Offseason Mailbag Part 2: Philip Tomasino’s Future with the Nashville Predators

Offseason Mailbag Part 2: Philip Tomasino’s Future with the Nashville Predators

should Nashville take a look at Patrick l how many NHL minutes do we expect to see Phil thomasino play and what are realistic expectations for next season let’s discuss all that on today’s lockdown Predators podcast your locked on Predators your daily podcast on the Nashville Predators part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome to the locked on Predators podcast and thank you for making us your first listen of the day we are your free daily Nashville Predators podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day want to kick off this mailbag episode with a shout out to our locked on PR heads those are our everyday listeners who tune in Monday through Friday to talk Nashville Predators hockey with us we appreciate your support and we love that we get to spend just a little of your day with you I’m Ann Kimmel I am a writer with Penalty Box radio and my friends I have a partner in crime you do I’m Emma lingan and I’m the Predator site editor and reporter for the hockey news on today’s show Emma and I are continuing our mailbag episode we got so many great questions from everybody so we are tackling some more mailbag questions we’re going to talk about any potential for a fit with Patrick Lin here in Nashville we’re going to predict Phil thomasino’s NHL time next season we’re also going to tell you what we think Nashville’s cup window may be but before we dive into all of those great questions you sent us we do want to let you know today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase terms apply all right Emma so this has been a hot topic for several days Patrick ler in the Columbus Blue Jackets kind of announced that they are willing to mutually find maybe a better fit for the young player Patrick l 26 years old uh this is news that Pierre LeBron broke uh last week and said you know they’ve just got mutual interest in parting ways so as you said on yesterday’s episode in a time there is a free agent anytime there’s Whispers of a trade Nashville enters the chat why because n nville has the fat wallet right now so let’s take a look at Patrick l in a fit with the Nashville Predators of course last season only played 18 games six goals nine points uh left he was injured for part of the season with a broken collarbone and then he did enter the NHL players Association assistance program in January as well but this is somebody who has had a 44g goal season back in 20178 he has oftentimes scored you know 20 plus goals in some Seasons so can be a goal scorer what is the upside and the downside to a potential fit in Nashville when it comes to Patrick l for Umma what’s kind of your initial reaction to this idea I think my initial reaction is I don’t love the price point um at 8.7 million um but I think that you know it like you said this would be a change of scenery move uh for for him and you know for the Blue Jackets I think it’s a kind of a mutual decision but I think I don’t know he’s still young and he’s big and he’s Dynamic when he’s healthy he has a bit of a history of not being able to stay healthy and um you know that could be for a variety of reasons but I think that with all the draft picks the Predators have in you know in the next in the upcoming draft I think that the cost to acquire him uh from Columbus won’t necessarily be an issue but I do think that they would have to that Columbus would have to retain some salary on him for for me to even consider that um it’s just it’s a lot with you’ve mentioned it earlier in the week that 8 million Mark gets people little Twitchy in Nashville we don’t like those now again his contract is up after 2025 26 uh but again if he’s a guy you know we talked about how timing is everything is he you know are the predators gonna make a serious run at a Stanley Cup in the next two seasons no so if you’re gonna spend that much money on a guy you would want him to be able to make a significant impact in the time that he is with the team and not saying he couldn’t make an impact but I I just to me there’s too much unknown uh and too much uh inconsistency with with the price tag that he comes with the price tag is a huge hitch in the giddy up for me as well we’re talking Philip forsberg money here people and while it is just for two years and you can say hey you know what especially if Columbus were to retain salary we could take this guy out for a spin for two years and see what happens you need somebody for more than two years to if you are looking for a bigger fish to be an impact player to get Nashville into a deep cup run which is something we’re going to talk about later in this episode as well kind of a time frame for that I’d love that there is potential for another big goal scorer with Patrick l the other thing that I would say and and I mean this as a compliment for sure to the Nashville Predators if you have a player who is looking for or a a change of scenery if you’re looking for a player who’s been through the players assistance program who just feels like they need a fresh start Nashville is a a good landing spot for a couple of reasons um one thing I go back to I was able to have a conversation with Mark boretsky uh last summer about a a different story that I was writing but we talked a little bit about Nashville we talked about you know mental health talked about uh just the pressure that players feel and and how that may manifest is different for every player so I certainly wouldn’t want to speculate on anything specific specifically with line a but this is an organization that has worked with players who have been through the player assistance program who have come back and found a very supportive organization a very supportive franchise who is mindful you know Mark boretsky said look Nashville is one of those teams that is on the very Forefront of understanding Mental Health struggles of professional athletes and creating an environment that is conducive to health and so you know you think man Nashville could be a really good landing spot for a player who has kind of been through that and is looking for a fresh start I like his age I like 26 years old somebody who could grow up with the team but again you come down to cost you come down to cost the other thing is we have to remember that Nashville is still evaluating ing what they have and to bring in a big fish right now you don’t 100% know yet what you have in the pipeline that you may have self-grown it may be a homegrown potential so for me it it’s a risky move to bring Patrick l into Nashville right now it’s a big risk with a significant price tag I think there’s some upsides to it it’s a big price tag yeah definitely a big risk I mean it’s a big risk to bring in anyone right there’s always unknown but I think with the price tag and like you mentioned his age I like his age too but if he’s making 8.7 at age 26 he’s only gonna it’s only going to go up from here and so I just don’t I to me that’s it’s not a risk that’s worth taking right now yeah I’d like what you say about the price tag because you know in two years when this contact contract expires that’s going to be his I want term and I want cash contract like that is his window for the big contract and let’s say line a comes to Nashville it’s a great fit he is very productive offensively uh I there’s a little bit for him defensively where I’m like you could you could maybe be a little bit more effective defensively but that’s something Andrew brunette I feel like can can work on with people but is Nashville in two years going to want to say hey we know you were here on an 8.7 contract and this is your big contract but we really would like to offer you like seven that’s not going to fly even if he comes here and he’s successful for two seasons you then have to be committed if you feel like you need to keep him for a cup window you need to be committed to Shell out a lot of cash and I come back to you have to be somebody really extraordinary for me to want to pay you more than I pay Philip forsberg as if it comes out of my own wallet it does not but you know what I’m saying we we act like it does um we act like it does it feels like it does yeah no I I’m with you I if he was at a lower a lower price tag and you think sure why not like take him for a spin and see if it works out but not I just think it comes with too much too much risk not enough potential reward for me um I mean he can play center that but he’s been primarily played on the wing um you know the predators don’t really need Wingers they need centers and so I think that you know that I I see why you know people would think hey maybe what if but I don’t know I think they can address those needs elsewhere uh with you know at a lower risk yeah cheaper cheaper too yeah I agree coming up Emma and I are going to talk about that cup window where do we realistically see the Nashville Predators being when they’re back to a serious cup Contender how long is it going to take to get there we’re also going to talk about Phil thomasino how much time is he gonna spend in the NHL and maybe the more interesting question is where is he gonna spend time in the NHL we’re going to talk about that coming up first want to let you know today’s episode is brought to you by our friends at game time look if you are to attend some great summer events but you want to avoid those ticketing hassles you need to check out the game time app game time is the fastest and easiest way to get tickets to your favorite sporting events concerts theater and more the game time app takes the guesswork out of buying tickets they show you your all-in pricing upfront so you aren’t surprised by excess fees at checkout you can even get a view from your seat to know exactly what you’re buying right now game time has great deals on the Savannah bananas the Nashville Sounds the musical Hairspray Lil 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to compete for a Stanley Cup people are going to be upset either way and I think that you know again a lot of the arguments I hear for you know here’s why we have to go get the Mitch marners the Jake gensel Etc right now uh is because you don’t want to waste Philip forsberg Roman Yosi in their Prime uh because in in four years you know they’ll be past their Prime um you know Roman Yosi might not even be playing hockey in four years we don’t know like he’ll be he’ll be 38 at that point so um you know I I think that that’s just a little bit shortsighted and I understand that this organization values those players and of course you would love to see them uh you know be a big part of a a real cup run but I just those are only two guys and I think that there is so much more that has to happen to get this team to a level where they can legitimately contend and I understand the the argument of not wanting to waste those guys when they’re in their Prime right but you you have to look at at the good of the team the good of the organization you know what’s going to make them competitive for a long time and and I think that there are too many things that need to happen we talked about it earlier this week when we were talking about lessons that they can learn from from the Florida Panthers and the Emon Oilers and you know what it takes to build a real cup Contender and I think that they’re they’re far away from that they’re they’re pretty far and it’s not something that you can just plug and play a couple things and and boom will be ready next year because we have forsburg and Yosi like I think it’s going to be definitely more a marathon than a Sprint yeah the one thing that I think makes a difference when you’re talking about what the length of the window is what you do in net and I know a lot of people disagree with this but I think if Barry trotz is hoping to get back into some sort of serious deep playoff run and I think you have to separate deep playoff run with true cup Contender because I think you can look even this past postseason at some of the teams and I would say out of these playoff teams just a handful I think really went into the postseason a serious cup contenders not that the other teams weren’t very very good and not that anything can’t happen in hockey but those are almost two different steps but if Barry trotz wants to make a deeper playoff push I think you do that with UC soset and if you don’t have UC Saros andet it does feel a little bit like you may miss your window with Yosi and forsberg unless you bring in someone else because yav escar off I don’t believe is going to be ready to take this team through an NHL deep postseason run in that brief of a time is he phenomenal he is 100% phenomenal is he going to be a great player in the NHL level I really believe that he is but that is too short of a development period for it to seem realistic to me so so if you’re talking about making a deeper playoff run if you’re talking about turning the page from these first round exits I can see the predators in in three seasons maybe being a little bit closer out of this you know gross firstr playoff exit situation but if you’re talking about a true cup Contender y’all it is hard to win a Stanley Cup and I agree with you you almost have to have a three or four season window with a roster that could do it because you cannot get there once and guarantee you’re going to get back ask the Nashville Predators how they know just ask us how we know so you have to build a roster that is going to be competitive for three or four seasons and I’m not sure Nashville is going to be able to do that in the next two to three seasons so I I think there’s two different answers to that question um it’s going to be while doesn’t mean it’s not going to be fun y’all it’s going to be fun we’re going to have fun it’s The Memories We Make along the way um but it’s tough to win a cup it’s tough to build a cup winning team the the gift is it’s the journey it’s about the journey not the destination thank you it doesn’t feel like that when you make the first round exit but that’s true as we’re in this reset it’s going to be about the journey not yeah and the friends we make along the way well right along with that exact same topic what a great segue Emma what are your realistic expectations for next season I loved this question what are realistic expectations um well I think now playoffs have to be it has to be a realistic expectation I mean this past season we saw you know making the playoffs at all as being well this is just house money like we weren’t even supposed to be sniffing the playoffs this year and now look at us and so I I think that making the playoffs is a realistic expectation this year and I think it should be the expectation um a and I think that you know I think a first round win a first round win could be a realistic expectation a first round playoff win um depending on who the matchup is depending on what this team looks like you know you you want to be obviously better um so so that’s how I think when I think of you know expectations for the season uh as a whole and how I think it will turn out um you know I think that this is a playoff team we’ve seen that it’s a playoff team and and the big pieces that helped make it a playoff team are still going to be here um and and I think that that’s a realistic expectation and it should be yeah I agree with you if the Nashville Predators don’t make the playoffs or exit in the first round next season it is going to feel like a step back and remember growth is not linear and nobody likes growth that’s a separate saying it’s also true but growth is not linear but you do need to see Nashville continue to take a step forward in this next season I think some other pieces I think you have to be realistic and I say this with all the love in my Swedish heart be realistic about will Gus nikist uh be able to to compete at the same level and produce at the same level that he did last season not saying he’s going to fall apart by any stretch of the imagination but part of Nashville taking a step forward means you have to have players like Gus nist continue to play as well as he did last season so that is something that I think is going to be a factor also what can Tommy Novak do what steps forward individually can he make and what moves on the blue line you know are going to help Nashville offensively and defensively this is I think next season is going to be a season of individual growth hopefully and if they can kind of collectively capitalize on that I I would agree with you I think it’s a fair expectation to say we want to see Nashville win a playoff series next year for the love y’all for the Love For The Love yes yes coming up we’re going to talk about what Barry trotz may do this this off seon to get Nashville closer to that first round playoff win we’re hoping for next season let’s talk about that okay Emma we are going through our mailbag questions here’s a great question and again hard to predict but let’s talk about this how many trades do you expect this off season from Barry trots oo if you were if you were a game Gambling Man which I am not that’s right that’s why I don’t like these questions uh I honestly I know Barry trots you know I know that he likes to be out there wheeling and dealing uh but I also know and we’ve also seen that he is not going to wheel and deal just for Giggles like he he is going to be very calculated and make sure that he is making the right moves and so I think it’s going to depend on what’s available um I predict how about this I don’t know if I can predict how many trades period I predict the Predators make at least one trade on draft night I think I think he will that because they have so many picks they have a lot of picks need that many picks and and that Jeff Kelty in the director of scouting and his media availability kind of alluded to the fact that like hey that’s some good trade bait um we got a lot of picks and teams that need picks but again just like we’ve said just because you have a tradable asset does not mean that you need to trade it um for a subpar return so but with that in mind and just with things things that I’ve heard and just kind of my general feeling I think Barry makes at least one trade at the draft I think that’s going to be so fun to watch I agree with you the the draft I think is going to be where you really want to focus and see Barry trots move I will say this we have kind of a small sample size for Barry trots as a general manager only one off season but man did he just like hit it right off the bat y’all I was at lows when the clock turned trade time I was at lows thinking short I have time to get home and by I mean we were in lows and I’m like we got to go like Barry trotz is moving like couldn’t keep up with him so not afraid to make moves I just don’t know I don’t know that we’re going to see the big moves and I think people are waiting for big moves I don’t know that this is the offseason we’re going to see a lot of big trade deals with Barry trots I agree with you with the draft Capital they have you got to keep tuned in on draft night that may be where Barry chots makes the biggest offseason and splash selfishly uh I am going to be at the draft I’m going to be at the sphere last year’s draft very underwhelming no big trades like I think the biggest trade on the first night of the draft was Tampa Bay trading Corey Perry to Chicago like seriously that’s it yeah like my backpack of hockey grudges no matter what Jersey he has on who even cares either either way it’s like that’s not a big move like I I think that we were expecting more and didn’t really didn’t really get any but yeah we’ve had now multiple teams I mean New Jersey has said that they’re open to trading the 10th pick uh Ariz or excuse me Utah now Utah has said that they are open to trading the number six pick for the rights return now I don’t know what that is but I mean we whether it’s the Predators or not I think that we could see some fun fun moves on on draft night and again selfishly because I will be making the trip I would like to to have some excitement in my life absolutely I remember when the draft was here in Nashville and the whisper started that um David pil had thrown out yava scar off as a part of a deal and I will never forget how that made me feel deep in my soul it wasn’t a great feeling it was a little bit like a roller coaster so for your sake Emma if you’re into Thrills I really hope we see some some big moves on draft night and I do think it could happen this year I do think it could happen this year but not if it involves UC Soros like not if it involves UC sorrow or like if it involves trading picks then yes I am leaning forward and I I would like to I would like to see where this goes but make make it worth my make it worth my trip Barry come on yeah yeah we’re gonna see what happens and like like Emma said she’s going to be there we’re going to get the scoop from Emma as it happens it’s going to be it’s going to be a wild night and it’s in Las Vegas so again anything can happen in Vegas I got stories we’re not talk about them what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas yes it does and for a very good reason y’all whoa whoa here’s another great question we got best guess how many games does Phil thomasino play in the NHL this season I don’t know but I also so tough so this is another one that I know people have a lot of big feelings about it I understand he’s a fan favorite I think so predators fans and I’m probably not going to endear myself to a lot of people when I say this um but I think Predators fans have a tendency and and you know what it’s not just Predators fans I think just fans of teams um but but Predators fans have a special knack for it they like to hang on to these really good memories and that’s not a bad thing in itself but they remember when something was really really good one time and gosh darn it they will not rest until we get back to that and we just got to run it back exactly the same way we did it and just get back to that you know what the definition of sanity is is doing the same thing over and over and over and expecting this a different result so um I’m not calling Predators fans insane um it’s definitely not what I’m saying but I think that bill thomasino is an example of the you know he had that great season that fantastic rookie season kind of surprised everyone and people are oh my God this kid is our future right he this is going to be so great and then he struggled after that and and I think and people get so angry about whenever he’s benched he’s out of the lineup he gets joh a whooping oh my gosh oh my gosh like social media whooping don’t even get me started and like I think hopefully this should be some sort of vindication for John Hines that it was n just him like it Phil thomasino it’s like you don’t see you don’t know what you don’t know as fans and so fans are just hanging on to that rookie season that thomasino had and they think that now anything that happens it’s just the organization is against him and they’re not you know they’re they’re holding him down and they’re not letting him fly and that’s you know it’s Philip thomasino is the second coming of Christ and anything that the organization does like that it’s against him and that’s not the reality you know the reality is he did struggle afterwards and like if he’s being held out of the lineup or if he’s being sent back down to Milwaukee there’s a reason for it and he’s a guy as much as I hate to say it I’m not saying this will happen but I’m saying I wouldn’t be completely shocked if this happens he’s a perfect candidate I think for a change of scenery trade um I agree with that yeah think I think that he really could use the change of scenery I don’t know where that would be um I you know I just think that kind of like we were talking about with L different stages in their careers obviously but I I think similar situation that it’s like they’re he may have hit a plateau where he’s at and and I think mentally and you know for whatever other reasons I think he could benefit from a change of scenery trade now say all of that meaning that would significantly impact how many games he plays in the NHL next year because let’s say he gets traded to a team I don’t know let’s say he gets traded to San Jose and he he could play in the NHL right now with Santa but if he gets traded to Colorado like he he may be in the AHL a little bit longer you know it just depends depends on that or again let’s say he doesn’t get traded at all and I don’t know what I’m talking about he stays in Nashville or Milwaukee um if he stays here with this organization I don’t know I don’t know if I see him making the team out of Camp doesn’t mean he won’t make the team but um I don’t know maybe like 50 games I think would be a very generous estimation of what I could see him playing at the NHL level I think the question with Phil thomasino is maybe not so much how many games he’s going to play in the NHL for me it comes down to exactly what you’re talking about where will he play in the NHL you have to remember that you know Phil thomasino if he does make the team out of camp and it comes to a point where Andrew brunette is not seeing what he wants to see from a 200 foot game we’re not saying Phil thomasino isn’t talented we’re saying that John Hines and Andrew brunette different styles different systems both of them struggled to pull out of thomasino something that they were looking for in a more well-rounded 200 foot game doesn’t mean he can’t get there but he is not waivers exempt anymore y’all so he do not want another Ellie tolven in situation so maybe so maybe you trade him before it gets to that point yes because if he starts out in Nashville and it is not going right you place Phil thomasino on waivers and Phil thomasino is out of here he out of here so I think that’s one of those offseason discussions they have to have and again don’t hear us we’re not saying that Phil thomasino isn’t talented we’re saying that two different coaches with two different systems have worked worked to pull something out of him and it’s not there yet it’s not there yet maybe he’ll surprise us in training camp and it will be there and he’ll play 80 games this season for the Nashville Predators you know our lips to God’s ears we don’t know but I do think you have to keep an eye on Phil thomasino this offseason I think you have to really watch him in training camp because if he doesn’t produce a 200 foot game that Andrew brunette feels like he can best UTI I with the Predators as they’re trying to again keep moving forward keep getting deeper in the postseason it’s gonna be interesting to see where Phil thomasino finishes his NHL career or moves to Next in his NHL career so that’s a tough one to predict we’re g to see what happens in this off season so those are just some of the mailbag questions that we got we love your questions we love getting to talk about the things that you are interested in if you have questions s about the Nashville Predators no you can always drop them in the comment section of our YouTube videos you can also tweet them at us lore Predators we’re constantly on social media and checking the YouTube videos we want to hear what your questions are so we can address them as well before we sign off on this mailbag episode though Emma let everyone know where they can find you on social media and where they can find your work they can find me on social media at Emma lingan and you can find my work at the hockey news and you can find me on social media at ankor Mama on Ice you can find my work at Penalty Box radio as well that’s going to do it for today’s episode of the lock on Predators podcast thank you for making us your first listen of the day hope you all have a great day we’re going to be back tomorrow with an all new episode we’ll see you then

Should the Nashville Predators explore a trade for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine? What is Nashville’s window to win a Stanley Cup? What are reasonable expectations to have for the Predators next season? How many games will Predators prospect Philip Tomasino to play in the NHL in 2024-25? And will he even play those games in Nashville? On today’s Locked On Predators, Ann and Emma answer these and more listener questions in the second installment of a two-part offseason mailbag.

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