Predators Acquire Rick Berry from Phoenix

[VodkaFish]

Nashville, Tenn. - Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Rick Berry from the Phoenix Coyotes for future considerations.

Berry, 26 (11/4/78), has appeared in five games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League this season. The 6-2, 213-pound blueliner has posted 15 points (2g-13a) and 314 penalty minutes in 197 career NHL games with Colorado, Pittsburgh and Washington. The Birtle, Manitoba native posted NHL career-highs in games played (65), assists (six), points (six) and penalty minutes (108) in 2003-04 with the Capitals. He registered eight points (2g-6a) and 83 penalty minutes in 45 games with Utah (AHL) last season.

Berry was originally Colorado's third choice, 55th overall (third round), in the 1997 Entry Draft. He will report to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), the Predators' primary developmental affiliate.

[Dr Hook]

Good pickup for the Preds. I always regarded Berry as one of the top middleweights in the league, and a steady defenseman to boot.

[BGDDYKWL]

Apparently word got out that Berry might actually do a little fighting, so the Yotes had to run him out of town. In a month's time they've sent down or gotten rid of Doull, McAllister, Ference, Chimera, Rupp, Hulse, and now Berry. I guess when you have muscle like LeClerc and Doaner in there every night you don't really need more fighters. God I hate this team.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

Apparently word got out that Berry might actually do a little fighting, so the Yotes had to run him out of town.

Berry was never in the Coyotes plans. He was probably 10th on the depth chart.

[BGDDYKWL]

That's true, the Yotes are deep on D. O'Donnell can't even crack the lineup when everyone's healthy. Their problem is aside from Doan, Leclerc, Nash, and arguably Ricci, their remaining 10 forwards are essentially carbon copies of one another. Comrie, Devereaux, Kolanos, Lundmark, Nedved, Nagy, Sanderson, Saprykin, Jonhson, and Sjostrom are all undersized soft players who don't hit and can't fight. How many of these guys does one team need??? Sportsline said the Yotes were interested in Owen Nolan. Now that's the type of player they could use. Assuming he's got anything left.

[nutlob]

where is nolan?

[Dirty Harry]

Berry had a so-so tenure with Hershey a few years back. He started off a little shakey....took a lot of crap from the fans. But managed to turn it up before heading to Colorado and beyond. I've seen him play quite a few times. He can move around the def. zone pretty well and can handle himself in a scrap too. I wouldn't rank him as any team's enforcer-to-be, but he can surely fill out a second-in-command role, no question.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by nutlob

where is nolan?

He is still technically with Toronto, however he is out with a leg injury. He should be healthy to play in a couple months.

[davidb]

i saw nolan on OLN fishing. leafs should keep him.
why'd roberts go?