Josi and Rinne. (Photo: Sarah Fuqua/flickr)

Roman Josi may find himself in the spotlight a lot more in the up-coming season than in seasons past. The Nashville Predators defenseman made his home country proud during a stunning run in the IIHF World Championships that lead to the silver medal. American Predators Craig Smith and Bobby Butler kept the medal tally going with the bronze.

Craig and Butler finished the championships with fourteen and four points, respectively, en route to a bronze medal finish. This is the United States first world medal in nine years, so be proud boys!

Josi may have only tallied nine points it the tournament, but he made real good use of those points. Josi scored Switzerland’s only goal in the gold medal match, earning Josi the tournament’s MVP and Best Defenseman awards and a spot on the 2013 All Star team. Just a little more for the history lesson today folks, Switzerland had their highest World Championship finish this year since 1935, when the country again won the silver.

In news closer to home, the Predators’s general manager David Poile announced that Phil Housley will serve as the Pred’s assistant coach for the 2013-2014 season, replacing Peter Horachek. Housley certainly has an impressive background in both NHL and international play.

As a very offensively minded defenseman (1,232 NHL points in his 21 season career; yes your jaw is allowed to drop), Housley will hopefully have a hand in bringing the Pred’s back to their defense first roots and build up the offense from there.

Finally, our favorite Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made a visit to Bridgestone Arena for a Nashville Predators Foundation event that gave away grants from the record $405,000 raised for local Nashville organizations. Always feels good to give doesn’t it – as long as it’s not goals!

Some players go home for the off season; some go on fishing extravaganzas. Then you have the Nashville Predators players who go to the IIHF World Championships. Even coach Barry Trotz has gotten in on the action, although Canada was eliminated from the tournament by Sweden Thursday morning.

The Swiss national team went into the Quarter Round play with Predator Roman Josi on defense, ready to play, and defeat, the Czech Republic Thursday morning. Josi has made his mark tallying goals in the last two games.

The Americans advanced to the semifinals with a win over Russia as the Preds’ Craig Smith lead the team with five assists. Joining Smith is the Preds’ recent acquisition forward Bobby Butler.

Up next will be a battle of the Predators as team USA takes on the Swiss national team in the semifinals this Saturday. Best of luck to the three Preds playing, we all know at least one will make it to the World Championship Final!

Halischuk helped put the Preds ahead in a 5-2 game. (Photo: Margaret/flickr)

Talk about a rousing night of hockey at Bridgestone arena! The Columbus Blue Jackets came to town only to be faced with a Nashville Predators team that hit the ground running and never looked back.

Just to mix things up tonight, we’ll take a look at the third period first and work back to the most exciting period, aka the first. » Continue reading “Predators Hang Blue Jackets Out To Dry With 5-2 Win”

Brassard gave the Blue Jackets their first win of the season. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

In a rousing start to the season, the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets gave their fans a round of heart palpitations with a shootout of epic proportions. Unfortunately, this heart stopping game did not end in a Smashville win. » Continue reading “Season Opening Shootout: Blue Jackets Stun Preds”

Sergei Kostitsyn has put up the points in Belarus during the NHL Lockout. (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)

As everyone begins to travel for the holidays, what have the Predators players who traveled overseas been up to? According to Elite Prospects, the Preds players overseas have been building up to a happy holiday! » Continue reading “Predators Keeping Pace Overseas”

Klein to remain in Nashville (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

With the NHL Lockout well underway and the preseason games cancelled, it’s hard to find a spark of hope.

But fear not good fans, for glad tidings come from Smashville this week. One player has signed a new contract and several others will be playing hockey for the season, even if they are playing in a different league.

An announcement this week by the Preds tells us that defenseman Kevin Klein has signed on for another five years of Mohawk rocking goodness with his shiny new $14.5 million dollar contract. The tried and true Predator has been and will continue to be a fan favorite with his distinctive hard hitting play.

In other defensemen news, one of the lockout casualties for the Preds has already been decided. Roman Josi has signed on in Bern with the Swiss league, choosing to spend the season at home rather than sit it out in the US.

Among other players, those to have been reassigned to Milwaukee for the time being include Ryan Ellis and young prospects Austin Watson and Taylor Aronson. Maybe we will see these baby Preds join the big kids soon.

The rumor mill has two points to keep an eye on. There is talk of the possibility of Patric Hornqvist returning to the Swedish league for the season, as well as Sergei Kostitsyn heading to Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL. Be sure to keep an eye on these boys Preds fans, they may be our hockey entertainment for the season.

Photo: kpkelly53/flickr

In our summer quest to understand the greatness of the Predators roster, we now turn our undivided attention to the Swiss national front… if there is such a thing as a Swiss national front.

What I know the Swiss do have – aside from amazing chocolate, great cheese and perfect watches – is the hometown talent of Roman Josi.

And no, he is not from a town named Rome.

He is however, from the beautiful city of Bern, Switzerland.

The recently turned twenty-two Josi began his pro career with the Schlittschuh Club Bern at age sixteen. The club gave Josi the boost needed to make the Swiss national team in two Under 18 World Championships, three Under 20 World Championships, the 2009 and 2012 IIHF Worlds, and the 2010 Swiss Olympic team (although he didn’t play due to injury).

Hello star power!

The defenseman grabbed enough attention to be picked by the Predators 38^th overall in the 2008 Entry Draft, where he was first sent back to Switzerland for two years before heading to play in Milwaukee for the next season and a half.

Josi made his NHL debut in November 2011 against the Detroit Red Wings and just seven games later scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks. Since then, we have seen the star power that can be achieved by Roman Josi.

Season Stats:

Games played: 52

Goals: 5

Assists: 11

Penalty minutes: 14

Shots: 64

Playoff games played: 10