Smashville Scope: June 29

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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As far as we're concerned here in Nashville, the most noteworthy item to come out of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's annual state of the League address on Monday was news of
the Predators being selected to host the 2022 Stadium Series
(an outdoor game!) right here in the Music City at Nissan Stadium.
The Preds are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the home of the Tennessee Titans in what's sure to be an epic weekend celebration in just eight months, but there were plenty of other tidbits worth mentioning as the Commissioner spoke prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

As has been reported in the past, Bettman once again confirmed the NHL plans on returning to a "normal calendar and schedule" for the 2021-22 season, including a traditional 82-game slate that should begin, according to the Commissioner, sometime between October 10-15.
The NHL plans to release the 2021-22 schedule between the end of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, which could end July 11 at the latest, and the 2021 NHL Draft on July 23-24.
The Vegas Golden Knights and T-Mobile Arena will host the 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend with dates to be confirmed later; the League did not hold All-Star festivities in 2021 due to the shortened pandemic season.
In the more immediate future, broadcast plans were announced for the upcoming 2021 NHL Expansion Draft and the 2021 NHL Draft with ESPN back in the mix.

The Expansion Draft will be broadcast on Wednesday, July 21, at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the U.S. and will feature the NHL's newest team, the Seattle Kraken. From the NHL: "Hosted by ESPN's Chris Fowler, the Kraken will reveal the initial roster for their 2021-22 inaugural season. Fowler will be joined by former NHL player Dominic Moore. Kevin Weekes, who has provided commentary and analysis for NHL Network and Hockey Night in Canada, will be reporting from various iconic Seattle locations."
The first round of the 2021 NHL Draft will be broadcast on Friday, July 23, at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the U.S. live from the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, N.J. Rounds 2-7 of the Draft will be shown on NHL Network in the U.S. beginning at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday, July 24.
Commissioner Bettman also addressed the issue of the NHL's participation in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics,
and those discussions remain a work in progress.
"We don't know [if the NHL is going to Beijing] as of right now, and that's causing us, in addition to consternation, a fair number of issues relative to getting next season up and running," Bettman said. "It's reaching the point that we're getting concerned about the impact on the season because of the uncertainty."
Also of note, the Commissioner said there will not be any sort of advertisements on jerseys next season, but sponsor logos on helmets will remain. The Predators sported Bridgestone's logo on their helmets last season; Vanderbilt Health was featured on the team's Reverse Retro helmets.

Poile Inducted into Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame:

David Poile officially added another accolade on Saturday night.
The winningest general manager in NHL history - and the only GM in Nashville Predators' history - was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2021.
A general manager in the League for 39 consecutive seasons - and for each of Nashville's 24 campaigns - Poile became the second member of the Predators organization to be named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, joining Preds Broadcaster Terry Crisp, who was inducted in 2020.

Poile is the only general manager in NHL history to lead two different clubs for more than 1,000 games and 500 victories (also with Washington), and on March 1, 2018, against Edmonton, Poile won his 1,320th game, making him the all-time winningest GM in League history. Following the 2020-21 season, Poile now has 1,445 wins to his name.
Already a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as a 2018 inductee, Poile was named the NHL's General Manager of the Year in 2017 after the Preds advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.

Members of Sled Preds Help Team USA to Gold Medal at World Para Ice Hockey Championships:

The United States is on top of the hockey world once again thanks in part to some who call Nashville home.
This past Saturday, the U.S. National Sled Hockey team defeated Canada by a 5-1 final at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, to claim its second consecutive - and fifth overall - world title.

Four members of the Nashville Sled Preds - forwards Brody Roybal, Travis Dodson, Joseph Woodke and Josh Hargis - were on the 2021 roster, and Dodson recorded a goal and an assist in the championship game.
Roybal, who was a member of both the 2014 and 2018 gold medal-winning U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Teams, was named both the Most Valuable Player and Best Forward of the tournament after leading the competition with 11 points (4g-7a).
Dodson was also a member of the gold medal-winning 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey squad.

Nashville Native Helps Shreveport to NAHL Robertson Cup Championship:

Another Nashvillian was celebrating last week as the Shreveport Mudbugs of the North American Hockey League captured the Robertson Cup as league champions.
Shreveport forward Braiden Dorfman recorded four goals and 10 points in 10 playoff games with the Mudbugs, including a pair of tallies on June 19 against Maine to help Shreveport advance to the final versus Aberdeen.

Aberdeen defenseman Trevor Russell, a native of Old Hickory, Tenn., collected an assist for the Wings in the final game against Shreveport. He will play for Michigan Tech University starting this fall.
Dorfman, who is committed to Dartmouth College, also led the Mudbugs in scoring during the 2020-21 regular season with 21 goals and 59 points in 55 games. Born in August of 2000 in Nashville, Dorfman played for the TPH Thunder youth program - now aligned with the Nashville Jr. Preds - and then spent two seasons with Chippewa of the NAHL before his breakout campaign with Shreveport.

Talking Preds on the Milwaukee Admirals Podcast:

The Predators Official Podcast will return to the airwaves soon, but in the meantime, yours truly recently dropped by the official podcast of Nashville's AHL affiliate.
I joined voice of the Admirals Aaron Sims and Ads VP of Communications Charlie Larson on the show to talk Preds, Admirals and much more as we looked back and ahead as the offseason continues. Hope you'll give it a listen!

Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:

Hockey will return to Bridgestone Arena this fall, but summer events are back at the home of the Preds.
Coming Soon:
July 2-3: ALABAMA with very special guest Martina McBride, 50th Anniversary Tour End of Tour Celebration, 7 p.m. CT.
Click here for tickets
.
July 17-18: Monster Jam.
Click here for tickets
.
July 30: Luke Bryan, Proud to be Right Here Tour.
Click here for tickets
.

Week in Review:

My Story: Proud to be an Ally
Women's Collegiate Hockey Showcase Set to Inspire Future Generations
Grades and Blades Program Teaches Deserving Nashville Students to Skate