Preds Packing Suitcases, Preparing for Extended Stay in Phase 4

At some point over the next few hours, members of the Nashville Predators will lay out an empty suitcase - or three - and determine what they'd like to have in their possession for a potentially two-month stay in Edmonton.
With training camp and Phase 3 of the NHL's Return To Play Plan coming to an end on Saturday, the Preds will turn their attention to Phase 4 and a trip to the Alberta capital that will start with a best-of-5 series against the Arizona Coyotes in the Stanley Cup Qualifier next Sunday.
If the Predators do well and find themselves winning rounds of postseason play, they could be away from home through the beginning of October. No matter what, the group figures to be gone for more than two weeks at the very least

The longest of NHL road trips don't typically extend past 14 days, so this excursion will likely prove to be the most extensive many of the Preds have ever encountered.
The group won't be expected to bring 60 different pairs of undergarments - there will be washing machines for that - but choosing what to pack can be a daunting task for the fashion forward and fashion challenged alike.
"I've had some anxiety about packing already," Preds forward Colton Sissons laughed. "Honestly, I'm going to pack a lot of sweats and a lot of comfortable clothes, because I'm probably going to be spending a lot of time in the hotel room. I got my Amazon Kindle the other day, so I've got that; get a mental sweat in there so I'm not just watching TV all day."
What to wear isn't the biggest concern for most players, however. As Sissons mentioned, reading, as well as gaming, are favorite pastimes among the group, and with some downtime expected on non-game days, the Preds will be finding ways to keep their minds occupied.
"We're preparing to be there for the long haul, so obviously you've got the clothes and whatnot, but I'm going to be bringing, probably, an Xbox to watch some Netflix and play with some buddies back home," forward Colin Blackwell said. "And then just some books, maybe a couple things here and there just to keep my mind sharp throughout this playoff run."

"I like to watch Netflix, I enjoy reading, I've got my Kindle, I've my iBooks and I enjoy a good nap, so it shouldn't be too difficult for me anyway," forward Austin Watson said. "I read a lot of historical fiction… and I'll read the odd biography from time to time… I've got some stuff ready to go and hopefully I don't burn through it too quickly."
Bringing a musical instrument along may not be the most practical item to pack, but players like Matt Duchene and Craig Smith probably wouldn't mind if they could squeeze a six-string onto the plane.
"Pushups and sit-ups," Smith laughed when asked how he'll pass the time in Edmonton. "No, I mean everybody's got their own thing, and I think a lot of guys they're reading or they're watching shows or movies or connecting with family back home, I'm sure that's going to take up quite a, quite a bit of time. For me personally… I'm not planning on bringing too much stuff, but maybe if I could sneak a guitar in there, that'd be nice."
There's also the simple question of what life will be like in the Secure Zone, or the "bubble," as most are referring to the area in Edmonton that will include Rogers Place and four hotels where the Preds and the other 11 teams from the Western Conference will reside.

The players have been given information on what to expect, but until they're actually immersed in the situation, they can only imagine how the days will play out. In simpler terms, however, professional hockey players are pros when it comes to life on the road.
While the four walls of their hotel room won't change every couple of days this time, the Preds will still eventually settle in even under the unique circumstances - no matter how many suitcases they bring.
"You've got to get creative," goaltender Pekka Rinne said on preparing for the journey. "Personally, I plan on reading books, watching TV shows, listening to music and my iPad is downloaded full of TV series and movies. But the biggest thing is you've got to adjust as a person. You've got to realize that right now, just being able to play is the biggest thing and everything else comes second place. That means sacrificing a lot of things, but at the same time, all the other teams are in the same situation."