In the world of professional hockey, August tends to be the slowest month. During a Summer Olympics year it can seem even slower. This has been the case for the Nashville Predators, who made several key moves during July, and done nothing but stand pat since July 24th, the fateful day that the team match Shea Weber’s 14-year RFA contract.
However, one day prior to holding onto to Weber, the Predators did agree to deals with forwards Sergei Kostitsyn and Jack MacLellan, on one-way and two-way contracts respectively. Kostitsyn, who has been successful with Nashville is locked up for two years, MacLellan one.
On the same day Weber signed former Milwaukee fan favorite Colin Wilson re-upped with the Predators for three years. These are small potatoes deals in the scope of an entire summer as Nashville wades its fishing pole into the water for the last major free agent prize available, forward Shane Doan. However, competition and the asking price seem super high, and Doan, who wouldn’t mind returning to Phoenix, holds all the cards.
While we all wait with baited breath on Doan’s future whereabouts, the Predators’ AHL affiliate made a pair of notable roster moves today. Admirals defenseman Jeff Foss is back in the fold after signing an American Hockey League contract. The RPI product skated in 28 games with Milwaukee last season, contributing one point and 32 penalty minutes. Foss didn’t make much of an impact in 2011-2012, but he has the opportunity to increase his role significantly this season.
The other addition for the Admirals is Zoltan Hetenyi, a 24-year-old goaltender who is a native of Budapest, Hungary. Hetenyi had impressive numbers last season with Jokerit of SM-ligga, posting a 1.75 goals against average and a .936 saves percentage. This will be Hetenyi’s first North American professional season, but he already has a tidy Wikipedia page.
So Roundtable . . . Now that is August, what are your impressions on Nashville’s summer to date? Anyone still out there that you wish the Predators would sign, who have the potential to play with Admirals? What do think of the resign of Foss and the addition of Hetenyi?
Admirals Roundtable 
I think I’d probably stop short of calling Colin Wilson a Milwaukee fan favorite. He was only here for 40 games, and didn’t set the league on fire for awhile……just five points in the first 18 games. Something clicked after that and he averaged over a point/game afterwards……but I’d label other Wilson’s as fan favorites before Colin.
Foss will be solid when called upon, but will probably lose another numbers game when it comes to regular playing time. I’m excited for Zoltan because it means I may get to make some Dude Where’s My Car jokes this year…. But if we don’t see him, that means goaltender health in the organization is good, and that’d be preferable.
…and what are we going to do with 3 goal keepers? I’m assuming Hetenyi will be the odd man out and playing in Cinci???
If all goes well….that will probably be the case. Chet is going to be playing overseas. So Zoltan will probably be our emergency guy, with most of his ice time coming in Cincy.
Üdvözöllek Zoltan! Welcome back Jeff!