Get ready, hockey fans, the first Nashville Predators game of what will surely be a very strange season is just hours away -- the Preds face the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. So on this week's episode of It's All Your Fault, Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling ponder one burning question going into the season: Will the team's top scorers ... score?Last season several star players struggled to get the puck in the net on a regular basis. Filip Forsberg scoreless in the month of February aka Filbruary and Matt Duchene racked up just 13 goals in 66 games (he was a 30 goal scorer in 2015-16 with the Colorado Avalanche). Even Viktor Arvidsson hit a slump -- he had just 15 goals in 57 games despite breaking the franchise record with 34 goals in 58 games the season before. What changes will Coach Hynes make this year to avoid a similar fate?Also discussed: How has COVID-19 impacted the NHL so far? Is there room on the roster for Yakov Trenin? Plus: Fans got their Pekka Rinne goalie goal and their Forsberg lacrosse goal last season, so what unusual play is on your wishlist this year?

It's All Your Fault

Let's Talk Lines

Welcome to 2021, hockey fans, where the NHL season is only 56 games long and the four divisions are split up unlike ever before. Weird!On the first episode of the new year, cohosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling take a closer look at some of the changes the Nashville Predators made during the offseason. The team signed a handful of new guys including Nick Cousins, Mark Borowiecki, Brad Richardson and Erik Haula and parted ways with Austin Watson, Nick Bonino, Craig Smith and Kyle Turris. What will the new blood bring to the ice? And will there be room on the roster for Eeli Tolvanen?Also discussed: What’s a taxi squad? Will coach John Hynes ever get a full training camp with his new team? And what will happen to the two-way contract players like Rem Pitlick and Tyler Lewington now that the Milwaukee Admirals have opted out of the 2021 season? Plus: Predictions! Sure, it’s too early to tell much of anything, but it’s fun to guess the future.

Embrace the Chaos

In the past week or so, the Nashville Predators have traded away Craig Smith, Austin Watson, Nick Bonino, Kyle Turris and Colin Blackwell, moves that left many Preds fans wondering what kind of tricks GM David Poile had hidden up his sleeve. So this week hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling take a closer look at some of the new guys -- Matt Benning, Mark Borowiecki, Luke Kunin, Devin Cooley and Yaroslav Askarov -- and discuss where they fit in the on the roster and what David Poile might have planned.Is he clearing out cap space for a big star? Is this a move to save money during the pandemic, which has caused sports franchises to lose out on millions of dollars in ticket sales and merchandising? Or are the Preds looking for a fresh start with younger, more moldable players?Plus: What does Poile's decision to use his first draft pick on a goalie say about Juuse Saros's future with the franchise? Should the NHL shorten the 20-21 season? And which new guy has the most unique pet?

What's Poile Plannin'?

Roman Josi is a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman! This week hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling celebrate Josi and his much-deserved victory. The voting wasn't even close! Is the NHL finally ready to take Nashville seriously? Also discussed: Mikael Granlund's agent has said the Finnish forward will test free agency. Is this a bluff to try to get David Poile to pay more? Plus: Does the hiring of Dan Hinote mean Ryan Johansen is here to stay? How will Nashville fans greet Peter Laviolette when he returns to town with the Capitals? And, for some reason, Seling sings a Reel Big Fish song.

Roman Josi Wins the Norris

On this week's IAYF, hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling look into their crystal hockey puck and try to predict what the Nashville Predators roster might look like come October ... er, December. When does the season start again?Anyway, there's a whole crop of young Preds prospects itching to get on NHL ice, and general manager David Poile has said it's time to make some changes. Will 2020-21 be Eeli Tolvanen's season to shine? And what could Milwaukee stars like Rem Pitlick, Daniel Carr, Alexandre Carrier and Yakov Trenin bring to the table given the opportunity to play more than a handful of games with the team?Also discussed: Everyone's always talking about who should be traded, but is there a Predator who wants to be sent to a new city? And could Pekka Rinne be happy as the back-up goalie?Plus: Goodbye, Mike Milbury!

Talkin' Prospects and Trade Probabilities

Well, it's over. For the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Nashville Predators won't be playing in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. For Preds fans, it is the cherry on top of this otherwise truly awful year. This week hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling unpack the team's performance against the Arizona Coyotes and discuss what moves General Manager David Poile might and should make in the offseason. Will there be a fire sale? Trade and dump 'em all? Or is Poile the one who needs to go? And which players out there should the franchise be making a move for? Taylor Hall? Dustin Byfuglien? Or should they focus instead on the talent waiting in the wings in Milwaukee?Plus: Has Pekka officially passed the torch to Juuse? What kind of player will assumed first round pick Alexis Lafreniere be for the Rangers? And Gallagher gives a rundown of all the prospects the Preds should consider drafting come October.

Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened

Sunday's Preds game was hard to watch. While most players looked strong and refreshed during July's training camp (as well as Thursday's exhibition game against the Dallas Stars) the team appeared to fall back into old habits when it came time for their first game in the post-season qualifying round against the Arizona Coyotes.It went downhill fast, the second Arizona scored early on a lucky bounce, in fact. They racked up penalties and struggled to get their heads back in the game.But Preds hockey is nothing if not a roller coaster. They may have lost 4-3, but they could've lost 4-1! An effort was made in the third period! On this week's episode hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling discuss what went wrong (penalties, penalties and more penalties) and what went right (Filip Forsberg). Plus: Will Coach Hynes put Pekka Rinne in the net for one of this week's back-to-back games? Which player should be getting more time on the ice? Will at least one white NHL player please take a knee? And how are all of our end-of-season predictions looking now, after, you know, a global pandemic?

Old Habits Die Hard?

Last time, on the Nashville Predators hockey show: No one was happy and everything was terrible. Even with a mid-season coaching change the Preds struggled to maintain consistency -- the playoffs were slipping further and further away and the overall mood on the ice got more and more frustrated. And then came the global disaster.But after months of quarantining and questioning the future of all sports everywhere, hockey is back and so are IAYF hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling! Wearing masks, of course.Gallagher attended Preds practices and made the following observations: The players appear to be having fun, Viktor Arvidsson appears to be completely healthy and John Hynes has their full attention and dedication.Also discussed: Will Juuse Saros get the post-season start spot over Pekka Rinne? (Yes.) Which rookie will be sent down to the breakfast buffet first to makes sure Corey Perry isn't lurking around any corners? (McCarron, prolly.) And is there any reason at all why the Preds should save their energy in the series against the Coyotes and instead hope to get that first round draft pick? (NO. NO, THERE IS NOT. STOP SAYING THERE IS.)Let's do that hockey, Smashville!

Back On Our Hockey Bull$h!t

When Kevin FIala was drafted by Nashville in 2014, he was just 17 years old and considered one of the top European prospects. But, while he did have a few impressive streaks, once he got on the ice with the Preds for the 2016-17 season, he struggled to fully live up to expectations. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Mikael Granlund in Feb. 2019.Fiala is thriving in Minnesota. He's scored 11 points in the past five games and he has a career-high 51 points so far this season, outproducing everyone on the Preds save for Norris-worthy Roman Josi. This week, hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling discuss how team and coaching changes can positively impact a player. Was Fiala being stifled by Nashville's system? Or was it just timing that he hit his stride and found his confidence?Also discussed: The very kind and generous Chicago Blackhawks (not a typo!), whether or not the Preds are healthy enough for the playoffs (probably not!) and Pekka Rinne's future with the franchise (it's questionable!).Also: If you're looking to do something nice for Nashville's first responders, the folks who were on the front lines after Monday's deadly tornadoes, consider donating your Preds tickets to 7Element (7element.org), the organization that passes donated tickets along to the city's vets and first responders.To volunteer in Nashville, visit Hands on Nashville at hon.org, to make a monetary donation visit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee at cfmt.org.

Shit-Talking Kevin Fiala

The trade deadline came and went and, well, not a whole lot happened, actually! For weeks Preds fans and media folks alike have been speculating about the possible plans David Poile had in mind to deepen the Preds’ defense and … the answer is none. In fact, hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling discuss the possibility that the one move he did make maybe made things worse!? Plus: Is Viktor Arvidsson returning to his old ways? Let’s hope so! Can Ryan Ellis fix everything now that he’s back? Let’s hope so! Is John Hynes going to keep up with the Peter Laviolette tradition of always changing up the lines? Let’s hope … not! Because it might be the reason some of the players haven’t been able to click, actually, so maybe it’s time to pick some lines and stick to them, OK Hynes?

Krystal for White Castle

Nooooo! It was going so well! The Preds won three games in a row for the first time since October — a run that included a home-and-home against reigning Stanley Cup champions the St. Louis Blues — and then on Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team bumbled their way through 60 minutes only to lose 4-1. Oof.This week hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling wonder, was Tuesday night's game is a sign that the team is back on their old bullshit? Or has the team started to make lasting changes under John Hynes and that game was just a bump in the road that's (finally) going in the right direction?Also discussed: Analytics. Do they have value? And because the Preds desperately need another defenseman, Gallagher takes a closer look at some of the players David Poile should be considering before Monday's trade deadline.Plus: Viktor Arvidsson is obviously still hurting from an injury. Should he be playing or healing?

Analytics, Schmanalytics

Oops, they did it again.Last week the playoffs weren't that far out of reach for the Preds — the team was just a point or two away from slipping into a wildcard slot, with a few games in hand to boot. But thanks to some frustrating calls in Saturday's game against the Oilers and another Barf Bag Game of the Week performance against the Canucks, the Preds have (once again) slipped further back in the standings.Now that we're halfway through February, with fewer than 30 games remaining, hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling wonder: Is the team — and the team's confidence — too far gone to recover?Even with a few players responding positively to the new coaching style — namely Mikael Granlund and Dante Fabbro — the list of issues is still so long. There isn't enough defensive depth, the goal tending is too inconsistent and the top forwards are all under-performing to the point where Hynes has cut their playing time in half. Oof!Also discussed: Pekka Rinne's future with the franchise, the team's surprising goals-against statistic and what moves Hynes and Poile could/should make in the offseason if the Preds don't make the playoffs. (Byfuglien! Get Dustin Byfuglien!)

The Saddest Episode Ever

OK, Mikael Grandlund, we see you. While the team continues to be plagued with inconsistencies (seriously, it's starting to feel like Groundhog Day over here as the Preds keep struggling with the same issues week after week), hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling take a moment to appreciate a silver lining, Mikael Granlund. Not only did he score the game-winning overtime goal against the Jets on Tuesday night, but he also played with more hustle and grit than we've seen from, well, anyone lately. He was getting in front of the net and pestering the goalie like Viktor Arvidsson used to do! Is new coach John Hynes getting through to him?Also discussed: What if Poile made a move for Dustin Byfuglien? The Preds need a powerful defenseman. And Byfuglien is on the outs with the Jets, so surely he'd love to flip 'em the bird as he walks away to join a division rival. There are worse ideas! Plus: Is it time to bring in Preds' prospect Philip Tomasino? Haha, no. Way too early. But the kid has been killing it with the Oshaway Generals in OHL, giving Preds fans something to look forward to in the next couple years.

OK, he can stay. For now.

The Preds still have a shot at making the playoffs, but, as made painfully obvious in their past two games, inconsistencies continue to plague the team. This week hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling debate the pros and cons of squeezing into a wild card slot.Would a run of wins boost the team's confidence enough to get them through the tough battles waiting for them in the postseason? Or could a bad performance in the playoffs shake their confidence further, and possibly bleed into next season? Should they focus less on improving this season specifically, and instead begin building a stronger foundation for next season? Let's discuss!Also: Nick Bonino is so good at scoring goals, he even scores against his own team! And what kind of impact does John Hynes' decision to drastically cut Ryan Johansen's playing time Monday night have on the team as a whole?

Do the Playoffs Matter?

Thanks to the All-Star break, the Nashville Predators won't play another hockey game until Monday, Jan. 27, giving new coach John Hynes plenty of time to review tapes, study the analytics and (hopefully) get the Preds' game back on track. On this week's episode, hosts Michael Gallagher, Geert De Lombaerde and Megan Seling talk about which aspects need most improving. For one, the team's top forwards continue to be stuck in a slump. And with Ryan Ellis still out with an injury, it's worth considering the possibility that David Poile will trade a decent forward to bring in some defensive depth before the February trade deadline. If so, who should go? Arvidsson? Granlund? Turris?Plus: Ranting about Corey Perry, raving about Rocco Grimaldi, and, as if you weren't stressed enough, Gallagher has a pretty daunting Number of the Week that'll make you reconsider just how dire our current defense situation really is.

Which Forward Has to Go?

"It's All Your Fault" is a Nashville Predators podcast from the Nashville Scene

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It's All Your Fault

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