Thursday's news: NHL puts on a power play over Kovalchuk

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about 1 month ago: NEWARK NJ - JULY 20: Ilya Kovalchuk of the New Jersey Devils speaks with the media after announcing his contract renewal at the Prudential Center on July 20 2010 in Newark New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The big news this morning in the hockey world is that instead of closing the Ilya Kovalchuk drama yesterday afternoon, the NHL and NHLPA continue to negotiate over the structure of long-term contracts. A report out of New York indicates that the league is taking a very aggressive stance, offering to allow the proposed contract to stand in exchange for an adjustment to the CBA involving future deals.

After the jump, we've also got a bold statement from Chet Pickard about trying to earn an NHL job this season, further assurance that Cody Franson will probably get a new contract soon, and a poll on the most over-hyped story of the summer...

Now that single games are on sale, readers of On the Forecheck can take advantage of a special discount offer for Nashville Predators tickets.

Predators News

Chet Pickard’s 2010-2011 Nashville Predators Mask - InGoalMag.com
Chet's new mask definitely shows his intent to play for Nashville, not Milwaukee (thanks to Section303.com for the pointer).

Paul McCann - Random Notes - September is here!
Paul touches on a number of items, including the road trip he's organizing for Preds fans heading to Carolina for the game on November 20th.

Preds On The Glass: Ryan Miller Interview, No Kovi Kontract, and Thursday Thoughts
Buddy includes a video interview with Ryan Miller (no, not our Milwaukee writer, this is some goalie who plays in Buffalo)...

Latest Predators' addition accustomed to championships - Nashville City Paper
David Boclair writes that Grant Lewis does bring a championship resume from the AHL (Chicago in 2008, Hershey this year).

Cody Franson hopes to work out deal with Nashville Predators - The Tennessean
The unsigned restricted free agent is participating in informal workouts with several other Preds these days, confident that a deal will get done soon.

Nashville football fans need to adjust radio dials - The Tennessean
With 104.5 "The Zone" taking on Tennessee football & basketball along with Titans broadcasts, there will be a lot of change coming to Nashville's airwaves. The impact on the Predators is uncertain.

Around the NHL

NHL gives Players Assn. ultimatum on Kovalchuk, Luongo, Hossa - NYPOST.com
Larry Brooks reports that the NHL has issued some stern conditions under which the Ilya Kovalchuk contract could be approved, but they'd amount to an on-the-fly modification to the CBA. At risk? Not just the Kovalchuk deal, but Roberto Luongo's could be voided, and Marian Hossa's could be in play, too.

Sources: Matt Hulsizer emerges as possible buyer for Phoenix Coyotes - ESPN
"A legitimate hockey guy with a lot of money" steps into the race for the Coyotes. Thats sounds like a good thing...

Storylines from the 2010 NHL offseason - From The Rink
Cassie asks which has been the most overblown story of the summer... my vote went to all the "lockout in 2012" noise that was raised in the background of just about every other development.

Antti Niemi reportedly set to sign with San Jose for one year, $2.0MM - Fear The Fin
The Sharks pick up Chicago's goalie, after having made an offer sheet for Niklas Hjalmarsson. Did raising Hjalmarsson's price make Niemi unaffordable for the Blackhawks, thus sending him to the open market?

Lowetide: Paging Mr. Underwood?
Speculative musing over a possible trade of Mike Fisher to Edmonton. I'm guessing Carrie Underwood wouldn't be thrilled to have her new hubby shipped off to Alberta.

O'Sullivan still looking for a job - Edmonton Journal
After getting bought out by Edmonton, Patrick O'Sullivan is one of several free agents still available.

The Pros And Cons Of Signing Bill Guerin - Broad Street Hockey
Should Philadelphia take a flyer on the aging winger, who's in town skating with members of the team?

Countdown to NHL training camps: Five coaches on the hot seat - ESPN
Training camps are still two weeks away, but that doesn't stop the speculation over which head coach will get fired first.

Yale's Mandi Schwartz Learns Cancer Is in Remission -- NHL FanHouse
Wonderful news for the sister of St. Louis Blues prospect Jaden Schwartz. Mandi also plays hockey for Yale.

NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Wrestling with Anaheim Ducks - Puck Daddy
Greg's gone outside the box in his preview format for the upcoming season.

How much NHL Center Ice will cost you for 2010-11 season - Puck Daddy
Greg Wyshynski reports on a slight rise in the cost of your hockey fix this season.

A Defending Big D Milestone - Defending Big D
Congrats to our comrades in Dallas on setting a new monthly high in traffic. In August, no less, a hockey wasteland!

To keep up with all of our coverage of the Nashville Predators, you can subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter (@Forechecker, @predatweeter & @SLakePreds), or catch the site on Facebook. You can also email me at the.forechecker@gmail.com.

Nashville Predators 2010-11 Season Preview: David Legwand

More photos » Nam Y. Huh - AP

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In the weeks leading up to the new season, we'll preview the Nashville Predators on a player-by-player basis, examining their role on the squad and expectations relative to capabilities. So come along for the ride as we look ahead to 2010-11, from Andersson to Wilson. Next up: David Legwand.

Today we arrive at the player who, Kevin Klein notwithstanding, probably receives the most love/hate sentiment on all the roster. The Predators' first-ever draft pick, David Legwand is constantly under the microscope. There are certain expectations for a player picked 2^nd overall, and most would say that Legwand has not lived up to them. Whether he has or not is your own call. There's no doubt, though, that as goes David Legwand, so go the Predators.

We'll evaluate his upcoming season after the jump.

David Legwand

#11 / Center / Nashville Predators

6-2

202

Aug 17, 1980

Role

Between the acquisition of Matthew Lombardi and the growth of Colin Wilson, there's reason to believe that Legwand will be moved from his typical 2nd scoring-line center role to a less offensively demanding one shutting down the opposing team's top forwards. This assumes, though, that Trotz has Wilson pegged as a center. Legwand will also anchor a penalty killing unit.

Expectations

To minimize the damage done by the opponent's best offensive players, win the majority of his faceoffs, contribute offensively, and take regular shootout opportunities. Yeah, its a long list - but one that Legwand has proved capable of fulfilling. Those that complain about his 40 point seasons fail to see just how good a defensive player he is.

Contract

$4.5 million this season, with 3 more years after that, featuring a decline in salary during the final two. Overpaid? Sure, but again; not as much as you'd think. He does a little bit of everything, and he does it all well.

Previously...

Legwand played in all 82 games, scoring 11 goals to go with 27 assists. He finished with a -5, which is actually impressive considering the types of players he's regularly lined up against. His pedestrian offensive numbers can be qualified by two factors. First, his linemates were predominantly Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson, two decidedly defensive wingers, and secondly, the competition he faced was brutal. According to Behind the Net, the Quality of Competition rankings using Relative Corsi (the ability to drive Total Shots For & Against) had Ward, Legwand and Smithson placed 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively among all NHL forwards with at least 40 games played. That line took on the toughest of the tough each and every night, freeing up opportunities for the other Nashville forwards at their own statistical expense.

David was by far the Preds' best skater in the playoffs, giving Nashville 2 goals, 5 assists, and a +5 in 6 games.

Prediction

I think his numbers will drop a little, but only because he's freed up to do more dirty work for Barry Trotz. Look for a 10 goal, 25 assist year from Leggy, but with his typical outstanding defensive play.

And to cap things off, let's reminisce about a great moment from Legwand's career - the first home playoff goal in franchise history...

To keep up with all of our coverage of the Nashville Predators, you can subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter (@Forechecker, @predatweeter & @SLakePreds), or catch the site on Facebook.

Sullivan, Dumont lead informal drills

Sullivan, Dumont lead informal drills