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Ten Left for Four...

September 27, 2011, 10:27 AM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Predators were back on the ice yesterday after taking Sunday off. Some news coming out of camp included Ryan Thang being sent down to Milwaukee (leaving 32 players in camp.) Blake Geoffrion’s wrist, he is now skating with a stick and is eyeing a return this weekend in one (or both) of the final two preseason games and Mike Fisher’s return, who may be ready for action by opening night. The story of this week will revolve around which ten of the 32 players remaining will get reassigned when October comes around.

There are 18 forwards left in camp… of those you figure that 12 spots are already reserved for Niclas Bergfors, Martin Erat, Mike Fisher, Patric Hornqvist, Sergei Kostitsyn, David Legwand, Cal O'Reilly, Jerred Smithson, Nick Spaling, Zack Stortini, Jordin Tootoo, and Colin Wilson … the battle will be for the one spot left among Gabriel Bourque, Blake Geoffrion, Chris Mueller, Craig Smith, Kyle Wilson, and Matt Halischuk. Perhaps a second spot may be available if Mike Fisher cannot begin the season… this will be a difficult decision for Coach Trotz and his staff as Geoffrion and Halischuk showed well last year, Smith and Bourque were both excellent early in camp and Mueller has played outstanding hockey throughout preseason. I give Mueller the edge in starting the season in Nashville, the second spot (if there is one) will probably go to Halischuk.

The battle is a little more contained but no less intense on the blueline. There are 11 defensemen left in camp… Teemu Laakso, Jonathon Blum, Francis Bouillon, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Jack Hillen, Roman Josi, Kevin Klein, Tyler Sloan, Ryan Suter, Shea Weber. If the Predators carry seven defensemen and Bouillon begins on IR… Blum, Kline, Suter and Weber are there, figure that five are battling for two or three spots. Ekholm is still adjusting to the smaller ice and it would be easy to see him spending some time in Milwaukee to finish that adjustment. Laakso has had a solid camp, Ellis has had an up-and-down preseason. Tyler Sloan has been solid and Jack Hillen has impressed. Unless there is a radical performance shift in the next three games, I’m thinking that Hillen, Sloan and Laakso begin in Nashville with Ellis as first call up.

Tough decisions await as the final pieces of the 2011-2012 Predators are being assembled. These next three games will be critical to which young Preds will begin in Music City or start off with the Ad’s. The Preds are back in action tomorrow night at the Bridge against the Washington Capitals.

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Random Notes

- Despite the inaccurate reporting and constant message shifting of a so-called investigative reporter, the Nashville Sports Authority did the right thing yesterday and approved the new concessions contract. It’s a shame that irresponsible reporting cost Nashville taxpayers almost $2 million dollars but I am glad that the Sports Authority saw through the smoke and mirrors put up by someone more interested in ratings and ego than learning the facts.

- So happy to see Matthew Lombardi close to returning for the Leafs. Folks may quibble about the trade, but with the facts being what they were, when they were, I would’ve made that trade as well…

- It looks like Barry Melrose has moved to the NHL Network. He was part of the Winter Classic announcement coverage yesterday… including some incredible footage of his 80’s mullet.

- Wow… Brendan Shanahan has announced his presence with authority. Columbus Dman James Wisniewski gets 8 regular season games for his head shot on Cal Clutterbuck… costing the repeat offender over half a million in lost salary. This is his fourth suspension. I see some folks complaining about the length, but a three time offender should know better. Given the situation... I have no issue with the length at all.

- So far Shanahan has handed out five suspensions totaling 34 games (17 preseason and 17 regular season.) and I love the video explanations, I’m just wondering when someone is going to auto-tune one?

- Now is when the waiver wire and outright releases starts to pick up…

- With the Winter Classic announcement comes the announcement of a second NHL installment of HBO’s 24/7. The series debuts on Dec. 14 and runs through January 4th. I can't wait for John Torterella to eclipse Bruce Bourdreau's f-bomb count.

- Part of yesterday’s Winter Classic announcement was the announcement of an alumni game to be played on New Year’s Eve. The Phantoms will also return to Philly for a game against long-time rival Hershey plus there will be open skating, high school and collegiate games at the Phillies' home as well.

- Sending good thoughts out to former Pred Scott Hartnell. He is seeing a cardiologist to try and figure out what caused an elevated heart rate during last Friday’s preseason game when the Flyers played Detroit.

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