Sport-scan daily brief

In those nine games, the offense executed at a high rate, averaging 3.22 goals per game. But the defense was more porous, allowing 3.33 goals per contest.

“For everybody it’s an emphasis. You look at average shooting percentages and everything kind of balances out,” forward Paul Gaustad said. “If you continue to do the right things, and percentages-wise, it always gets back to that average. You have to keep shooting and get as many shots as you can.”

Early in the season, Nashville played a more defensive style, and the results followed. The Predators went on a four-game winning streak from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7, and in all those games they were content to allow low-percentage shots and pounce on limited offensive chances. The Predators didn’t win a game in which they outshot an opponent until Feb. 14 against Phoenix.

“I mean, the one thing we were doing well before was we were defending. We weren’t generating a lot, and we were a lot more patient in our game,” Trotz said. “We probably didn’t get the credit we deserved for that … people were criticizing us on our style points versus the end result.”

That doesn’t mean the Predators’ secret to winning involves being grossly outshot. But it does mean Nashville has to find a happy medium, where it can fire a lot of shots on goal and still play a defensively stout game. In their win over Colorado, the Predators outshot the Avalanche 38-26 but won 3-1.

“You have to stay consistent in the things you think are the proper ways to win,” Gaustad said. “We have to stick to that.”

Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013

667832 Nashville Predators

Josh Cooper's hat trick

Apr. 3, 2013 10:15 PM

Josh Cooper

The Tennessean

1. Paul Gaustad is being rewarded for his strong play with more ice time. Gaustad has always had the size and the ability to play bigger minutes. But in his career, the most he has averaged was 17:10 in 2007-08. In his last three games since he returned from an “upper body” injury, he has played 17:35, 24:19 and 20:49. He’s not an offensive player, but he won’t make many plays to hurt your team from a defensive perspective. When Mike Fisher returns from a hand injury, Gaustad’s minutes likely will go down, but in this stretch he has earned more of the coaching staff’s trust going forward

2. Will Pekka Rinne get some time off? The goaltender has played in an NHL-high 35 games, and he could go the rest of the way for Nashville. If this is the case — the Predators have 11 more games — Rinne will have played in 68 contests this year, if you count his time in the Kontinental Hockey League during the NHL lockout. That’s a lot of games. Also, keep in mind the condensed nature of this schedule hasn’t exactly helped overall player exhaustion. In his last three contests, Rinne has stopped 86 of 90 shots on goal. Fatigue hasn’t played too much of an issue, but it could.

3. The Predators still have a difficult road to the playoffs. The Predators have picked up points in six of their last seven games, and they still find themselves stuck in postseason neutral. What will it take to get firmly in the top eight? A long winning streak. The San Jose Sharks were around the eighth spot. They then won five games in a row, put themselves in the top eight and strongly boosted their chances of making the playoffs. Nashville needs a San Jose-like stretch to achieve the same effect.

Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013

667833 Nashville Predators

Predators unload a veteran in advance of NHL trade deadline

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 12:47pm

By David Boclair

With hours to go before the National Hockey League’s trade deadline, the Nashville Predators sent defenseman Scott Hannan to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday for a late-round draft pick.

Hannan signed as a free agent with Nashville during the offseason and appeared in 29 games. He has been on injured reserve since last weekend and has not played since March 17 because of an upper body injury. He has no goals, one assist and a team-worst minus-11 rating.

The Predators received a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft from the Sharks. The pick becomes a sixth-rounder if Hannan appears in the playoffs.

The 34-year-old spent his first eight NHL seasons with San Jose, which drafted him 23rd overall in 1997. He also spent time with Colorado, Washington and Calgary before he came to Nashville.

His contract with the Predators was for one year at $1 million.

The league’s trade deadline is 2 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday.

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013

667834 Nashville Predators

In search of more offense, Predators trade away one of their all-time leading scorers

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 4:37pm

By David Boclair

The Nashville Predators are not necessarily ready to say bye-bye to their playoff chances.

When the National Hockey League’s trade deadline arrived Wednesday afternoon, however, they definitely were not buyers.

In one of the day’s final deals, Nashville shipped 31-year-old forward Martin Erat and a prospect, Michael Latta, to the Washington Capitals for 18-year-old Filip Forsberg, the 11th overall choice in last year’s draft.

Earlier in the day the Predators traded veteran defenseman Scott Hannan to San Jose for a conditional draft choice.

Following Tuesday’s games, Nashville was ninth in the Western Conference standings, tied with St. Louis at 38 points but having played three more games than the Blues. The 10th, 11th and 12th-place teams were no more than two points back and all had at least one game in hand on the Predators.

“We have used draft picks in recent years to add players at the trade deadline,” general manager David Poile said. “Over the last several years, we traded away four first round picks. It was imperative that we add a potentially dynamic offensive forward such as Forsberg.

“Our goal remains the same — to win the Stanley Cup. We believe our current team is a playoff-caliber team. At the same time, we have to be mindful of the long-term and this deal allows us to acquire a top-end young offensive forward that will help us.”

Erat, a seventh-round pick in 1999, is second to David Legwand in all of the franchise’s primary career offensive statistics. He had 163 goals and 318 assists (481 points) in 723 career games. He led or shared the team lead in points each of the last two seasons and was a model of consistency with between 49 and 58 points each of the last eight seasons.

He had four goals and 17 assists in 36 games this season, which tied him with Legwand and Shea Weber for the team lead.

He has two years remaining on a seven-year, $31.5 million deal.

Latta, a third-round choice in 2009, had eight goals and 26 assists in 67 games for Milwaukee this season. The Hockey News recently named him the franchise’s fifth-best prospect.

“It is always difficult to trade a player who was drafted, developed and who has produced for the franchise for many years such as Martin Erat,” Poile said. “However, Marty came to us in recent days and indicated a trade might be in his best interests. Thus, the process began and we were able to explore options with our primary goal being to acquire a young top end forward that would address our most critical need.

“We thank Martin for all his contributions to the Predators’ success over the years and wish him and his family the best in Washington.”

Forsberg recently completed his season in Sweden’s second division. His 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 38 games were second only to Pontus Aberg, a second-round pick by Nashville last year.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Forsberg was named that league’s top junior player.

“With one of the best goaltenders in the world in Pekka Rinne, and the top defenseman in the game today in Shea Weber, along with Roman Josi, Kevin Klein and other young defensemen we continue to develop, we believe we are well-positioned at these two positions, but have lacked a dynamic offensive forward.” Poile said. “In Filip Forsberg, we are adding one of the top rated young forwards in the world; we are excited to have him join our other emerging young talent and solid veterans at the position.”

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013

667835 Nashville Predators

Erat eager for his opportunity with a new team, says 'I just want to win'

Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 9:34pm

By Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals are hoping for a boost to their playoff hopes with a trade bringing them right wing Martin Erat and minor-leaguer Michael Latta from the Nashville Predators for 2012 first-round draft pick Filip Forsberg.

Erat leads the Predators with 17 assists and is tied for first on the club with 21 points this season. He's played all 723 of his NHL games with Nashville, and ranks second in team history with 163 goals and 318 assists. He listed the Capitals among the teams he would join.

"They have a great team, they just have to show it on the ice," Erat said on a conference call Wednesday night. "It's just missing a couple pieces here and (there), but they got the right chance every year."

After a poor start to the season, winning only two of their first 11 games, the Capitals have slowly moved their way up from last place in the Eastern Conference. Now they are within striking distance for a playoff berth at 10th, two points away from eighth after a 5-3 victory at the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. That was Washington's seventh win in its last 11 games.

Captain Alex Ovechkin, a two-time NHL MVP, has led the way during the Capitals' surge, with at least one point in each of the past nine games. He leads the team with 20 goals and 37 points. Erat is happy enough at being traded that he is willing to do whatever the Capitals ask of him.

"I really don't care if I play right or left, or if I'm going to play on the first or third line," Erat said. "I just want to win."

The Predators, who have made the playoffs seven of the last eight seasons, also are on the edge of the Western Conference playoff picture. In Forsberg, they get an 18-year-old forward considered a possible star-in-waiting in exchange for sending off a player in Erat who asked to be traded despite a no-movement clause in his contract.

Erat said he asked Nashville general manager David Poile about the team's long-term plans a couple weeks ago. The Predators build through the draft with forwards such as Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist and Taylor Beck and defensemen Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. But Erat turns 32 in August. He had a career-high 58 points last season and leaves tied for the Nashville lead with 21 points. But he has only four goals, including a 21-game goal drought.

"They're going to go with a younger team and see how it goes from there," Erat said. "But for me, I'm getting older, and ... I don't have seven, eight years to wait for another chance."

This is the second time Nashville has traded for a forward named Forsberg. Trading for Peter Forsberg in 2007 didn't work out too well as he wound up playing only 17 games that season and scoring 15 points. The Predators won 51 games and earned the No. 4 seed only to lose to San Jose in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Now the Predators believe they finally have the dynamic young forward in this Forsberg to go with a defense anchored by captain Shea Weber and goalie Pekka Rinne. Forsberg scored 33 points in 38 games in Sweden. Poile said he will be talking to Forsberg's agent about getting the forward to North America but the general manager sees someone in the 6-foot-1, 188-pound center who may be NHL-ready soon.

• Briefly: The Predators also signed Zach Budish to a two-year entry-level contract. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound right wing will join the team's AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. Budish, 21, scored 94 points in 129 games in four seasons at the University of Minnesota.

Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013

667836 New Jersey Devils

Devils bring back Steve Sullivan 16 years after Doug Gilmour trade

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

on April 03, 2013 at 8:56 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 9:44 PM

Sixteen years ago the Devils had to give up a promising young forward in order to obtain future Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour in a serious effort to win the Stanley Cup.

The Devils never did win a Cup during Gilmour’s two seasons on the team, but the “kid” they gave up is back as a veteran role player hoping to help the Devils secure a playoff spot with 12 games remaining in this shortended season.

Steve Sullivan 38, was acquired today in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes for a seventh round draft pick in 2014. It was Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello’s only deal on trade deadline day.

“It was very shocking. I really didn't see it coming," Sullivan said via telephone. "I honestly didn’t think I was going to be moved. But it's a great opportunity. I'm glad to be going back to where it all began. I’ve come full circle. It's a first class organization I had a hard time leaving years ago."

In that Feb. 25, 1997, deal more than a decade and a half ago, the Devils traded Sullivan, defenseman Jason Smith and the rights to prospect Alyn McCauley to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Gilmour, defenseman Dave Ellett and a draft pick.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. That was also another shocking day for me,” Sullivan said. “I was a young player just trying to stay in the league. I’d been a call-up and hadn’t really solidified a spot in the NHL by any means. Being an Ontario boy, it was a bit overwhelming being traded to Toronto.”

Sullivan, who must pass a physical when he arrives in New Jersey, would become the 24th player to be re-acquired by the Devils. He was the team’s 10th selection in the ninth round (233rd overall) of the 1994 entry draft and appeared in 49 games over two seasons 1995-97.

"He's going to be a utility player that will give the coach options. We'll have to see him in practice before we make any judgements," Lamoriello said. "He's a player that can play in versatile situations. He's played in big-time playoff games. He knows the pressures of the league and will be a steadying influence in different areas."

Sullivan had five goals and seven assists (12 points) and 20 penalty minutes in 33 games with Phoenix this season after signing as a free agent on July 4. What can he give the Devils?

“I’m not 27 years old. Your game has to evolve a little bit as the years go by,” Sullivan said. “I’m not sure what they’re expecting. I don’t think they’re expecting me to come in and be a game-breaker. They have some extremely talented hockey players on that team. I’ll try to be a solid contributor and do the best I can.”

Devils coach Pete DeBoer was asked what he expected Lamoriello to do today.

“I really came in with no expectations,” DeBoer said.

Sullivan recorded a career-high 34 goals and 75 points with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2000-01. He appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last week with the Coyotes on Mar. 28 at Nashville.

He was the recipient of the 2008-09 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

In 1,002 career NHL games, Sullivan has 742 points (288 goals, 454 assists) and 583 penalty minutes. He's played for the Devils, Leafs, Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Coyotes in a 15-year career.

"I think he's capable of giving some quality minutes when called upon. I think he can go in any role on any line. He still knows how to score goals. That's been his forte,” Lamoriello said. “There aren't a lot of people scoring many goals anywhere this season."

Lamoriello wasn't willing to give up top prospects or players like Adam Henrique or Adam Larsson to make a bigger deal which might disrupt the team.

"We're very happy with the team," Lamoriello said. "Fortunately we have players coming back healthy-- (Alexei) Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and hopefully (Ilya) Kovalchuk is not too far off. We don't know yet (about the timing of Kovalchuk's return). We had the addition of (Andrei) Loktionov earlier and Jacob Josefson is completely healthy now. He'll be ready to come up (from Albany) shortly."

Sullivan is hoping he can do what Gilmour couldn’t—help win a Stanley Cup.

“That’s the ultimate goal. I don’t have one," Sullivan said of the coveted trophy. “Going back to being a young kid, that is your dream to win the Stanley Cup. When you don’t have one, your drive for one is the highest it can be.”

While the Devils acquired Sullivan, the Boston Bruins traded for Jaromir Jagr on Tuesday.

“They got a good offensive player there. It will be interesting where they put him,” Patrik Elias said. “It makes them more dangerously offensively with him, obviously.”

David Clarkson said of the Jagr deal: “I believe anytime you add a guy like that it’s definitely a boost. Bringing him in definitely helps.”

DeBoer on where the Devils are in the standings: "We had a good start. We struggled for stretches the second half here, longer stretches than I would've liked, for different reasons, So we're probably where we should be. The important thing is where we finish here.

“We have a lot of character in that room. We went on a deep playoff run with a lot of guys sitting in that room right now. It’s on us to recapture some of that magic down the stretch.”

Travis Zajac: "He helps them offensively, that's for sure. He's a big guy, tough to move off the puck."

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013

667837 New Jersey Devils

Devils acquire Steve Sullivan from Phoenix Coyotes

Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

on April 03, 2013 at 7:02 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 7:38 PM

The Devils acquired forward Steve Sullivan from the Phoenix Coyotes today in exchange for the club’s seventh-round selection in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Sullivan, who must pass a physical tomorrow, would become the 24th player to be re-acquired by the Devils. He was the Devils' 10th selection in the 9th round (233rd overall) selection in 1994.

"He's going to be a utility player that will give the coach options. We'll have to see him in practice before we make any judgements," general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "He's a player that can play in versatile situations. He's played in big-time playoff games. He knows the pressures of the league and will be a steadying influence in different areas."

Sullivan, 38, had five goals and seven assists for 12 points and 20 penalty minutes in 33 games with Phoenix this season after signing as a free agent on July 4.

"I'm very excited. It was a shock. I really didn't see it coming," Sullivan said. "But it's a great opportunity. I'm glad to be going back to where it all began. It's a first class organization I had a hard time leaving years ago."

The Devils traded Sullivan, defenseman Jason Smith and the rights to Alyn McCauley to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 25, 1997, for Doug Gilmour, Dave Ellett and a draft pick.

He has career totals of 288 goals and 454 assists for 742 points and 583 penalty minutes in 1,002 career appearances over 15 seasons with the Devils, Toronto, Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Phoenix.

"He played last night. To my knowledge he is healthy," Lamoriello said. "I'm sure he has some (bumps and bruises) after 1,000 games.

"I think he's capable of giving some quality minutes when called upon. I think he can go in any role on any line. He still knows how to score goals. That's been his forte. There aren't a lot of people scoring many goals anywhere this season."

Sullivan recorded a career-high 34 goals and 75 points with the Blackhawks in 2000-01. He appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last week on Mar. 28 at Nashville. He was the recipient of the 2008-09 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

"I have no idea what (the Devils') plans are for me," Sullivan said. "I'll go in with an open mind."

The Sullivan deal was the only trade made by the Devils today.

"We're very happy with the team," Lamoriello said. "Fortunately we have players coming back healthy-- (Alexei) Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and hopefully (Ilya) Kovalchuk is not too far off. We don't know yet," Lamoriello said. "We had the addition of (Andrei) Loktionov earlier and Jacob Josefson is completely healthy now. He'll be ready to come up (from Albany) shortly."

Sullivan was excited to join a playoff race.

"It's going to be great," he said. "As hockey players our goal is to play for the Stanley Cup. To do that you have to get into the playoffs. Getting back into the thick of things is going to be refreshing. I look forward hopefully for the chance to play for the Stanley Cup."

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013

667838 New Jersey Devils

Devils: Marek Zidlicky missed practice for family issue, will play in Boston

Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

on April 03, 2013 at 2:38 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 3:55 PM

The Devils have not traded Marek Zidlicky.

The defenseman missed practice today because of a family matter. Coach Pete DeBoer said he would travel with the team to Boston and will play tomorrow night against the Bruins.

"Just for a personal reason," DeBoer said.

The Devils acquired Steve Sullivan today from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2014.

Right winger Tom Kostopoulos said he briefly lost consciousness during his fight with Matt Martin of the Islanders but did not hit his head on the ice.

"No. Just the punch," Kostopoulos said.

Kostopoulos said he feels good and has not watched the fight on video.

Center Travis Zajac, who did not come to the rink yesterday after struggling with the flu during Monday night's game, said he has improved.

"I feel better," Zajac said. "It wasn't too bad when the game started. It worse worse."

During Monday's morning skate, DeBoer was knocked to the ice by Anton Volchenkov.

In practice today, assistant coach Scott Stevens went down when he collided with Mark Fayne. Stevens, not wearing a helmet or other protective gear, was skating as Bryce Salvador's defense partner since Zidlicky was absent.

"Two (coaches) have been taken out," DeBoer said with a laugh. "I can tell you neither of us have been traded. If one of us was being traded it wouldn't be Scott.

"I think (Fayne) was just an accident. I can see Volchy stepping up on me. I don't know if anybody is (dumb) enough to purposely hit Scott Stevens."

DeBoer on Devils' place

"We had a good start. We struggled for stretches the second half here, longer stretcjes than I would've liked, for different reasons," DeBoer said. "So we're probably where we should be. The important thing is where we finish here."

The Devils practiced shootouts today.

"We didn't practice it last year. We didn't need to," DeBoer said of the Devils' 12-4 shootout record in 2011-12. "It's become evident as the season's gone on that we have to do something different. Our preparation on a nightly basis for who we're playing hasn't changed from last year. We have to try something else. Maybe some different guys or practice a little more."

DeBoer recalls being a part of a deadline trade when he was playing junior hockey. Toronto dealt him to Vancouver.

"Major deal," he said with a laugh. "Was that a deadline deal? What a slow deadline. I got traded from Toronto, who drafted me, to Vancouver. I was on a bus somewhere in northern Ontario. No cell phones at that time so I heard about it (from the coach).

"For me at that point it was exciting that someone thought enough of you to trade for you."

Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013

667839 New Jersey Devils

Devils, with trade deadline looming, prepare to face Boston Bruins