Koivu trade brings Predators new life
August3rd, 2002

by Mike


If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it, does it make a noise?

More to the point, if a player nets 40 goals but does it in Nashville, would anybody notice?

It's early yet, surely too early to be predicting 40-goal scorers and hardware winners, but two people that would definitely notice are Saku Koivu and Vaclav Prospal. The two forwards are hanging on Marian Gaborik's coat tails and surviving quite nicely.

Actually, they are doing more than that. In the six games since Koivu joined the Preds, all three have been point-per-game players. Only once in the stretch has one of the three landed on the negative side of the plus/minus category (Gaborik was a -1 in the Nashville 3-2 win over Columbus). More importantly, after a 4-10-1 start, the team is 4-2 since the deal.

Gaborik's ten goals in 21 games could approach 40 goals if the trio stay on pace. The slovakian winger has already more than doubled his numbers this year in the short time since the trade with five goals and three assists in the six games. He and Prospal are both +5 for the span with Koivu (+4) just behind. All three started the stretch in minus territory.

Koivu, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for three prospects (Jared Aulin, Artem Chernov and Ilja Nikulin) and a 2003 draft pick, has nearly done the same doubling act. The center was unimpressive for the Hawks with just two goals in 15 games. In his six games as a Predator, Koivu has seven points including two goals.

Prospal would be an easy write-off for many as not a typical first-liner but he's held his own throughout the first 21 games of the season and even took it up a notch with his new line mates. He netted two goals and was credited with four assists in the last six games.

Prospal's $2.75 million contract, in its last year, might be an issue to a more financially strapped club. The Preds are in very good shape financially and G.M. Jason Hedrick promises that the winger's contract won't be a problem. In fact, help may be on the way.

"Actually, this is the last year for rebuilding for the team," Hedrick said. "Come the trade deadline and offseason free agency, you will see the Predators dip into the checkbooks and sign some elite players." Certainly they have the funds to make such a move.

Hedrick is not clearing time in his planner for playoff hockey just yet but is hopeful that, with some improved play and improved personnel, the team may challenge for some time in the postseason. "I think that if I can get a better defender or goalie that I might be able to make a run," he said. "It also all depends on how well the team clicks together."

In addition to the Koivu line, several others have improved their play since the trade. Daniel Sedin and Matt Cullen have pitched in six and five points, respectively. John Grahame has a 1.75 GAA in his last four games. "I think that everyone can step it up one more notch."

"Henrik Sedin is one of the players, I think, that should be right up with Cullen and (Daniel) Sedin," Hedrick said. "I think (Rotislav) Klesla also needs to step it up a bit."

Hedrick has no regrets for moving three of his better prospects. "This team was starting to crumble, but Koivu, the new captain and inspiration for winning, has given these guys the taste of victory," he said. "They seem to like it a great deal."