From the neighborhood fish wrapper....

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Predators making plans for future without Grimson

By JOHN GLENNON
Staff Writer


As the Predators prepare for the active portion of the offseason,
they're proceeding as if forward Stu Grimson probably isn't returning
to the team.

General Manager David Poile said Grimson hasn't retired, but still
hasn't made a lot of progress from the postconcussion syndrome that
sidelined him for the final 51 games of last season.

''I talked to him Friday, and he's feeling a little better, but he's
still not anywhere close to working out,'' Poile said. ''He doesn't
want to give it up, but he understands what I have to do.''

The Predators already have made some moves to safeguard themselves in
the enforcer department, assuming Grimson doesn't return. They
acquired 6-foot-4, 231-pound Steve Parsons in a trade with
Pittsburgh, and they also re-signed Nathan Perrott to a two-way
contract last week.

Perrott isn't huge, but he made a good impression in 22 games with
Nashville last season, totaling three points and 74 penalty minutes
during that stretch.

''He did well for a guy that's never played in the NHL,'' Poile
said, ''and hopefully he'll continue to improve.''

As for Grimson, Poile said he expects to keep in touch with the 6-5,
239-pounder throughout the summer.

''It'll be an ongoing situation, and we'll talk on a regular basis,''
Poile said. ''He's still hoping he can play. But if he comes to
training camp and he can't pass his medical exam, then we'll go from
there.''

It's unlikely that Grimson would retire, even if he can't play this
season. He has another guaranteed year on his contract, which paid
him a base salary of $700,000 last season.

In other Predators news:

• Poile said prospect Petr Sykora has chosen not to come to North
America for the coming season. Sykora, who has produced 40 goals and
26 assists in 79 games over the past two seasons, will apparently
compete in the Czech elite league for the fourth consecutive year.

''He has no interest in coming over [this season], and he may not
want to come over at all,'' Poile said. ''You have to want to play
here and have sufficient passion. … The NHL isn't necessarily the end
all and be all for some players.''

• Poile said he expects forward Jukka Hentunen to return to Europe to
play in the coming season. Hentunen was interested in a one-way
contract — meaning he'd be paid the same amount whether playing on
the NHL level or below — but the Predators' offer will be a two-way
deal.

Hentunen posted four goals and five assists in 38 contests last
season.

• Assuming the Predators hold onto the sixth pick in the first round
of this weekend's NHL draft, Poile said he probably will select one
of four players — defenseman Ryan Whitney, defenseman Joni Pitkanen,
forward Joffrey Lupul and forward Scottie Upshall. A fifth, less
likely possibility is forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

The first three picks in the draft are likely to be defenseman Jay
Bouwmeester, forward Rick Nash and goaltender Joni Pitkanen.

Poile said the Predators are still open to the idea of trading their
first-round draft pick for a more veteran player, but that he hasn't
been swamped with offers.

Most NHL analysts consider this one of the weakest drafts in recent
years.