Predators Upgrade Roster at the Trade Deadline
By Buddy Oakes
The Nashville Predators made improvements at the NHL trade deadline that have them well prepared for the last 20 games of the season, and may help push them to the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference.
With several moves, the Predators appear to have the strongest team that they have had since the major dismantling of high dollar players before the team was sold in the summer of 2007.
The Preds obtained Russian Olympian Denis Grebeshkov from the Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for a 2010 second round draft pick at the NHL Entry Draft this summer.
Grebeshkov is a 26-year-old defenceman from Yaroslavl, Russia who has six goals and 13 assists this year with an Oilers team that is the worst in the NHL. Last season was his best when he had seven goals and 32 assists.O
Yesterday, playing against his former Oiler team, Grebeshkov became an immediate fan favourite when he scored a goal and added an assist in his first game with Nashville as he led the Preds to a 4-3 win.
Nashville also picked up Dustin Boyd from Calgary, in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in this summer's draft. In 6o games with the Flames this season, he has scored eight goals and added 11 assists.The 23-year-old centre hails from Winnipeg and was a third round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
In 2006, he won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships while playing for Team Canada. He has played four seasons with Calgary, and is known for gritty play, being a good penalty killer, and a quality man in the faceoff circle.
Pred's Coach Barry Trotz compares him to ex-Pred, Vern Fiddler.
Nashville lost Ryan Jones, who was was placed on waivers on Tuesday, in order for the Preds to get down to the 23 man roster limit before Tuesday night's game. He was picked up by Edmonton in a move that may be related to the Grebeshkov trade.
Ryan Jones had seven goals and four assists for the Predators and did not appear to fit into the Predators future plans as they have recently promoted Cal O'Reilly and top prospect Colin Wilson who will probably be with the team for the remainder of the season.
Leading up to the deadline, there was widespread speculation that defenceman Dan Hamhuis and goalie Dan Ellis would be traded in exchange for additional offence. However, General Manager, David Poile held on to both players as few quality players were available in return.
Defencemen Alexander Sulzer and Cody Franson were sent to the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee after the trade deadline passed to bring the roster down to 22 players.
