Once the season starts, who has the advantage: the rested or the battle tested?

There were two schools of thought during the lockout: use the down time to rest up or go play elsewhere so you can get into game shape. On January 19, we’ll find out which take had the advantage. Of the 23 players expected to take part in Nashville Predators training camp next week, 10 played somewhere during the lockout. That “somewhere” could be Russia, Denmark, Sweden or even right here in the United States with the Milwaukee Admirals or Cincinnati Cyclones. No matter how you slice it, however, nearly half of the camp roster has been playing while a little more than half hasn’t. Predators forward Paul Gaustad decided to use the down time for personal matters. After all, being a hockey player is nearly a year-round job. Time off is extremely rare until you hang up the skates for good. “It was nice to get my family settled here in Nashville,” Gaustad said. “And I skated with the guys here and we had some good work outs.” Captain Shea Weber held practices four days a week at A-Game ...