Nashville trades for Belfour's negotiating rights

[GiveHyzduashot]

http://msn.espn.go.com/nhl/news/2002/0629/1400456.html

[Trots]

Seems like an odd move on the surface. It could just be the Preds way of stockpiling draft picks.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Agreed, Trots.

This to me is pretty surprising Nashville wanted Belfour's negotiating rights. Nashville isn't the type of team that's a goaltender away from a playoff team. It seems odd to trade for his rights when Nashville's a team in a rebuilding mode (not that the Predators ever had anything to rebuild off of).

[Trots]

Newspaper reports here indicate that the Preds GM has no intention of signing Belfour. They are just looking at getting a third round compensatory pick after Belfour signs elsewhere. I give them credit for finding ways to move up in the draft (as they traded a fifth round choice in the deal to get Belfour's rights.)

[Tigers#1]

Nashville really doesn't need a goalie with Dunham and Vocoun in net. They also traded for the rights of Tom Poti.