Now What Does Nashville Do?

from Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck, The good news for Predators fans is that GM David Poile was prepared to add a multi-million dollar salary to his roster, without sending a current player back in trade. While that budget might have had a little extra allowance considering that an elite, 21-year-old goal-scorer was on the market, this is a sign that Poile is indeed in a buying mood. So what do the Preds need, and what’s available? Obviously a goal-scoring winger would be nice, but depth on defense is also a concern. As much as the organization touts the development of Alexander Sulzer, Cody Franson, and Teemu Laakso, it boggles the mind to think that the Preds seriously plan on relying on three rookies in the 5-6-7 spots on the defensive depth chart. Combine that with the tremendous turnover in penalty killing personnel, and I’ll toss a name out there that I’d like to see the Predators sign - not at all a replacement for Kessel, but a guy who can bolster the 3rd pairing on D and soak up the PK minutes so that Hamhuis, Suter and Weber don’t have to. His name? Greg de Vries. read on