Teardown in Tennessee continues

Think Jim Balsillie isn't serious about gutting the Nashville Predators before moving them to Canada?

Hours before Friday's NHL draft, the Predators dealt starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun to Florida for three draft picks, including a future No. 1 -- in 2008!

The Predators signed Vokoun to a four-year, $22.8 million contract in September 2006, but that was an extension set to take effect this season. This deal came days after veterans Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell were shipped to Philadelphia for what essentially amounted to a bag of pucks.

If the Preds average fewer than 14,000 fans per game this season, Balsillie can invoke a buyout clause that will allow the team to be moved.

Turmoil in Nashville continues

The early favorite for the worst team in 2007-08 is one that has already seen its share of turmoil following the most successful season in its history.

Weeks after the announcement that the team was being sold to former Penguins suitor Jim Balsillie, the breakup of the Nashville Predators is underway.

On Monday, the team dealt stars Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell to Philadelphia for a draft pick -- the selection they sent to the Flyers at the trade deadline to acquire Peter Forsberg, who's likely has played his final NHL game.

The Predators set single season bests with 51 wins and 110 points this past season, but lost to San Jose in the Western Conference quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Report: Senators fire general manager Muckler

The Toronto Sun is reporting that the Ottawa Senators have fired general manager John Muckler.

According to Bruce Garrioch, the 73-year-old Muckler apparently was told Friday by owner Eugene Melnyk that his services would no longer be needed.

Muckler's Senators reached their first Stanley Cup finals this season by losing just three of 15 games to Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Buffalo to represent the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa was ousted in five games by Anaheim.

Blackhawks acquire Samsonov from Canadiens

Just what Chicago needs: another underachieving Russian.

Chicago acquired former rookie of the year Sergei Samsonov from Montreal for defenseman Jassen Cullimore and forward Tony Salmelainen -- so much for me buying that No. 8 sweater.

This could turn out to be a steal for Chicago. Samsonov was selected eighth overall by Boston in 1997 entry draft, and went on to win the 1998 Calder Trophy after notching 22 goals and 47 points in 81 games with the Bruins.

Samsonov had 11 assists and 15 points with Edmonton during its Stanley Cup run in 2006, and parlayed that into a lucrative free agent contract with the bleu, blanc et rouge. He played in 63 games for the Canadiens last season, recording nine goals and 17 assists.

"We feel he has a lot left in the tank and playing under Denis Savard will bring out the offensive creativity that he has shown in the past," Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said Saturday.

Samsonov, who scored 29 goals in 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, was a healthy scratch in the Habs' last 13 games after he questioned whether he made the right move in signing a two-year deal with the Canadiens worth just over $7 million.

General manager Bob Gainey said after the season that Samsonov would not be coming back.

A couple years ago, the Hawks signed goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin to a four-year deal valued at $27 million. He's 42-52-11 with a 3.08 goals-against average halfway through that deal.

"Iron Mike" invades Calgary

Former Kenosha-based blogstatician Christoper Altruda was right. I was floored.

When I read the Canadian Press report that the Calgary Flames were reportedly going to hire "Iron" Mike Keenan as their new coach, my expression was that of a vicious -- albeit dumb -- German Shepard.

See the kibble in front of you, it's something you've torn into thousands of times. This time, you're not entirely sure what to make it and you kind of cock your head to the side, trying to put two and two together and not get 22.

I suspect history will show Flames general manager Darryl Sutter as that slow dog. The hiring of Keenan, made official on Thursday, sends a very classy franchise on a very uncertain path.

Keenan's shining moment came just over 13 years ago. As a die-hard Rangers fan, I will always link him with that magical time that ended a 54-year championship drought. I think, though, that team's success had more to do with the will of Mark Messier, some well-timed trade deadline deals that brought in grinders like Brian Noonan, and a healthy dose of luck (see: Matteau, Stephane).

Now 57, Keenan inherits a team that went 43-25-10 last season under Jim Playfair (now an assistant after one year behind the bench) but lost in six games to Detroit in the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Keenan was honored as the league's top coach in 1985 after leading Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup finals. He took Chicago to the Cup finals seven years later before getting his ring in New York. Keenan also coached St. Louis, Vancouver, Boston and Florida and has 569 wins in 1,014 games.

His coaching stint with the Panthers lasted just under two years. He returned in May 2004 as GM, and with Jacques Martin - a former Ottawa bench boss who was also his university teammate - swung several deals to acquire veteran forwards Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Chris Gratton.

The team failed to make the playoffs for a fifth straight season in 2005-06, prompting Keenan to make more dramatic moves over the summer. He swung a blockbuster deal that saw superstar netminder Roberto Luongo go to Vancouver for a package that featured power forward Todd Bertuzzi, and also signed veteran goalie Ed Belfour.

Bertuzzi was dealt to Detroit earlier this season, and Belfour is 42.

Though he won't be a GM in Calgary, it's not a stretch to think that he won't have Sutter's ear. Keenan gave Sutter his first NHL coaching job when he was the Blackhawks' general manager. Keenan also said the chance to work with Sutter again was a big factor.

"That had everything to do with it, to work with people that you know and share the same vision," Keenan said. "We've been to games in the finals before and we got close to the job that was unfinished. Hopefully, we're in a position now that we can go to that same spot and finish it off."

Good luck, Flames fans. Despite a wealth of talent that includes Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla, the closest you may get to having the Cup come back to southern Alberta is the picture above.