Spartan Spirit Comes to Nashville
The fans of the NHLs Nashville Predators have recently had plenty of
reasons to render their version of "The Perfect Cheer" as a result
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of the improved on-ice performance of their team. The Predators, now in their
fifth season of existence, for the first time in team history find themselves
in the thick of a playoff race with a month left in the NHL season. In fact,
since the NHLs All-Star break, Nashville has one of the best records in
the league, which has helped the team overcome a dreadful start to the 2002-03
season.
Nashvilles current success can be attributed to equal parts planning
and patience, with the teams management sticking to the plan crafted by
Predators Executive VP of Hockey Operations and General Manager David
Poile. Poile has long been acknowledged as one of the shrewdest judges of hockey
talent in the NHL, and, in spite of a couple of recent rough seasons, his plan
of building the Predators largely through the draft seems finally to be coming
to fruition.
One of Poiles selections from the 1999 NHL Draft, second-rounder Adam
Hall, has already asserted himself as a top, young player in the game
in just his rookie season.
Hall, a former Michigan State Spartan, is currently sixth in scoring among
NHL rookies, notching 27 points (16G, 11A) in 63 games. His goal total ties
him for first in rookie goal-scoring with Chicagos Tyler Arnason and Buffalos
Ales Kotalik, and also sets the Nashville record for most goals by a rookie.
Half of Adams goals have come on the power play, which places him at the
top of that category among fellow rookies.
The Kalamazoo, MI native first staked out his reputation as an emerging power
forward while playing NCAA Division I hockey for MSU. In 159 career games for
the Spartans, Hall notched 126 points (79G, 47A). He captained the MSU squad
in his senior season, and in his 4-year college career made two appearances
in the NCAAs Frozen Four tournament.
Adam earned a reputation in college for being a hard-working and heady player
who was extremely coach-able. Those same character traits are the main reason
the big (63", 205 lbs.) right wing has so far been able to adjust
to the more demanding NHL environment, although a dose of natural talent hasnt
hurt him, either. The Nashville coaching staff has shown confidence in Halls
ability, using him in all situations, including a bit of penalty-killing duty.
In spite of having to play in the less hockey-centric Nashville area, Hall
nevertheless received some recognition for his solid season when, in January,
he was named to the Western Conference squad for the NHL/Topps YoungStars game
that took place during the NHL All Star Weekend. Although Adam and his teammates
dropped an 8-3 decision to the Eastern Conference team, Hall did manage to score
a goal against his former MSU teammate, Ryan Miller.
Poile and the rest of the Predators hockey department are hoping that
Hall can continue his development into a prototypical NHL power forward. He
already has shown signs of becoming that kind of player, parking his ample frame
in front of opposing goaltenders to either create a screen for his teammates,
or to pounce on a rebound that has fallen at his feet. Halls skating is
NHL-caliber, and, while he currently sports a 8 plus/minus rating, Adams
defensive awareness has nevertheless improved over the course of the 02-03 season.
Some have suggested that Adams biggest challenge this season will be
to avoid running out of gas, given the fact that his previous four seasons at
MSU were half the length of his initial NHL season. While fatigue could be a
factor for Hall coming down the seasons final stretch, a larger future
concern for Nashville coach Barry Trotz could be making sure that the right
winger avoids the sophomore slump that affects many top rookies. Adam potentially
could be a vital cog in the on- and off-ice success of the Predators, so coach
Trotz will need to monitor his prize winger closely next season.
Given the poise and maturity that Hall exhibits on a daily basis, however,
it seems certain that the Predators will have few worries with this big right
wing in the lineup. Indeed, Adam should one day become the 60-70-point power
forward that every NHL team covets.