Frustration abounds

Good afternoon, fellow Preds fans. My apologies for the last 10 days or so being so quiet. There's been traveling, family loss, and personal sickness so I'm not gonna even try to catch up with my thoughts on the individual games that have been played. Instead, I'll just try to sum it up and see where we go from here. Well, there's no way to take a picture this ugly, and turn it into the Mona Lisa. After 10 games played, the Preds are at 3-6-1, with 7 points earned out of 20 possible. There's a lot of frustration in Smashville, as the fans here know that, while we are not an elite team, we are talented enough that we should be able to compete night in and night out. After winning their first 2 games against Dallas and Colorado, the Predators lost 6 straight, getting one point for a shootout loss in Washington. The Predators surrendered 22 goals, while scoring only 6. Ten games in, our highly touted defense is -18 overall, with Klein being a -8 after 10 games and Hamhuis -7 after 6 games. In an attempt to garner more offense out of his roster, GM David Poile sent Mke Santorelli down to Milwaukee after 5 games, 0 points and a -5 rating and called up Cal O'Rielly who also has 0 points in the 5 games he has played, although with an even rating. Today the Predators have sent Ryan Jones, who has 0 points in 8 games played, down to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee and called Mike Santorelli back up. Of the 25 skaters that have dressed in a Predators jersey, 9 players have 0 points. THAT'S 50 GAMES PLAYED WITH ZERO PRODUCTION! So Preds fans, I ask you: Who's to blame? What needs to change? There are many who are pointing at the players... they are, after all, the ones who are counted on to do the actual scoring. Others will point to the injuries, with regulars Hamhuis, Arnott and Tootoo currently out of the lineup. I will say this, I feel like Tootoo being out is of a much bigger impact than the scoresheet, at least the Nashville scoresheet. You've heard it seemingly a hundred times, those quotes from other players that describe Tootoo as a player you love to have on your team, but you hate to play against him. Tootoo brings an energy to the ice that invigorates the rest of his team, while at the same time has opposing skaters looking over their shoulders. There's no greater mistake that a player can make than not being aware of Tootoo's presence when he is on the ice. The Preds fans reading this are like me in thinking that Tootoo plays a hard game, but plays with respect, while fans of any other teams will consider him a dirty player. Regardless of your opinion of him, you watch him. So I think the Preds fortunes will improve when he returns. Some may feel inclined to blame Poile for the disastrous start to this season. Many have pointed out the inactivity of the Predators during the summer, when they opted to give the kids a shot instead of spending money in free-agency. Here's where some of you will get up in arms with me: I think it is finally time for a coaching change. I have never before felt that way, even last season when we started so slowly. But this season, it seems to be the coaches just aren't getting through. The power-play is a laugh, converting at a rate of just over 8%. During the Preds second visit to Dallas, after giving up a 3rd goal, the camera zeroed in on the Preds bench, and even though there was no audio, it was clear that Trotz was stringing together a run of "f-bombs". The Preds responded by surrendering another 3 goals. Right now, I don't have any faith in our coaching staff, and after a string of first-round disappointments for 4 years running, and missing the playoffs last year, it seems to me that any praise for Trotz and company is a celebration of mediocrity. Now... that's what I think needs to happen. As for what I think will actually happen, it's simple. Nothing.

I realize that this post has been pretty strong in opinion, and the beauty of opinions is that everyone has one. Now that I have shared mine, I hope you will do the same in the comments section below. All I ask is that you keep it clean and respectful. I will be the first to admit I am no genius, and if you want to blast me, go for it. If anyone else posts a comment, do not insult them or verbally assault them. And lastly, if you disagree with anything, tell me why. In explaining our opinions, we may color someone else's simply by having given them another perspective. Until next time, God bless. - Big Kev