Nashville Predators

A country-lovin' defenseman will feel at home, but there'll still be heartaches by the number

By Pete McEntegart

Team Page | Predicted Finish: 22

It's hard to imagine a better fit between a player and a team than defenseman Jamie Allison and the Predators. Allison, the former Blue Jacket who signed with Nashville as a free agent last month, is an aspiring country singer who once considered quitting hockey for honky-tonk. Now Allison can spend a lot more time at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a legendary country-and-western bar across the street from the Gaylord Entertainment Center. More significant, the Predators' crying need for blueliners is worthy of a country ballad: In the off-season they traded two defensemen and let two more leave as free agents. "Whether we'll be better or worse on defense can be argued," says G.M. David Poile, "but it is time to move forward."

Tomas Vokoun Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images/NHLI SI RANKING (1 best - 30 worst) OFFENSE 24 DEFENSE 24 GOALTENDING 18 POWER PLAY 24 PENALTY KILLING 21 G.M. AND COACH 14

The signing of the 28-year-old Allison is symbolic of that new beginning. Last season owner Craig Leipold promised 8,000 season-ticket holders a rebate of the 2002-03 ticket-price increase if the team didn't make its first playoff appearance in the franchise's five-year history. After a horrible start (2-10-4-4) and a worse finish (0-10-3-2), Leipold had to dig into his wallet. Now Poile is more committed than ever to youth with only five Predators left who are older than 30. In addition to Allison, Nashville is looking for help from the two defensemen acquired from the Rangers last season for goalie Mike Dunham: Tomas Kloucek, 23, a 6'3" 225-pounder with a mean streak, and Marek Zidlicky, a skilled 26-year-old who will be making his NHL debut after a successful career in Finland.

The good news last season was the emergence of 27-year-old Tomas Vokoun in net; playing 57 of the last 58 games, he had a 2.20 goals-against average. Vokoun will have to stay sharp because the Predators again look to be punchless on offense.

Coach Barry Trotz always gets Nashville to play hard, but if better results don't come soon, he might be the one spending time at Tootsie's, singing sad songs.

Insider

The Predators need superskilled and speedy fourth-year F David Legwand to fight through traffic and play tougher on a game-to-game basis.... If D Kimmo Timonen played for a high-profile team, he would be touted as one of the better blueliners in the NHL. He does everything well.... Irritating rookie F Jordin Tootoo may be the most hated player in the league by Christmas. He punishes the opposition with big-time hits.... Underrated G Tomas Vokoun keeps the team in many games.

Issue date: October 13, 2003