Thoughts on Lundqvist, Talbot and the Rangers ...

If the New York Rangers had won the 2015 Stanley Cup, I believe goaltender Henrik Lundqvist would have called it a career. He seems to me to be the kind of guy who would be fine knowing he could probably put in a few more great seasons, but having finally won a Stanley Cup would be more than satisfied to move on to other things; especially knowing that Cam Talbot would be there to take over in net for the Rangers.

In fact, if the Rangers had won the Cup, Lundqvist had retired, and Talbot did take over in net for the coming season, I can imagine New York having a serious chance at winning a second straight Cup. (Despite the odds in a 30-team league.) Alas, they didn't win the Cup and Talbot has now been traded to Edmonton.

Some people think the Oilers should have picked up a goalie who's already had experience as a full-time starter, and that Talbot either isn't ready for that role or it's too much of a risk for a struggling team like Edmonton. Well, why were the Rangers willing to trade Talbot?

First off, Lundqvist is coming back for another season. He does have a few great seasons left and still wants that Stanley Cup. Also, Talbot will become an unrestricted free-agent at the end of the coming season. But, just as much if not more of a factor in the decision to trade Talbot, was the fact that both Talbot and the Rangers were certain he was ready to be a starter in the NHL.

I have little doubt that, if neither the Rangers nor Talbot himself thought he was truly ready, they both would have been satisfied with him backing up Lundqvist for another season. Another season likely involving another strong run at the Cup, while management works on a new contract with Talbot during the season.

Should the unthinkable happen and the Rangers fall apart in the regular season, a trade deadline trade with a playoff team looking for goaltending insurance could have got New York just as much or more than they got from Edmonton for Talbot. But if they do make the playoff and win the Cup, then we get the "Lundqvist retires/Talbot takes over" scenario again.

Anyhoo...

Thoughts on 15/16 Predators defense roster...

I’m fairly certain neither Cody Franson nor Anton Volchenkov will be back on the blueline with the Nashville Predators for the 2015/2016 season. Mainly due to other signing priorities, but also due to the impressive development of the younger defensemen under the team's first pairing of captain Shea Weber and possible future captain Roman Josi.

In my opinion, Victor Bartley (who didn't get nearly enough games in this past season after a solid NHL rookie season, due to the addition of Volchenkov), will get much closer to a full season under his belt, especially if Weber's return for knee surgery delays his start to next season. As for someone new to replace Bartley in the extra seventh-man role...

The Predators will want to hold on to Anthony Bitetto, but will still want him to play as much as possible, so he stays in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals until there's a call-up. Unless the Predators decide to give AHL veteran Joe Piskula (13 NHL games in just over 8 seasons) his own locker in Nashville, they’ll sign another older but still reliable NHL vet to a one-year deal. A former NHL regular who's since fallen by the wayside in the AHL would be good.

Anyhoo...