The Nashville Predators are pillars of the community

 If you follow anything about sports, you have perhaps heard about the Southeastern Conference, or SEC, is the preeminent league in the world of college athletics. If you follow college athletics and the SEC in particular, you have probably heard of Vanderbilt, like from the sentence "Haha, at least we aren't Vanderbilt!"

Vanderbilt is a sorry excuse for an athletics program AND they located in Nashville. Granted, Vanderbilt is a fantastic school, it is admirable that the Predators are voluntarily associating with the Athletics program. Maybe through the positive influence of the Predators, the downtrodden Vanderbilt Commodores might realize that even without success, they can at least go out there and have fun, and know they have the support of real athletes. 

Dustin Brown to have his number retired

 Dustin Brown, the all time leader in games played for the Los Angeles Kings, is having his #23 hung from the rafters of the Staples Center on February 11th. Surely. Brown is the greatest athlete to ever wear the number 23, and is certainly the best 23 to play at the Staples Center. His career lasted for nearly 20 years, almost entirely with the Kings, save for time in Switzerland during the lockout. He was part of 2 Cup winning squads.

Known for his physical play, the length of his tenure in LA allowed him to build cache as a respected leader not only in Los Angeles, but across the NHL as well. He was team Captain for 8 years, leading by example, through quiet dignity and hard work. Oh, I'm sorry, did I say dignity? I meant this. 

Dustin Brown, ladies and gentlemen.

The World Juniors are here to mess with your patriotism

International competitions are always good for building a bit of national unity. When the Olympics come around, if you are Canadian, you cheer for Canada, if you are America, you cheer for Team USA. It's one of the rare things that are still untouched by the eroding state of international and domestic politics.

And then the World Juniors tournament comes around, and it's totally different. If you look around any team specific hockey blogs through the offseason, especially in August, the dead zone between free agency and the open of training camp, it's all about the Juniors tournament. There are no links to the American or Canadian teams like there may be during the regular international events, but rather to the box scores for games involving top prospects.

Patriotism is dead, and it's back to team loyalty. Naturally, the team specific sites are focused on their own prospects, but there isn't any mention of how Team USA is doing if there are no American prospects within that team's roster. It's interesting to see a Panthers blog covered in Team Finland pictures. 
If there is one immediate conclusion, it's that the World Juniors are pretty low stakes. There aren't many competitions in other sports like this, where prospect rights are held by teams for many years, but there are still international competitions for youth, so it makes for some unique interests. You can look at the development of future members of your team against similarly skilled and aged players, all while getting a feel for the international game, and perhaps a preview of National Team competitions.
Conveniently, the Wild have a couple of American prospects to keep an eye on, but I guess I'm also cheering for Team Sweden?

Look at me, writing about Russian hockey players

In a world with relentlessly bad news, how about we touch upon a little bit of good news? It turns out, the Russian government isn't holding NHL players hostage. Kiril Kaprizov is back in North America, despite concerns that he might have a warrant for having a fake military ID to evade service in Vladimir Putin's illicit war with Ukraine.

Of course, the war in Ukraine carries on. As the western world maintains their resolve against Russian aggression, the more likely it becomes that Putin and his cronies look for ways to lash out at those that are opposed, or aren't giving him enough adulation. Because Kaprizov and apparently Russian hockey players in the NHL writ large are safe and available today doesn't mean that won't change.

And unfortunately, there IS an athlete that plays North American sports being held captive by the Russian government. WNBA superstar Brittney Griner remains a prisoner, thanks to a specious charge of possession that occurred the day before Russia invaded Ukraine. The American government is trying to engineer a prisoner exchange for Griner and another American held in Russian custody. 

Many athletes, many leagues, and even a lot of NHLers will continue to show their support for Ukraine. It will continue to be the dominant factor in the global economy, political discourse and conversation until Russia ends the war. While we were told to stop talking about it at the last place I wrote, it will still be on our minds, and will still be threat to people like Kiril Kaprizov if he ever wants to go home, or Brittney Griner, who desperately wants to come home. 

But for the moment, we have the freedom to talk about the war and what we might ever be able to do to help, even if it is just the "Thoughts and Prayers" boilerplate. When all there is is hope, Thoughts and Prayers mean a lot more. And for the moment, Kiril Kaprizov simply has his freedom.

This has been a touch of good news.