick signed this time so I left her to it. He was totally engaging. KK asked her who's stick it was, kind of poking fun at my expense, and before her answering he followed up with "Suter's?" Quickly, Wilson looks over and says "yep". Outside of Toots and Suter, none of the other players said anything but the generic responses to her. She loved it and replayed the small conversation over and over on the way to the car and back to Nick and Dad when she got home. KK won a place in her heart and mine tonight. Also, Pekka is hot.

Table Seven: After nazi lady told mom the line was closed we headed back to the proshop to get nick a poster. I had promised Mace that we'd walk by Arny's table and snap pics for her and that I'd take her to a radio show or something for her to see him again. As we were walking to the back door, after I stopped to take a pic of Hornqvist too, I noticed nazi lady wasn't there. I told Macy to run get in line fast and SUCCESS! Not 2 people later, the nazi lady came back but we were already in line. Santorelli is adorable and you just wanna hug him and el capitano really is mucho sexy. I mean, hot damn. I'm so excited Macy got to see her man tonight.

So I'm thinking that 7 out of 8 tables wasn't bad. We need 4 more names on the stick but that's doable. I gushed all through dinner about how much I adore these guys. I try to be cool, calm, and collected but being the spazoid I am, I can't pull it off very long which is evident by this blog. Currently working on somehow getting pictures off my phone. Will update if successful.
Blurry but still nice pictures. :)

I'M READY! I'M READY! I'M READY!

2009-10-02T06:39:00.001-07:00

In the immortal words of Spongebob, I'M READY! I'm sitting at work at the moment, desperately trying to get the deposit ready to send to accounting and instead of focusing on rental bills and twenties (no, not that 20) I'm day dreaming about that 20 along with a playoff game from a couple of years ago... you know, the awesome one, the one where we scored 2 goals in 9 seconds and then Radudouche screwed it up for us. (thanks On the Forecheck) I am so beyond ready for Predators hockey. I'm nervous excited for the game Saturday night and then can't freaking wait for next Thursday.

In case you missed it, Sutes and Webs were on the Zone yesterday afternoon and these guys are a riot. I am far too emotionally attached to one of them but emotionally attachedness (if he can make up words, so can I) is something that all of them seem to have me grasped with. If I wasn't busting at the seams waiting for the season to start before, that ride home did me in.

Around the League
Last night started the 09-10 NHL season. We have Versus and hockey in HD is way more amazing than Joe Mauer in HD. Just saying.
Game 1: Ovechkin is a cocky mother effer and also a douche bag. Brooks Laich scored 2 goals just like Ovie, where were his headlines this morning? I was rooting for a hattie for you Brooksie! Mike Green reminds me of a hotdog which is pretty accurate considering he has the personality of one and as my new roommate awesomely stated last night, he has stupid hair. Timmy Thomas dramatically flailed around some but it wasn't enough to stop the Caps. btw, I hate the Caps. All of them. Except Brooksie.
Game 2: Even though he's a Shark, I really feel for Patrick Marleau. His crystal blue eyes didn't deserve to be stripped of the C and then to be totally shunned from even getting an A? Wow. If I were him, I'd be a tad bit bitter and he might be but instead whining about it, he figuratively said "watch this assholes!" and scored both of the Sharks goals last night. Now, don't get me wrong, I ~~hate~~ LOATH the Sharks but they have Jed now and I can't hate him. It hurt a little seeing him in that nasty teal and white jersey though. It doesn't suit him at all.
As for the Avs (and obviously this is all negated as of 10-8), how can you not adore Matt Duchene? He's a bigger fangirl than me! Can you imagine being drafted by your all time favorite team and then getting to play opening night, the same night that Joe Sakic's number retirement? I don't know how he was able to keep his skates firmly on the ice. I'd be on a cloud. JML didn't disappoint... take that as you will. It was nice to see them stick it to the Sharks last night but I'm done being happy for them now. It's time for them to be a basement team for awhile longer.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.

2009-09-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Click HERE for the entire awesome picture. I'm personally loving the marketing this year. The stylized pop art and skated on ice effect is much better than the aqua, orange, and white "It Stays With You" motif of last season. Take a look at the walls above the proshop next time you're there too. I'm a sucker for "celebration" shots and it seems they're using our guys spur of the moment "omg! lets hug!" reactions as a base for the new ads/decore (which is certainly fine by me).

The Nashville Predators sure know how to make this fangirl very happy. Watch the newest Predators Snapshot if this needs further explanation. I may be 1 of maybe 10 #20 jerseys in the entire Sommet but we are rewarded nicely for our fandom. And yes, he totally wins. I feel that I need to give thanks so they know it's appreciated and don't stop doing features on him. So to the Nashville Predators organization, Thank you.

An update from my previous blog, it has been reported that Tim McGraw will, in fact, be back on the jumbotron singing my beloved "I Like It, I Love It". I forgive the in-house crew for their minor lapse of Duck mocking judgement. All I've got to say is, it better not happen again. Do you think they realize there are 80 sharp skates that any one of the crazed fans could go Happy Gilmore on them with? Probably not. Actually, me and the fam are probably the only people there that joke about this. I mean, I guess we're joking.

We're 4 days from the regular season opener. Super ready? Yes. Excited? Yes. Nerve wracking? Hell yes! Will Pekka/Ellis be in elite form? Will Sully be back in time? Will they go against my wishes and ice a rookie 3rd D pairing? How soon before Ward is healed up? When will we finally see Wilson's BAMF-ness? How many people will Jordin kill this year? (figuratively, of course) Will Hornqvist disappear after the preseason? What about Jonesy? I'm so ready for the answers but of course, only if they're the answers I'm looking for.

The weather has turned for the better and a jersey will be appropriate attire once again in just over a week. Good or bad (screw that, good), I'm ready for them to drop the puck dammit!

To Whom It May Concern... (now edited w/ response)

2009-09-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well, that was painful. I don't like to talk about games that we win because it seems like I have a way of jinxing them. I'm not too worried about messing with the mojo at this point though. I have a few requests...

Dear Stella, help Pekka get his groove back. asap.

Dear Sully, please let you not playing be a precautionary measure and be back at better than 100% come October 3rd.

Dear Hammer, promptly remove your head from your butt.

Dear Ice Crew, isn't there anything you can do to make the ice better?

Dear Rookie Defensemen, can you make you being on the ice any less nerve wracking?

Dear Wilson's groin, feel better soon and also eff' you. You'd better hope his chance isn't entirely gone.

Dear Ward's groin, we re-signed him so he could play. Hurry up and get not sore/pulled/whatever.

Along with being frustrated at what was happening on the ice, I was royally pissed at the in-house entertainment crew (or however it's worded). Tim McGraw was nowhere to be found after we scored our 2 goals. I'm livid. Aside from loving Tim McGraw, I absolutely LOATHE the song they replaced it with. We are not the Ducks and thank God for that. The song did not fit the fans that were there. Most people around me looked irritated and if not, they were making fun of the lame-ness acting as if they were kids in a mosh pit. Is that really what comes to mind when you think of Nashville Predators hockey? I'm not saying it needs to stay country (though imo, I love our song. It's original to us and makes the rest of the "traditional" hockey world cringe). I am saying that the song that was played does not personify our fanbase as a whole. A small niche? Maybe but if it's gotta change just make it strictly "Rock and Roll pt 2" by Gary Glitter.

Here is my letter to Mr. Freeman. Hopefully someone reads it and hopefully that someone is the decision maker in this situation. I hate the Ducks, please don't make us mimic them.

Mr. Freeman,

I was unsure who I needed to send this to but assumed that you could get it to the right person.

I am writing in regards to the Nashville Predators goal song/celebration that was changed from our beloved Tim McGraw "I Like It, I Love It"/"Hey Song" mix to a very unoriginal song that I recognize as the Anaheim Ducks goal song during Saturday night's game. My hope is that it was a one time test during the preseason. My fear is that we're going to be forced to follow suit and have to deal with it for the year. I understand if there is some legitimate reason we can't have our Tim McGraw clip anymore. Maybe if it's got to do with rights to the song or something but I beg you (or whoever makes this choice) do not go with the song that was being played Saturday night. The transition to the "Hey Song" did not run smoothly and I would rather us strictly use the "Hey Song" immediately after we score a goal if we must change. That would be closer to our original celebration than anything.

Instead of cheering along and getting the most out of the goal celebrations on Saturday night, I sat down confused, irritated, and upset that I was having to hear a song I have learned to despise over the years. Please reconsider this change and try everything in your power to keep the original "I Like It, I Love It"/"Hey Song" goal celebration. If this was, in fact, a one time ordeal, please disregard this email and thank you for everything you've done for this team and its fans.

Thank you,
Kelly ****(A Nashville Predators fan and 3 year season ticket holder... NOT an Anaheim Ducks fan)

Edit: Here is the response I got from Mr. Freeman this morning. I love having an owner that responds. This is much better than Aubrey's attempt to contact Versus/DirecTV.

I was surprised too. I will be inquiring.

David S. Freeman

In case you missed it...

2009-09-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

a few things happened in Pred-land since I last wrote to Petr Sykora.

There was a drawn out bidding war between us and Toronto for Phil Kessel where we kinda, sorta, almost got him. Seriously, it occupied at least a week of my "wasting time on the internet" time. In the end, we didn't win Kessel but for the $$$ they tossed at him, I think we won in that situation. Apparently, Boston wanted Wilson. Thank goodness Poile knows that Wilson is going to be a total BAMF and told them no-can-do. For me though, it did solidify that we're commited to not sucking and that contact and offers are being made. Unfortunately, (like the Brandy song tells us) almost doesn't count.
The Wild signed Petr. This means we do not love him always. Quite the opposite, actually. I hope he loses and feels extra shame doing so since he'll be dressed up like an elf.
We signed (but now, as of this morning, it's only a PTO) Francis Bouillon. A vet D-man. Some fans are against this but I'm all for it. Hell, I was all for it when they were talking about signing Chelios or even bringing back deVries at a smaller contract. I would have been scared sh*tless if we had opened the season with a 3rd pairing of rookies with no plan B. At least now we have the option to ice a green blueline if we feel comfortable and throw in a vet if we don't.
Edited to get us back on track...
Our team seems to be working as a team. Good job, Sully! We're going to be up against some pretty stacked teams this year. My hope is they don't mesh well. That's what I've got to hold onto at this point. That and the hope that Santorelli kicks it into gear with Leggy and Erat and that Wilson defies the system and impresses with his BAMF-ness making it impossible for him to stay in the minors long (if at all).

Dear....

2009-08-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Petr Sykora,

It would be much appreciated if you would sign here. Now, I know you've probably not gotten a call from David Poile but that doesn't mean we're not interested. We are very much interested. We're like Sam on Sixteen Candles, admiring from afar just knowing that you'd turn us down and don't really want to go through that rejection so we're keeping mum and are going to just smile and walk away every time you catch us staring at you. I can tell you from personal experiences that that is real love.

You've won your Stanley Cup and I really think it would bring up your karma points if you'd try to help us out a bit. We'd even put you in our top 6! You and Marty could teach Leggy cuss words in Czech and then you could all cut up on the ice calling the other teams czech-y douchebags or something like that. You could even play on a line with Marty and Leggy and make obscene gestures at PK when we play the Bluesers, don't even pretend like you wouldn't enjoy that. We're a hard working team that just needs one top six forward to make us work, a missing gear in a very complicated but awesome Rube Goldberg invention.

So please think about it. How often are you the one missing piece from something like that? Look at us, we're almost there. We're young, attractive and are total f**king badasses... who doesn't want to be apart of that? Okay, maybe that was a little conceded and we apologize but we typically claim the underdog/overachieving role and even so, you're kind of the same way. Come on, anyone who calls they're scoring the OT GWG in the Stanley Cup Finals and then does it can't judge us for thinking we're awesome. You gotta believe!

And what we believe is that you'd be a perfect fit here in Nashvegas. Sign on to your twitter and @Sully26 if you have any questions. I'm sure he can hook you up with Poile's blackberry number or email or facebook or twitter or hell, he may still be on myspace...he's old school like that. Point is, if you want to get with Sam, you've got to make the first move. You're going to have to let go of Caroline but that's okay because she's kind of a bitch. The Penguins dumped you and we totally don't mind being the rebound.

Take care and love always (as long as you sign here),
Desperate for Sykora

3 girls, 5 games, 6 days

2009-08-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

MySpace Countdowns

Only 19 days. I can do this. Slow work days aren't helping though. I was going to save this for a blog that I can write at work but maybe it'll reverse the bad business mojo if I have nothing else to do.

Kelsey, Ciara, and I are driving 1700+ miles (per mapquest) and according to Ciara it's going to be EPIC. I have to agree with that. Originally it was me and Ciara trying to convince Kels that she had to go with but in a strange turn of events, it was Kels idea to tack Columbus onto the end... and here I thought I wouldn't see anywhere new this year! Lord only knows what will happen on this trip. It seems that trouble and awkward situations follow us where ever we go and thus the reason I'm banning pre-game walks, after game tired and tipsy walks however, are allowed. I'd like to tag this as the craziest trip we've ever taken but until it starts, that honor still belongs to last years last minute to and from Philly in 3 days trip. We should have licked the liberty bell.
Anyway, our trip.
Saturday: Our journey will start at a home game against Chicago the day after Christmas. Ciara's flying in, here's hoping she's our good luck charm again. :-)
Sunday: The next morning we're getting up and making the trek through the longest state in the nation to watch the Preds take on Chicago from the very top of the United Center.
Monday: Spending the morning (probably hungover) at Navy Pier and then making the short drive up to my favorite place, Wisconsin, to see the Admirals take on the baby Wings.
Tuesday: More hungover driving down to the land of the Bluesers. Puck drops at 7pm. Lower bowl seats. Squee!
Wednesday: Going to the top of the arch and then driving across 4 states to Columbus to (presumably) chill out and have nothing planned. (what's there to do in CLB?)
Thursday: Ring in the New Year with the Preds playing the Blow Jackets... I'm sure we'll find something to do that night.
Friday: The long drive home.

Tickets have been purchased for 2 of the games and I sent funny Ohio flair... no turning back now! Once the season starts, I need to push this trip out of my mind. I really don't want to wish this season away and I don't plan on doing that. Not having much to do has made me super excited when thinking about it. 19 days... just 19 more days. Thank goodness August is almost over, then I'll have other things to occupy my attention.

Why Suter Should Be a US Olympian

2009-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

While work has been UBER slow, I've done two things to keep myself busy... I've been looking up plans for the super awesome trip we're taking in December and I've read anything and everything to do with the USA Olympic Orientation Camp. While many bloggers and fans have Sutes penciled in as a lock to wear the red, white, and blue, he really isn't getting the press he deserves. I understand that people are more excited about Parise, Kessel, Modano, and Kane because they're "superstars" in this league but throw a well written article or blog his way too!

Here are some of my reasons he needs to be decked out in USA gear come February:

At the ripe age of 24, he's played for the US 9 times... 9 times. Every year eligible except his contract year which is a no-no. That is more than anyone else that was on this years World Championship team. If that doesn't show that he's loyal to USA hockey, I don't know what does.
He's underrated and doesn't need attention to play his role. Over the past couple of years, he's grown into a legit #1 quietly and the media is probably still none the wiser.
The above reason doesn't bother him and that in itself is another reason. He could easily be as hyped up as E.J. or J.J. but he's passed that. Instead, he sits back, does an interview for the Tennessean calling his experience "neat", and continues to be awesome. (please find a better word than "neat", you've got a grown up vocabulary use it!)
He's far better defensively than most people know to give him credit for. Every article I've read has him pinned as a great offensive defenseman. Well, the word to describe his defensive game needs to be greater than "great" since he's better in the defensive zone. Some of my favorite plays in my short hockey history belong to him making some insane play on a 2 on 1 to save the day.
He's clutch. Maybe not in the same since of the word you'd use to describe Chris Drury but regardless of if we're up by one, down by one, or tied in the final minutes of a game, you can bet he's on the ice.
To quote David Poile, "he was clearly our best defenseman and he only got better as the tournament went on". This was used to describe him this summer in the worlds. Maybe not verbatim because I'm not that crazy but he was. I watched all but one game and it's the truth, there's no need to be biased.
The USA jerseys look really good on him. :-)

*Notice there is no mention of his family history with the Olympics, he's good enough on his own.

Edited to add a well written blog!
Tennessean article

Being a Preds Fan 101

2009-08-18T11:46:00.001-07:00

First Official Lesson: Who Sucks

Everyone. Everyone sucks. Wings suck. Ovechkin sucks. Pens suck. Crosby sucks. Gretzky sucks. Again, everyone sucks. One game at the Sommet and you'll get this very easily. (well, I guess in Aubrey's case, Crosby and the Pens don't suck but you get the idea. We don't care how "good" you are, you suck.)

Second Official Lesson: Who to Hate

Ay! Oh! Wings Blow!
We hate the Red Wings. It's just a fact. Kelsey loves Zetterdouche and Osgood the fairy and I love, love, LOVE me some Patrick Eaves but they are all hated when it counts. The hate has to do with how dominate they are and because we had so many "Pred Wing" fans in Nashville. It was the original favorite of tons of fans here and we've had a lot of transplants from Detroit to Middle TN with the auto industry moving here. It's been a long transition but we're finally filling the barn with more Preds jerseys than Wings on the nights we play them (this was even the case when I started watching hockey back in the beginning of 07). Our first trip to the playoffs included us being knocked out in the first round by Detroit and then a second exit in 2008. Last year we took the series 4-2 and we kicked their asses in an 8-0 win that was beyond epic. They can suck it.

*We do cheer for them to run the season when not playing us or the east as to eat as many points as possible to help us out, don't know if it'll work this year but it has in the past.

Sharks
I hate the Sharks. The season I started watching the Preds was the second season we met them in the playoffs. It was the year we kicked ass all season, got Forsberg, and then choked. At least that's part of my memory. I was still learning the game but it didn't take much learning for me to know that the officiating was more than bull spit. It's never good for a playoff series to end with cokes and things being thrown onto the ice in an attempt to hit a ref. Bad memories.
They always seem to own us and even when we do win, it's because they played badly.... that's how it is for most of the season if you ask any other teams fans. My personal vendetta: Nabakov is a douche bag who has, on more than one occasion, thrown out the butt of his stick to clothesline Toots or hit him. I long for the day Jordin doesn't hold back and levels him. He'd be suspended but maybe, just maybe, the cheating f**ker will learn his lesson.

Canucks
Dirty assholes. Their players are assholes. Their fans are assholes. Their freaky mascot is an asshole. Besides Chicago, I've only been taunted in one other arena that wasn't in good fun and it was GM Place. Taunted is being nice. Assaulted is more likely the word used. I was hit in the head with a flag for the entire third period of a game we were losing. Their players throw nasty hits and constantly leave their skates doing it. Burrows is a piece of trash and the Sedins are the most disgusting things I've ever seen.

Blow Jackets
The only thing they do good is suck. It's no coincidence their name is the BJ's (who does that!). Their fans seem to think there is a huge rivalry but there isn't. We own them. Even when we lose, we own them. Their coach has made open comments about our team, in specific Tootoo, and I'm pretty sure he called us Darth Vader*. They have Jared Boll (who I love but is besides the point), they have no room to talk about Jordin. The only thing good they have is Rick Nash who they lucked up on with their draft pick. The first time they made the playoffs was last year and they got swept. It was sweet because it reinforced the fact that they suck.
*The Columbus Dispatch

***I hate many more teams for various reasons including the Blueser but Kelsey might stab me if I talked about her "other" boys. I think even she would agree on this list. She's a dirty cheater when it comes to other teams... and I love everybody... pshh! lol

And now the hate list...

2009-08-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

First, a couple of updates,

~Happy Belated Birthday Shea Weber. :-)
~The Admirals are at home on Dec 28th. Hello Ryan Maki. ;-)
~Jeff on BB said "rattled" last night adding to him being perfect.
~JJ Hardy sucked hard enough to get sent to the minor leagues and I'm going to see him today. (yeah, it's baseball but it's worth noting.)
~I'd also like to welcome Aubrey too the world of being a Pred fan. We're a quirky bunch but I think she'll fit in just fine. Maybe next year we'll be able to plan a trip to a Blow Jackets game.

And now the hate list... we don't play the Eastern teams enough for me to build up any intense hatred for their players. I'm racking my brain but I think many of the teams are going to be left blank, this has been more difficult than I had anticipated. Once the season starts I'm sure the blanks will fill themselves in.

Anaheim- Getzbarf
Atlanta-
Boston- Chara Douchebag
Buffalo- Grier
Calgary- Phaneuf
Carolina-
Chicago- "Pat" Kane
Colorado- Foote
Columbus- Steve Mason
Dallas- Modonna and Turco
Detroit- Kronwall and Holmstrom and the rest of the team
Edmonton-
Florida-
Los Angeles- Jack Johnson, he's such a diva
Minnesota- Craig Weller
Montreal-
Nashville- Not a soul, I love all of my boys
N.Y. Islanders-
N.Y. Rangers- Sean Avery
Ottawa-
Philadelphia- Daniel Carcillo
Phoenix- Coach Gretzky
Pittsburgh- the fugly raisin
San Jose- the whole team? Nabby's a dirty cheating f**ker!!
St.Louis- Barret Jackman
Tampa Bay-
Toronto- Exlby
Vancouver- Everyone. Bieksa, Hordisuck, the ginger twins...
Washington- Ovechkin

12 days into the worst month of the year...

2009-08-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

We re-signed Jonesy! I like him and I think he's got a ton more to give us so I was thrilled to see that his new contract was finally worked out. Now we've just got to get O...O...O...O'Reily signed and we're good on the RFA front. I'd really like to grab someone like Prospal but I don't think it's going to happen. I'm not as irritated as some fans because I have a feeling that either Jones or Wilson is going to step up more than could have been hoped for. Nothing to base it on but I feel more confident with the rookie forwards this year than I did last year. The rookie defense is a scarier situation for me. Sutes and Webs (as Pekka called them) are gonna have to be beasts but I wouldn't take any other D pairing over those two.

Newbie prospect, Zach Budish, is still making his chances with the US U-20 team. I've been high on the kid since I found out he was compared to David Backes and I have a soft spot in my fandom for the Americans who want to play for their country so he's definitely earning his place there. He's one of 29 players to still have a shot at being on the team come December. He even scored a goal in the 8-1 win over Russia in the exhibition game yesterday. I don't know too much about the other US kids but he's showing that he's not planning on his ACL surgery holding him back. He'd also pick Joe Mauer as 1 of 3 people he'd invite to dinner. Winner.

The Preds boards are down at the moment which means I have tons of time to devote to work or finding things to do besides work. I know I spend way too much time on there but it's kind of addicting and I know the people there. It shouldn't be down long but I do wish I had a "Word Association", "Song Title", or "TPBM" game to play at the moment. I've already filed a stack of files taller than my torso and bitched out two adjusters on the phone. I can't wait to have that distraction back but I have a feeling it won't be the same.

As my filler during lunch yesterday, I started reading the idiotic posts on hfboards.com They have a thread where you list your favorite player on each team. Here's mine, I happen to think my list is made up of awesome-ness which is also the reason Vancouver is not represented, they are the anti-awesome and suck at life. Jed should be the Shark represented but he wasn't listed on their roster.

Anaheim- Ryan Whitney
Atlanta- Rich Peverley
Boston- Marc Savard
Buffalo- Jason Pominville
Calgary- Eric Nystrom
Carolina-Chad LaRose/Cam Ward
Chicago- Adam Burish
Colorado- John Michael Liles
Columbus- Jared Boll
Dallas- Brad Richards
Detroit- Darren Helm/Patrick Eaves
Edmonton- Andrew Cogliano
Florida- David Booth/Keith Ballard
Los Angeles- Dustin Brown
Minnesota- Kyle Brodziak
Montreal- Brain Gionta
Nashville- Ryan Suter
New Jersey- Zach Parise
N.Y. Islanders- Kyle Okposo
N.Y. Rangers- Dan Girardi
Ottawa- Mike Fisher
Philadelphia- Jeff Carter
Phoenix- Ilya Bryzgalov/Vern Fiddler
Pittsburgh- Max Talbot
San Jose- Torrey Mitchell
St.Louis- David Backes
Tampa Bay- Ryan Malone
Toronto- Mike Komisarek
Vancouver- Nobody
Washington- Brooks Laich/Karl Alzner (if he counts)

A Real Confession...

2009-08-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

I like the name of my blog. The definition of "fanatic" is exactly what I am about these guys and this team and the only other instance of this extreme fandom was when I was 13 and thought I was going to marry both Justin and JC from NSync with Joey and Chris as my bffs (sorry Lance, I didn't like you until you were gay). This far trumps that fantasy part of my life because I'm still allowed to be that fanatic as a 24 year old with a job and responsibilities.

I plan on being completely and totally honest with my reactions to things that this team does but haven't had the real opportunity yet with the exception of gushing over Patrick Eaves who just got less hot because he's a Wing now. Barf.

Anyway, my first real confession:
I really wish I was going to the USA Olympic Camp in Chicago in 2 weeks.

Why: Suter, Backes, Booth, Brown, Parise, Malone, Okposo, Komisarek, Bobby Ryan, and Ry-un Miller all in one place at one time. Does that get any better? I have forever loved everything Olympics (I even watch curling). Getting to Vancouver for the actual games is my only other shot and that's not going to happen in a million years. A reason to not work.

Problems: I have no vacation time. I have no money. Suter might put a restraining order against me if he saw me there, not that I'd bug him but because I've been to Canada and Philly and all of the justifiably close cities that have teams.

Windy City!!

2009-07-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Shikaka... Shikaka! Shikasha! Ohhh! Shishkebab. Shawshank Redemption. ShicaaaaGO!

MySpace Countdown Clocks

That's all I can think about when I think about going to Chicago which is in ^^^ that many days! I love Ciara and can't wait to see her again and I know as much as Kelsey thinks she hates us, she doesn't. She's going to enjoy every annoying moment in that (hopefully) 20ish hour car ride. 369 DSF, Aaron's Party.. come get it!, Vern mother f*cker Vern, yeah, I'll make sure it's all included and this trip I'll even be able to sing along with most of the other stuff we listen to. Sure, we may have to suffer through McDonalds at every meal but it's worth it. I should really invest in a camcorder to catch all the crazy stuff that gets said after 10. Who needs booze when you've got a tired bff? Though, we will all be 21 this time around...

I've also promised to take Nick to ATL this year. He's a senior and the trip lands a month before his birthday so I'm yanking him out of school and we're gonna drive down. I've also got to figure out how to get him the Leggy jersey he's been wanting. Maybe I can go joint on a Christmas gift with my parents. I buy the jersey, they buy the name.

Ah! So many exciting things to look forward to! I wish this long, hot summer would end already!

Magic 8 Ball 1,2,3...

2009-07-24T20:47:00.001-07:00

If Patrick Eaves becomes a Pred, I'm declaring my blog magical. He was traded and bought out today (or is about to be), setting up for the perfect "DP swoops in to get him" action. You can't say he's not what Poile loves. He's an American boy who comes from a hockey family (hello? Suter, Wilson, Geoffrion) and he's gritty. He could be our replacement for Fiddler. I would not be upset about that at all.
Last night was the "Skate of the Union" at the Sommet. It was the perfect fix until training camp and I bought a game used stick that will look amazing once it's signed and hanging in my soon to be new living room. Nick said it was the only #20 on he saw. Not that it matters. The view from my seats really is amazing. I can't wait until Steve and Nancy, creepy guy and his mom/sister/gf, HooHah! man, and Hamhuis girl are all there for a game. I love everyone around us... except Suter hater. She can go away.

We got an Eaves...

2009-07-21T19:25:00.001-07:00

So maybe it's not Patrick Eaves, who I love for his sexy baby blues and ability to rock a mountain man beard, but we did get his older brother Ben who has never played in the NHL! What? It's not exciting? Hopefully he does Milwaukee good or hell, maybe DP found another gem but I hope that's not what he's banking on.

I'm tired of trying for the no name diamond in the roughs. Especially when we work with them only to let them leave once people realize they're gems. My hope is that DP goes JP style and grabs someone after they're let go in arbitration. My heart tells me he stands pat and I have an emotional rollercoaster ride to grasp onto 8th.

Either Colin Wilson is ready and you know it (though, how could you know for sure) or you do something to get us someone... even if it's just one year.

And DIBS on Ben. He's attactive. Not quite his brother but not a hobbit.

Schedule Announced!

2009-07-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 schedule was released Wednesday and IMO, it kind of sucks. I was really hoping for an awesome roadtrip to somewhere I've never been before but I don't think that's going to happen this year. There are only 4 Saturday road games and with the exception of Washington in October they're not doable from a money and time standpoint. I'd really hate to have my only trip be in October though. The "New York swing" in February would be a dream come true but I'm positive I'd be spending that trip alone and I haven't saved nearly enough to do New York right. Maybe in a couple of years when people are graduated and have full time jobs.

The dates I'm looking at are December 27th and 29th when the guys play in Chicago and St. Louis. I don't know if I'll have company on this roadie or not. I'd like to. I'm pretty sure that Kristen is going to come along regardless so I'm sure to have a good time. I may hate her 9 out of 10 days but she's still my sister. We can stay at a Motel 6 or something and eat McDonalds every meal, it'll be great! I'm already working on hotel options and money needed.

BTW, Jed is gone. He's not gone to a team I love. He's not gone to a team I like. He's not even gone to a team I hate. He has gone to a team I loathe with all of the hating passion in my body. There are a handful of teams that get this treatment but of those teams, only one of them knocked us out in the first round 2 years straight while showing their wonderful sucking skills to the refs. He is now a Shark with Scooter. I held back tears in my drunken state last night while yelling at the computer. It's so wrong. I have to wish my lost boys luck but I hope their new teams suck big ones.

The Mak Daddy is back!

2009-07-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ryan Maki was the first of our RFA's to re-sign. Yay! If I needed a reason to go to Milwaukee this season, that's it! (though, I don't really need a reason because that place is awesome) Here's to a full year of not sucking baby!

It's rumored that Whipsy is going to deflect back to Europe. Sad. :-( For a team that has been consistanty built around work ethic and grit we sure don't have very many "gritty" players left! Sure, it could be a good thing but I'm really not wanting to have to deal with suckage for 3 months while our emo team trys to find who they are.

Note to Sully: First day of training camp you sit down your little team and tell them who the hell they are. That way, they aren't wandering around like poor little puppies who don't know what's going on. We're going to have quite a few rookies. Help them but let them know that we don't have time for that bs this year.

I love the smell of feet and sweaty equipment in the morning...

2009-07-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, not really but it's worth dealing with if the only live hockey you've seen in the past 4 months was a league game. Yesterday was rookie camp and was a semi fix to what I've been missing. Some quick observations because I don't have many quality ones from where we were sitting. Ellis is tiny but has a quick shot. Lindback is huge. Budish is a big kid and my hope to be our diamond in the rough. Pickard seemed very confident, he's gonna be the real deal but I prefer Pekka... don't know how long he's gonna need. Wilson will make the jump and IMO will make it sooner rather than later. I'd love for him to be our own version of Bobby Ryan. That'd be crazy to put between Leggy and Erat. Geoffrion needs to get here asap to fill the void left by all my other #2 boys, more on that in a few. I like this kid a lot. He scored the winning goal in the shoot-out challenge at the end of camp and had a couple of pretty goals during the drills. More importantly, you could tell that he was the main vet guy that stepped up and took care of any worries the other guys had. That's my kind of player. Dropping out of college would do nothing for him but I wish it would. There's also the awesomeness of his name being on the peewee team banners hanging in the sportsplex. The story alone will make you love the kid if his heart and personality don't. Hurry up Blake!

Back to my #2 boys being all but gone. :-( It's so sad.
~Fiddler is a Coyote (barf!).
~Richie is a Thrasher.
~Nichol is a Shark (wtf!?).
~and Jed is, more likely than not, going to be an AHLer for someone else.
:-(
Sadness.

Save the date!!! September 17th!!!

2009-07-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

Countdown Clocks, Fun Countdowns at WishAFriend.com

Yesterday, the Preds released the 2009-2010 Preseason schedule. Home games on the 17, 19, and 26th. I don't care too much for the actual games but it is nice to be able to see the Milwaukee kids in action fighting for a chance. I'm more excited because that means that training camp and all of the preseason festivities have a time frame for me to look forward to and it marks my beginning of the new season. The regular season schedule should be coming out within the next couple of weeks and that means ROADTRIPS!!! Yayness.

Also, I get to go to rookie camp Saturday. Yay for Wooshing! Maki won't be there this year :( but Geoffrion will. Not quite the same but not a total bust.

On a semi-related note:
I miss the cold. Mind you, that is something that I've loved since way before I discovered hockey. I used to get caught up in pretending it was cold out. I would bundle up in our house with all the blinds closed and just watch movies set in the winter time and make hot chocolate and it wouldn't hit me until it was time to go outside that it's not cold or even cool but disgusting and humid and suffocatingly hot outside. That happened the other day and I can't help but to laugh at it. Our house was FREEZING inside. I had on my baggiest and comfiest pair of jeans with a hoodie sweatshirt on and was watching an ANTM marathon. I needed to get something from my car and completely forgot that it was a billion degrees outside. I can't wait for it to be chilly fall weather that hits your face and makes it easier to breath. Can't wait!

July 1st 12:00pm EST = Free Agent FreakOut

2009-07-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today marked that special time where all the rich and wanna be rich teams in the NHL go crazy and offer up insane money and insane years for the "stars" of the NHL. Chicago must have forgotten they have baby Kane and Toews sitting in the wings waiting for their giant raises when they threw that 12 year contract at HOSSA!. Montreal took on terrorist face and then added Gionta and Cammerelli to add up to the Preds entire budget on 3 people... I wonder how their D is going to function now that they let Komisarek go and that they're stuck with "Mr. I'm Over-rated Price"? I think it would be funny to see them crash and burn, along with the Hawks. The Rangers made a splash today signing glass Gaborik so it's going to be interesting to see how things work out for them too.

While some Nashville fans seem underwhelmed or disappointed in what we accomplished today, I'm thrilled. At lunch time I felt defeated by all of the signings that were happening everywhere but here. I was frustrated because looking at the lists of FA's available I knew most of them were going to get far more than what we could be able to offer them. I'm not of the mindset of "it's better than nothing". I think it's better than if we had gone out and broke the bank on someone that we don't know how they'll click while risking the future of our team. We've seen how good the SAD line is when they're together. I didn't jump around the office for nothing. I still think we need one more offensive piece to fill out our team and that's pretty obvious but for the little hope I had earlier this afternoon, it's alot less hopeless.

One last thing, Fiddler is now a Coyote. I wanted him back badly but I knew it wasn't going to happen. Seeing the word "Coyote" next to his name had me near hysterical. Shocked is the best word. Everyone else may be saying they're glad he's gone but I'm not. He was my 2nd favorite player and it's sad. I hope he does well there but I still hope that team is a bottom feeder. If Gretzky would go away my feelings would change.

Oh Say Can You Squee!?!

2009-07-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

As established, I'm an emotionally attached fan girl for the Nashville Predators and more specifically, Ryan Suter. I could care less how people perceive me... I know that I'm awesome and only minorly crazy. Anyway, today Suter was named as an invitee to the USA Olympic Orientation Camp. To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. Besides knowing that playing in the Olympics is something he's dreamed of doing, I think it would be incredible for him to be the 3rd Suter to play for the USA in that red, white, and blue. I really hope that he continues to grow into a dominate defensive player like he started doing last year and through the world championships. He doesn't get the press he deserves right now but people aren't going to be able to discount him for long.

So, congrats to my boy Sutes! Fingers crossed!