Archive for February 27, 2012
Trotz praises Legwand in milestone game
21 year ago
The Nashville Predators beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Monday night, ending their four-game homestand with a 3-0-1 record and are now 10-0-2 in their last 12 home games.
David Legwand says a successful homestand was essential for the Predators with home games now at a premium for the remainder of the season. “That’s a big thing with our home games starting to run out here. We’ve got to be winning and we’ve been doing that at home. That’s a positive thing for us winning at home,” he said.
The first star of the game, Legwand set up both of Nashville’s goals. It was the 100th multi-point game of Legwand’s career. Legwand is behind only Martin Erat’s 102 multi-point games for the franchise record.
After the game, Predators head coach Barry Trotz remembered Legwand’s growth through the years, both as a player and as an individual.
Gaustad reacts to being traded to Predators
11 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Features
One of the last trades to be announced Monday afternoon involved the Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres. The Predators picked up Paul Gaustad and a fourth round draft pick from the Sabres in exchange for Nashville’s 2012 first round pick.
“I’m looking forward to coming to Nashville and being a part of this team. It is an exciting time for me,” Gaustad said about the trade.
For teams looking to add depth at the forward position, Gaustad was highly sought after, ranking 10th in the League in face-off efficiency at 56.8 percent and is ranked eighth among forwards in average shorthanded ice time at 2:52 per game.
Gaustad says he is not surprised to have been traded. “I don’t know if it was a complete shock. There were rumors about me. You try to put them in the back of your mind and forget about them,” he said, adding, I’ve spent my entire adult life in Western New York but I am looking forward to coming to Nashville and have playoff hockey and really take a run at the Stanley Cup.”
At the end of the reason, Gaustad will be an unrestricted free agent and will be able to sign with whatever team he wants. However, the 6’5, 212 pound center isn’t thinking about the future. “I don’t think of that. Honestly, I am excited to come to Nashville. It is tough to leave Buffalo but it is exciting to come to Nashville and it is really exciting what their plans are. I’m trying to get acclimated to my new team and see where I fit in and where I can help,” the 30-year old said.
Poile says acquisitions will allow Predators to “play with the big boys”
11 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Features
Nashville Predators General Manager, David Poile, is pleased with the moves his hockey club made before Monday’s 2 pm CT trade deadline.
“The trade deadline is over, and I am one happy general manager. What we have done in the last 10 days is really take a good club into a team that has a chance to be a top team in the National Hockey League,” Poile said.
The Predators acquired defenseman Hal Gill from the Montreal Canadiens 10 days ago and today added forward Andrei Kostitsyn, also from Montreal, and center Paul Gaustad, from the Buffalo Sabres.
Poile went through the organizations moves one-by-one.
“We were looking for a big, strong defensive defenseman and I think we got the best one available in Hal Gill. We were looking for more scoring on our team and we got the best scoring forward made available in Andrei Kostitsyn. We were looking for a defensive penalty killer, hard-nosed center who could play up and down our lineup. We got the best player in that area in Paul Gaustad,” Poile said.
Press release: Ryan Ellis recalled from Milwaukee
01 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Press Release
Nashville, Tenn. (February 27, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Ryan Ellis from Milwaukee (AHL).
Ellis, 21 (1/3/91), has appeared in 22 games for Nashville this season, posting nine points (3g-6a), including two game-winning goals, and a plus-eight rating. Nashville has posted a 16-5-1 with Ellis in the lineup. He was reassigned to Milwaukee on Friday, and posted one assist in three games, giving him 18 points (4g-14a) in 26 AHL games.
Press release: Predators acquire Gaustad from Buffalo
01 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Press Release
Nashville, Tenn. (February 27, 2012) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired forward Paul Gaustad and a fourth-round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft from Buffalo for a first-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.
Gaustad, 30 (2/3/82), has 17 points (7g-10a) and 70 penalty minutes in 56 games for the Sabres this season, in addition to ranking 10th in the League in face-off efficiency (56.8 percent) and eighth among forwards in average shorthanded ice time (2:52). The 6-5, 220-pound center has finished among the NHL’s Top 10 in face-offs each of the past two seasons (third in 2010-11, 59.8 percent and sixth in 2009-10, 57.4 percent). In 479 career games with Buffalo, the Fargo, N.D., native has amassed 181 points (71g-110a) and 585 penalty minutes. The seventh-round selection (220th overall) by Buffalo in the 2000 Entry Draft also has eight assists in 38 playoff games.
Sergei Kostitsyn excited to have brother Andrei join Predators lineup
61 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Features
After morning skate on Monday, Predators forward Sergei Kostitsyn said to the approaching media “anything happen,” with a smile on his face.
Kostitsyn was referring to the Predators acquisition of his brother Andrei from Montreal. The Predators sent their 2013 second round draft pick as well as the fifth round pick Nashville was sent as part of the Hal Gill trade.
When Sergei went out on the ice for Nashville’s morning skate, the trade was not yet official. By time he got to the locker room, the deal had been made so Sergei had yet to talk to his older brother. “I’m going to talk to him right now,” he said after morning skate.
“I’m really excited that Nashville brought him here. I hope he is going to like it,” Sergei said.
The 24-year old had heard rumors that his older brother might be traded to Nashville and Sergei did confirm that the organization had asked him his opinion on the potential trade.
