Smashville Scope: January 5

The Smashville Scope presented by JOCKEY prepares fans for the week ahead with news, videos and clips from the past week, plus, game and event info for the next seven days. Use promo code "GOAL" to save 25% on your next JOCKEY purchase.
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Tanner Jeannot deserves consideration to be named the NHL's top rookie.
Yes, there are still four months to go in the regular season, and yes, anything can happen in that time, but at the current juncture, is there any first-year player that means more - and does more - for his team?
Not really.

The 24-year-old native of Oxbow, Saskatchewan, has been hard to miss in any of his 34 games with the Predators to start the 2021-22 campaign, and he's quickly becoming a fan favorite in Nashville with his timely scoring, jarring hits and ability to seemingly defeat any challenger who dares to drop the gloves with him.
Jeannot appears to play even bigger than his 6-foot-2, 204-pound frame would suggest, and he's undoubtedly the strongest member of the Preds as evidenced by his honor from Preds Strength and Conditioning Coach David Good in training camp as the player with the best overall fitness on the team.
But just one night watching what Jeannot does - both with, and especially without the puck - and the eye test will probably show anyone all they need to see.
When it comes to the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the rookie deemed to be the League's best, it's time to start seriously considering Jeannot, as if that moment hadn't come already.
On the offensive side of the ice, the numbers are there. Among all NHL rookies, Jeannot is tied for the League lead with 10 goals. He's fourth in points with 20, first in even-strength goals with nine, tied for second with two game-winning tallies and owns the third-best point-per-game total of any rookie who has appeared in 34 or more contests.

Since Oct. 30, Jeannot leads all NHL rookies in goals (8) and hits (95) and is third in points (17). He has 11 points (4g-6a) in his last 13 games after scoring twice on Saturday against Chicago, his second multi-goal outing of 2021-22.
Sure, those numbers are good, but Jeannot's abilities away from the puck are almost laughable at times considering how he routinely sends opponents flying with body checks that could probably register some sort of seismic activity.
He leads all rookies with 109 hits - the next closest has 85 - and he's tied for sixth in the entire NHL in the category. Jeannot also paces rookies with 50 penalty minutes, 30 of those coming on major penalties - scraps he wins time and time again.
And that Calder consideration?
"I don't see why not," Preds forward Nick Cousins said of Jeannot. "I mean, just his overall impact on the game - it's not just scoring, it's the physicality that he brings every night that he plays with. Just the element that he brings every night, it's so contagious for the rest of the lineup. He's a fun player to watch. He earns everything he gets; he doesn't take a day for granted and we're lucky to have him."
"He's been great for us," Preds forward Mikael Granlund said of Jeannot. "His consistency; just every game he brings us his physicality and everything else. He can really score goals, but the way he works, he's just a smart player, and it's never going to be an easy night when he's out there. He's been great for us, and hopefully he can keep it up."

If he does, that's not only good news for the Preds but also Jeannot's chances at an invitation to the NHL Awards come summertime. But until then, the Predators just want Jeannot to keep doing what he's doing.
He's showing up in the box score every night one way or another, and it all makes the Preds a better team. That deserves some attention no matter the occasion.
"By the way that he's playing, and obviously the impact that he has on our team, and also the production he has, he's playing his way into that status of player now," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of Jeannot. "There's still a lot of hockey left to be played, and I think that the most important thing is we all see how much of an impact Tanner is to help our team win, and it's nice to see him getting rewarded on the scoresheet for playing the game the right way, the way that he needs to play to be a successful player. The focus, like in everything, is to continue to grow his game and continue to build his identity as a player, and whatever happens from there happens.

Preds Watch 2022 Winter Classic as Anticipation to Host Stadium Series Grows:

Chances are the temperature in Nashville will be a bit warmer on Feb. 26 than the minus-9 degree Fahrenheit reading in Minneapolis on New Year's Day at puck drop of the 2022 NHL Winter Classic.
We're still weeks away from having any idea what the thermometer might say at Nissan Stadium at the end of next month, but no matter the weather, anticipation is growing for the Predators to host the 2022 NHL Stadium Series against Tampa Bay.
Following their 6-1 win over the Blackhawks last Saturday afternoon, members of the Preds spent their evening tuning into the NHL's first outdoor game that included fans in the stands since Nashville visited Dallas and the Cotton Bowl two years earlier.
The scene between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild outdoors at Target Field was certainly a spectacle with the coldest temperatures ever felt for an NHL game played under the stars, a number of players with ice in their beards as a result.
Nashville averages highs in the low 50s in late February, so the extra layers may not be necessary, but the Preds certainly took note of what's to come in their city soon enough.

"It was exciting, and just the pageantry around the game - there was such a Minnesota [feel to the game], guys coming out of the cabins and all the little shinny rinks on the side, and obviously the amount of fans that were in the stands - it's exciting," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "It's kind of a novelty game. I think it was really special for St. Louis and Minnesota to be able to play in it, and we're certainly excited for the outdoor game here at Nissan [Stadium]. It'll have a Tennessee, a Nashville flavor to it, which is exciting, and I think the nice thing too is when you have the opportunity to play these games, it does break up the season a little bit of just the regular routines all the time. To have a home game, it should be real special, and it was nice to see and really get a taste of what the outdoor games look like."
"I had my in-laws in town, so after our game we cooked some dinner and watched the game…and just seeing the guys in the penalty box and on the benches and the coaches looked so cold, but it got me excited," Preds forward Nick Cousins said. "It's obviously an unreal atmosphere to play in and obviously sold out, so a lot of energy on the field and I'm looking forward to [hosting our game]."

NHL All-Star Fan Vote Concludes Saturday:

Time is running out to vote a member of the Preds to captain the Central Division at 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend.
The 2022 NHL All-Star Fan Vote remains open
, and Preds Captain Roman Josi, as well as forwards Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund, are in the running to serve as the Central captain for the game.
Fans can cast votes online for one player from each division, without regard to position. Voting concludes at 10:59 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 8, with the top vote-getters by division - regardless of position - named All-Stars and captains. Fans are permitted to select as few as one player and a maximum of four players per ballot. The maximum number of ballots cast per 24-hour period for each fan is 10.
So, click here to vote and make your voice heard.
The Golden Knights and the city of Las Vegas will host the 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend, Feb. 4-5 with the NHL All-Star Skills coming Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT before the All-Star Game itself on Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. CT puck drop.

JOCKEY Strong:

On New Year's Day, the Predators and JOCKEY honored Melissa Whitlock and Bloom Family Designs as the JOCKEY Strong member of the Nashville community. Check out the clip below to see what makes Melissa JOCKEY Strong.

Milwaukee Admirals Update:

After winning two straight games prior to the holiday break, the Admirals have dropped a pair of games - one on New Year's Eve, the other on New Year's Day, to Grand Rapids by 5-4 and 4-2 finals, respectively.
Cole Schneider is a point-per-game player for the Ads with 12 goals and 27 points in 27 outings, and he's followed in scoring by Cody Glass with 21 points (5g-16a) in 23 games and Rocco Grimaldi with 16 points (10g-6a) in 17 games. Connor Ingram has nine wins in net for Milwaukee with a .914 save percentage on the season.
The Admirals are currently sixth in the AHL's Central Division with a 12-15-2 record; they'll play three times over the next four days, once each against Grand Rapids, Cleveland and Rockford.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Predators Official Podcast:

The final episode of the year has arrived, and the Predators are on a "heater" as they head into the holiday break. Nashville's seven-game win streak leads into a pause from the NHL, and the Milwaukee Admirals helped to get the job done. Admirals Assistant Coach Scott Ford joins the show to discuss his surreal 72-hour stretch with the Preds. Plus, Brooks Bratten and Kara Hammer look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2022 on Episode 155 of the PoP.

Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:

In addition to Predators hockey, there are plenty of other exciting events coming to Bridgestone Arena. Make plans to attend your next concert or show today.
Coming Soon:
Jan. 3-9: U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Click here for tickets
.
Jan. 14: RnB Rewind 2, featuring artists like Charlie Wilson, Boyz II Men, Monica, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, Soul For Real, Ruff Endz & Rome.
Click here for tickets
.
Jan. 15: MLK Freedom Fest, featuring Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Rod Wave, Latto and more.
Click here for tickets
.

Past Two Weeks In Review:

F&M Bank Arena Announces Kylie Wilkerson as First General Manager
Forsberg Tallies Twice as Preds Start Trip with Victory in Vegas
Jeannot Tallies Twice as Preds Start 2022 with Victory Over Blackhawks
Preds Year In Review: Best of 2021
Preds Conclude 2021 Calendar with Shootout Loss in Columbus
U.S. Skating Championships to Determine Olympic Nominees in Nashville
Preds Return from Break with Loss to Capitals
Preds Get Back to Work, Looking Ahead to Games Following Shutdown
NHL, NHLPA Agree to Temporary Taxi Squads for COVID-19
Ford Looks Back on "Whirlwind" Time Behind the Bench with the Preds
Preds Foundation, Players Spread Holiday Cheer for Bethlehem Centers
A Vision and A Flush - Celebrating 25 Years of Bridgestone Arena
Sissons, Jeannot Lead Preds Past Hawks in OT for Seventh Straight Win
Forsberg, Preds Face Adversity, Defeat Colorado for Sixth Straight Win