Throwing in a wrench

Amidst continuing conversation over whether or not we’ll pick up a top six scorer before the regular season starts (although I’m inclined to think we can manage with Santorelli, O’Reilly or Jones on that second line), most forgot about David Poile’s early summer statement regarding the need for a veteran defenseman. With yesterday’s news of 33 year old, former Montreal Canadien Francis Bouillon [nicknamed “The Cube”, which I’m not going to lie, I didn’t get until last night as I was falling asleep...oh, my blonde roots!] joining the Preds at $750,000 under a one year contract*, Poile finally fulfilled that need.

On a team with a seemingly endless supply of defensive talent, this signing (official announcement has turned from signing to "professional tryout", though he passed his physical) did not appear to be necessary. But take a look at the “veterans” of our defensive core and you’ll see there’s a huge difference in what we consider veteran players in comparison to the rest of the league. As I mentioned last month, Dan Hamhuis, age 26, holds the veteran title for our defense with a mere 5 years of NHL experience. Behind him are Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, both with about 4 years of experience on the NHL level. And not that these guys aren’t capable of getting the job done but that’s only three spots. Kevin Klein just finished up his first full season with us last year and he’s considered to be the odds-on favorite to grab the last spot in the top four. While incoming rookies vie for the last two (or is it just one now, hmmm?) spots on the roster, the news of the Bouillon’s addition brings added pressure to the table, and not just for the rookies. One should not easily forget the endless struggle Coach Trotz had over deciding whether or not Kevin Klein would play last season. Early in the season, he and Ville Koistinen often rotated time on the healthy scratch list, much to my frustration. I viewed Klein as the better of the two defensemen and was pleased when it seemed as though he finally came under the coach’s good graces towards the end of the season. However, he may have fallen from grace again based on a quote Jeremy got from the head coach at Training Camp yesterday.

Wow, Kevin. Maybe I should have written a “Step It Up” edition post for you.

In pre-seasons past, there is always one player to rise above the metaphorical ashes and somewhat surprisingly find himself with a spot on the team at the end of training camp. Two season ago, it was Dan Ellis. Last season, it was Joel Ward. There’s no question in my mind that the player with bragging rights to this title at the end of camp will be one or two of the rookie defensemen left. If I were Alexander Sulzer, Teemu Laasko, Jonathan Blum or Cody Franson, I’d be kicking it into high gear right about now. As Tyra Banks asks in the intro to her show, America’s Next Top Model, “You wanna be on top?”.

*The link is in French. I can translate it for you, if needed, because I'm talented like that.