The intrigue is building as the Nashville Predators enter the final weekend of training camp. Trying to read the tea leaves of who makes the roster and who does not. 28 players remain on the roster after Milwaukee broke camp and headed north, the Preds may be close to a final roster… especially given the injury situation at forward. We definitely know the following…
• Goaltending – Pekka Rinne and Carter Hutton are the tandem in net for this season year and next.
• Defense – Nine defensemen remain on the roster. I expect to see Johan Alm and Joe Piskula sent down eventually.
At forward is where things get interesting… there are 17 forwards left on the roster, assuming the team keeps the standard 7 D and 2 goalies… that leaves room for up to 14 forwards. The reason I say “up to” is that previous iterations of this team have carried less than the 23 player max… but let’s go with 14…
I will break the group into a couple of categories, simply my opinion on where these players fall… injured, book it and on the bubble.
• Injured – Mike Fisher (probable return, late November) – Matt Cullen (Probable return, unknown, listed as day-to-day) – Viktor Stalberg (probable return – 2-3 weeks)
• Book it – Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, Derek Roy, Mike Ribeiro, Eric Nystrom, James Neal, Olli Jokinin, Taylor Beck, Gabriel Bourque, Paul Gaustad, Rich Clune
• On the Bubble – Kevin Fiala, Filip Forsberg, Calle Jarnkrok
If there is no injury improvement… all the bubble players start the season on the big club. Reality is, Cullen should be back in time for the season opener, so… who makes it? My case for each player on the bubble…
• Filip Forsberg – My observations say this player makes the roster no matter what. He has shown growth in his game, he has added some bulk to his young frame and isn’t getting outmuscled like the beginning of last season. He’s playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and it is working for him.
• Call Jarnkrok – I haven’t noticed this player as much during my observations in camp sessions or games. I will keep in mind his performance after coming over to the team in the Legwand trade and make the assumption he makes the team, but he does seem to be struggling to adapt to his third system in less than three months of play.
• Kevin Fiala – I have to admit… I want this kid to make the team. Some of the flashes we have seen in the prospect tournament and early in preseason make Pred Nation drool at the talent of this promising young player. But I have to be honest, I saw this player struggle with the more physical game that Columbus played, he got knocked around a bit. I know that Fiala has said he would go back to his Swedish team if he doesn’t make the big club and I am not sure if that is the right developmental move for him, a year in Milwaukee may do for him what it appears to have done for Forsberg.
The training camp injuries that have went down make David Poile look like a genius for scooping up as many free agents as he did. Preseason closes with a game at Columbus tomorrow, 102.5 the Game will be carrying the play-by-play.
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Random Notes
- The Nashville Predators Foundation announced the addition of two new board members yesterday. Country music star Vince Gill and Kristen Laviolette, the wife of Preds head coach Peter Laviolette. Great adds to a great organization.
- Congratulations to Bridgestone Arena’s David Kells, who was named Venue Executive of the Year by IEBA. Way to go David!
- ESPN.com’s Katie Strang is right on point in her
Five Disasters Waiting to Happen piece on the website.
- Observations from several sources have been calling the last few practices for the Predators some of the most intense they have ever witnessed. You know… sometimes the hardest part is getting their attention… my mom used to say that.
- The Bobby Ryan deal in Ottawa sends a clear message that the Sens are sick of losing their stars. A $50 million contract will do that.
- Frustration building in Winnipeg as Jets d-man Zach Bogosian went down with a lower body injury last night. The 24 year old just can’t stay healthy.
- Speaking of injuries, Dallas Stars blueliner Sergei Gonchar broke his ankle in Tuesday night game against the Lightning and will be out for up to 5 weeks.
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