--Predators general manager David Poile, who has added the title president of hockey operations, shopped off the rack last season. This time around he can go for tailor-made talent.

David Freeman, the leader for the local ownership group, has indicated that Poile has been given a major boost in terms of the money allotted for player contracts. He guarantees no NHL team will have a higher percentage in payroll increase from last season to the 2008-2009 season.

Locking in restricted free agents Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Martin Erat to long-term pacts is the top spending priority for Poile. Unrestricted free agents Martin Gelinas, Jan Hlavac, Darcy Hordichuk and Ellis are also still unsigned. Poile called Gelinas one of the best additions to the team for last season, even though his playing was cut short because of a knee injury. Poile also said that he didn't know if the Predators would have made the playoffs with the addition of Hlavac at the trade deadline. Ellis's performance speaks for itself. Hordichuk fills the niche as enforcer, but there have been concerns that he might be shopping for a new team.

The future of F Steve Sullivan is also a concern. He has not played a game since February 2007 but plans to be back ready to go for the 2008-2009 season. But his back is still a question mark. Poile has insisted he wants to firm up Sullivan's future as soon as possible. Whether Sullivan is given the go-ahead could affect how the Predators approach the free agent market.

--Attendance is also a concern for the team. Freeman his fellow owners were happy to see the team sell out seven of the last 11 games in the regular season. All three playoff games were also sellouts.

Freeman has stated publicly that anything short of a sellout for every game next season will be a major disappointment. Something in the 14,000 to 15,000 range might be more realistic.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We have made the playoffs for four straight years. We are extremely proud of that. I have told David to get us in the playoffs every year. We know that if we are in the playoffs we have as a good a chance as anybody. Our time will come. We are going to break that door down of winning a first round quickly, but our goals go beyond that." -- David Freeman, leader of the Predators' ownership group

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