Öffentlich » higher than theyve ever been before,

Does any team have a bigger buzz around it than the Nashville Predators?In less than a year, the Predators have been involved in two of the biggest blockbusters in recent history, acquiring center Ryan Johansen and defenseman P. Hines Ward Youth Jersey .K. Subban and continuing the transformation of a once defense-first hockey club into an exciting, puck-possession, offensive outfit.The end result? The Preds enter the season as a popular pick to go a long way.Theres no question that the expectations are maybe higher than theyve ever been before, said veteran Predators GM David Poile. I have to take that as a good thing. I realize we havent won a game yet, we have to play them, and all those clichés I can give you. But the fact is, a lot of people think we have a good club and I believe our players think that, I know our coaches do, and well do our best to fulfill our expectations.Last seasons first-round win against the Anaheim Ducks signaled the Predators ascension. Theyll need veteran goalie Pekka Rinne to bounce back this season and theyll need goals from players other than Filip Forsberg and James Neal.But with the NHLs best blue-line corps led by Roman Josi, the skys the limit for this team.Best new facesSubban brings his razzle-dazzle game to the Music City in what seems like a perfect fit, not just in the sense of a market embracing his ebullient personality, but certainly on the ice where head coach Peter Laviolette espouses an aggressive, offensive-minded game. Subban should feel he has more freedom here than he did in Montreal.Joining a blue-line that already has Josi -- is there a Norris Trophy in his near future? -- as well as Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Yannick Weber and Matt Carle underlines this teams No. 1 strength: puck-possessing, puck-moving D.Carle might prove to be a sneaky signing at just one year for $700,000. Bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, and freed of the burden of that big contract he signed, a third-pairing role with low expectations should bode well for the veteran Carle on this team. Plus, hes reunited with Laviolette, under whom he played some of his best hockey with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in his career.Biggest unknownsWho else will score goals other than Forsberg (33 goals last season) and Neal (31 goals)?How about Colin Wilson, who had just six goals and 18 assists in 64 regular-season games last season but then put up five goals and eight assists in 14 playoff games? Everyone loves a player who steps up come playoff time, which Wilson also did the previous spring with five playoff goals in six games, but the Predators would love Wilson, 26, to also show that kind of production in the regular season. It would go a long way to alleviate the teams scoring concerns up front.Absolutely. That is a question, said Poile. Weve kind of labeled him Playoff Wilson. Well, we need him to be not only Playoff Wilson but also Regular-Season Wilson. Theres no question he can do it because weve seen it on occasion the last two playoffs. This year, hes a year older, more mature, wiser, our expectations are very high for him to have a good regular season in addition to a good playoffs. Just by him scoring at the rate that he should be, that could be a huge difference for us.Another unknown is Rinne, who turns 34 in early November. After years of saving this teams bacon, the aging goalie must now prove hes still capable of a prime-time performance. His save percentage dipped from .923 in 2014-15 to .908 last season. Rinne needs to be good for the Predators to be a true Cup contender.And finally, what about the loss of longtime captain Shea Weber, traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban? His presence in the dressing room leaves a crater on the leadership front, no matter what anybody says. Talk to other players on Team Canada during the World Cup, not to mention head coach Mike Babcock, and the respect and admiration for Weber as a leader is through the roof.Veteran center Mike Fisher was named captain, an excellent choice; hes as respected as any player in that room. But it remains a question mark entering this season how the team will fill Webers overall leadership skills.Sure thingsThe blue-line corps, as mentioned, for my money is the best in the NHL. Its going to carry this team to many a win this season.Up front, Forsberg continues to improve as an elite goal scorer, and hes only 22. He put up 26 goals in his first full NHL season two years ago and followed that up with 33 last season. No reason he cant get to 37-40 goals this season if he stays healthy.PredictionIm banking on Rinne bouncing back and the offense up front getting better. I just love the way this team plays and how that blue-line corps is constructed. The Central Division race is going to be an absolute beast, where Id argue four teams can all win it. But give me the Preds atop the division when the regular season ends in April, and a deep playoff run to follow. First in the Central. Lynn Swann Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Joe Greene Womens Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steel...-Miller-Jersey/ .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup.Nine of the 11 Grade 1 winners from Aintrees Grand National meeting have been entered at the Punchestown Festival, while nine of the 13 Grade 1 winners from last months Cheltenham Festival are also engaged. A vintage jump season looks set to end on a high with a potential clash between Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack, Cue Card and Vautour in the €200,000 Grade 1 Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, April 27.The latter, part of a sizeable potential Punchestown raiding party trained in Dorset by Colin Tizzard, fell at Cheltenham but made amends in style when winning the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl by nine lengths at Aintree. Cue Card and Don Cossack are among 20 entries that also include the Cheltenham second, third and fourth - Djakadam, Don Poli and Carlingford Lough. Ryanair Chase winner Vautour, a faller at Aintree last week, could step back up in trip for this contest.Both Tizzard and Don Cossacks trainer, Gordon Elliott, are looking forward to the big race.The plan always was to go on to Punchestown and I dont see any reason to change that, Tizzard said.He fell at Cheltenham and mentally didnt have a hard race. He also didnt have too hard a race at Aintree and hes come out of it all fine.From three out to two out at Aintree he came through a gap and came eight lengths clear without ever seeming to do too much.Hes in the form of his life so theres no reason not to go.Speaking about Don Cossack, he added: Hopefully they both jump a clear round. Don Cossacks fallen once, weve fallen once and hopefully they both jump clear and well see who finishes in front. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Gordon Elliott, trainer of Don Cossack, reports his charge to be in good shape, as he bids for back-to-back victories in the race. He worked Don Cossack work over a mile and a half alongside stable companion Cause Of Causes in front of media at Punchestown on Monday.He said: We havent done anything serious with him since then and today was the first time that hes really stretched his legs since Cheltenham.Cue Card is a horse Ive got massive respect for. Its going to be a very good race at Punchestown.He (Don Cossack) will have one more good bit of work and then its all systems go.The Punchestown Gold Cup promises to be the most enthralling race of this years Festival, with brilliant Ryanair Chase hero Vautour, who suffered a shock fall at Aintree last Friday, also a likely runner.Trainer Willie Mullins said: Theres a very good chance Vautour will run in the Gold Cup.Hes as fit as a flea and as long as hes sparkling at home, hell take his chance.Sprinter Sacre has been entered for the Grade 1 €200,000 BoyleSports Champion Chase on Tuesday, April 26. Nicky Hendersons brilliant performer won the Punchestown contest in 2013 and looked as good as ever when winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month.Punchestowns racing manager Richie Galway revealed that Henderson has not yet ruled out a return to Ireland with his stable star, who claimed the same prize in 2013.Galway said: Myself and Shona Dreaper met Nicky in Newbury recently and we said weve love to have Sprinter Sacre running.He said the day that he won in Punchestown for himself and the owners was one of the great days they had with Sprinter Sacre.Cheltenham runner-up Un De Sceaux and third Special Tiara, trained by Henry de Bromhead, are also engaged, as well as Sprinter Sacres stablemate Simonsig, who has not run since November, and Kerry Lees recent Normans Grove Chase winner Top Gamble.Other highlights on Tuesday include the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles. It could feature a clash between the Willie Mullins-trained Yorkhill, a Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and Aintree this year, and the Henderson-trained Buveur DAir, winner of a Grade 1 novicce hurdle at Aintree on Friday. Lynn Swann Jersey. here are 30 entered for the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase the same day. Native River, winner of the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree, is set to represent Colin Tizzard in the 3m 1f contest, while Sandy Thomsons stable star Seeyouatmidnight is another possible runner from Britain.Alongside the Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup, Wednesday also features the Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.Among the 36 entries is Yorkhill, who could step up to three miles for this event, while the Ben Pauling-trained Barters Hill, winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, is among those expected to travel over from Britain.All eyes will be on the brilliant Thistlecrack on Thursday when he is expected to start in the €200,000 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle.Colin Tizzards brilliant hurdler ran at last years Punchestown Festival, where he came second in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle, and he has not been beaten since. Having won Saturdays Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade 1 Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham, he is set to bid to complete a rare treble at Punchestown.Willie Mullins has given his star mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag this option - although the former is more likely to stay at two miles - while the Coral Cup winner Diamond King could bid to continue his upward career trajectory for trainer Gordon Elliott. The Dan Skelton-trained Value At Risk, winner of the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse on April 28, is in the reckoning to bid for another fruitful foray to Ireland.The fantastic Douvan heads the entries in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase.Despite being only six, he has already won six times in Grade 1 company, including effortless displays at Cheltenham and Aintree. His potential opponents include Kylemough Lough, who gave rookie British trainer Kerry Lee a first Grade 1 success in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on March 27.No less eagerly awaited will be the expected appearance of the great Annie Power in the €200,000 Grade 1 Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday.She would line up in the race on the back of superb wins in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and by 18 lengths in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. The runner-up on both occasions, My Tent Or Yours, could reoppose for trainer Nicky Henderson.Mullins confirmed on Monday that Annie Power was on course to run.Annie Power seems fine and the plan is to go for the Champion Hurdle, he said. It will only be her fourth run of the season.I imagine all the top guns will run as its the last big Festival of the season.Yorkhill must have some engine to do what he did in Aintree the other day. If hes recovered, he could go to Punchestown. Hes a good eater and he drinks well and hell get a good rest before then.Apples Jade was a revelation at Aintree. She had some training problems after Christmas and (in hindsight) we obviously didnt have her as straight as wed want at Cheltenham.Theres a bumper 39-strong entry for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle with the likes of Barters Hills, Buveur DAir and the aforementioned Yorkhill all being given this option.Improving Brain Power is another entered by Nicky Henderson, Aidan OBrien could run recent Fairyhouse Grade 2 winner Slowmotion, and Apples Jade has also been entered.Dick OSullivan, Punchestowns General Manager, said: These are vintage times for jump racing with some fantastic horses based both in Ireland and across the water in Britain.Weve seen a series of great performances at Cheltenham and Aintree, as well as at home, in recent weeks and we are obviously thrilled that so many of the top horses look set to line up at the 2016 Punchestown Festival. There are some fantastic showdowns in prospect at what promises to be five magical days of racing. 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