The Nashville Predators have traded forward Pierre-Cédric Labrie and defenseman Trevor Murphy to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman John Ramage and forward Tyler Gaudet. In addition, the Milwaukee Admirals have traded forward Derek Army to the Tucson Roadrunners for future considerations.
Press Release via Nashville Predators:
Nashville, Tenn. (February 26, 2018) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has acquired forward Tyler Guadet and defenseman John Ramage from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward PC Labrie and defenseman Trevor Murphy.
Gaudet, 24 (4/4/93), has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 48 games with the Tucson Roadrunners this season. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound center has tallied two multi-point games this season with the Roadrunners. Last season, Gaudet posted 22 points (6g-16a), 36 penalty minutes and made an appearance in four games with the Coyotes, posting one assist. Gaudet made his NHL debut on April 11, 2015, and notched his first NHL goal on Feb. 18, 2016, against Dallas.
Ramage, 27 (2/7/91), has four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 45 games with the Tucson Roadrunners and Cleveland Monsters this season. Last season the 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman posted 25 points (4g-21a) and 67 penalty minutes with the Monsters. Ramage made his NHL debut on Dec. 29, 2015, against Winnipeg and was a fourth-round selection of the Calgary Flames (103rd overall) at the 2010 NHL Draft.
Ramage is a familiar name for a few reasons. He was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers program from 2009-13 where he served as a captain for his final two collegiate playing seasons. He then was a member of the Abbotsford Heat, Adirondack Flames, and Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters in the AHL and has played against the Milwaukee Admirals in 19 games. In his AHL career he has played 289 games and produced 80 points (19 goals, 61 assists). Ramage won the AHL’s Calder Cup in 2016 with Lake Erie and also won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup as a member of the Alaska Aces in 2014.
Gaudet, on the other hand, is not a familiar name. The 24-year old forward was an undrafted free agent signing by the Arizona Coyotes after a major junior playing career that lasted only two seasons but saw him score 69 points (29 goals, 40 assists) in 99 games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL. He has gone on to play 20 games in the NHL with the Coyotes and score 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). He is in the fourth AHL season of his playing career and has 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 227 games. He is currently enjoying a career best season in the AHL: 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 48 games.
Murphy had just tied Andrew Hutchinson for the most goals scored by a defenseman in the AHL History of the Milwaukee Admirals at 31 goals. He has enjoyed his best season to date as a pro in what is his third season with the Admirals. Labrie had served as an alternate captain throughout this season and provided a steady game on the ice and leadership qualities within the room. As for Army, this may have been a move more suited to give him an opportunity to play AHL hockey given the Admirals forward depth will only get that much deeper once Brandon Bollig and Bobby Butler arrive.
What is your instant reaction to this move made by the Nashville Predators with the Milwaukee Admirals in mind? Does this sudden shake-up help or hurt the Admirals? Do you feel deconstructing and rebuilding an AHL team on the fly like this will make the Admirals a better team while also helping along the younger prospects in house?
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Admirals Roundtable 
I will REALLY miss PC! I just loved watching him skate.
It’s basically swapping similar level guys for similar level guys, none of the players added or moved really are going to make a bang of an impact for MKE. The goalie depth is a nice move, but this is just putting a band aid on a gun shot wound that has been a slow bleed all year. Lindy covered holes on this team for a while until he ran outta gas. And we just don’t have the talent on this team, outside of a few players (Freddy, Richard, I guess Moy) offensive prospects are not on this team. Guys have been moved for parts for a cup run in NSH so this is what we’re gonna have to get used to seeing, a couple of promising young guys with a lot of mediocre guys around them. Last year’s team was the opposite lots of promising guys (Kamenev, Aberg, Kelleher even the Girards) with good vets (Florek, Pardy, Ribs, Bass) a really rounded team but those guys are all gone so let’s just hope everyone has a healthy finish to year and we win a few down the stretch to make it fun for the last few weeks.
Amen, I don’t see a lot of “black aces” going up for the playoffs in NSH, Gaudreau and Carrier may be Richard but there just isn’t the depth of the past few years. Let’s hope for a good show the next few weeks.