Were you in the boat that considered the Nashville Predators defensive nucleus to be far too small? Well fear not because they have added one more piece to the puzzle. Today the Predators signed defenseman Johan Alm to a two-year entry level contract.

Nashville Predators press release:

Alm, 22 (1/28/92), has spent the past four seasons in the Skelleftea organization, winning back-to-back Swedish League titles in 2013 and 2014, and earning silver medals in 2011 and 2012. In 135 SHL games with Skelleftea and Frolunda since 2009-10, the 6-2, 209-pound blueliner has amassed 22 points (4g-18a), 72 penalty minutes and a +24 rating. He ranked fourth among all skaters in the 2014 SHL Playoffs in plus/minus rating (+9), after posting seven points (1g-6a) and a +16 rating in 30 games during the regular season. Six times in the last six seasons Alm has been a part of a championship or runner-up team at the under-18, junior or senior Swedish league levels.

Considering what the make-up in Nashville consists of: Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Michael Del Zotto, Seth Jones, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, and Victor Bartley :you then look to just how stacked the Milwaukee Admirals are going to be with young defensemen. The projected d-men in the 2014-15 roster right now consists of Jonathan Diaby, Garrett Noonan, Jaynen Rissling, and Mikko Vainonen. That doesn’t include the recently added Alm, nor Taylor Aronson, and also doesn’t include restricted/unrestricted free agent properties such as Anthony Bitetto (RFA), Scott Ford (UFA), Joonas Jarvinen (RFA), Joe Piskula (UFA), Bryan Rodney (UFA), Charles-Olivier Roussel (RFA), or Scott Valentine (RFA).

There are plenty of veteran variables to consider in that crop of free agents and some that should return from RFA status. Predators Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton had this to say in an article posted by our friend Jeremy K. Gover at Cellblock 303:

“They’re all kids that are slated to play an awful lot there,” Predators Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton said. “Those four guys are particularly going to cut their teeth in Milwaukee and, hopefully, do a good job for us. They all play a variety of roles. Some are defensive, some are size guys and some are offensive guys.”

“We have some decisions to make on a lot of the other guys, including Valentine,” Fenton said.

“I don’t see any of our guys [in Milwaukee] who can unseat somebody here in Nashville,” Fenton confirmed. “Bitetto is pushing to get some time [at the NHL level] and we’re hoping that Noonan is closer than you think because he’s 23 years old.”

“Our young defense corps we think [is] as good as anybody’s in the league,” Fenton said. “We just have to let them grow.”

There is a lot said there by Fenton that fascinates me – especially the quote regarding Bitetto and Noonan. The fact of the matter is, no matter who is re-signed or brought in, the Predators organization is head-to-toe drowning in some solid young defensemen. That is a great problem to have. The lone question mark to float out there from me is this: doesn’t that young core in Milwaukee next season need some veteran presences around to help them on and off the ice? When I say that I directly point to Piskula and Ford as possible returning options with that leadership role in mind. I just wonder, with the committed bodies already coming in next season, whether or not there is room for both.

What do you make of the Johan Alm signing? What does this mean for the Milwaukee Admirals defensive core for next season? Does the Alm signing mean we won’t see certain RFA/UFA Admirals returning? Should any of the young names above be in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones and work their way up? 

The Cincinnati Cyclones are officially heading to the 2014 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals. Last night they won Game 6 in overtime to eliminate the Greenville Road Warriors to become the ECHL Eastern Conference Champions.

The final scoreline was 3-2 and all goals by the Cyclones came from special teams: shorthanded goal by Dan Eves, power-play goal from Jonathan Hazen, and the overtime game-winner was scored shorthanded by Hazen.

So, who will the Cyclones be facing in the Kelly Cup Finals? The team that finished the regular season off with the best record in the ECHL, the Alaska Aces. Talk about a doozy of a travel schedule on top of what should be a grueling series. The 2014 Kelly Cup Finals officially begin on Friday in Alaska. You can find the full schedule for that series right here.

To end with one last smile on your face moment – remember that Magnus Hellberg guy? Me too, and it has been a very tough season for him in regards to results and injuries. Still, for those that have had the chance to know and talk to him, he is an incredibly positive person. You would think that after the season he has had, finishing it on the bench watching Rob Madore in the ECHL start in net, he wouldn’t be. He posted this photo to Twitter after last night’s game:

Class. And it must be said. I think Zach Budish doesn’t have the biggest head in Cincinnati – unless it’s just some sort of a distance thing in the photo.

The Cincinnati Cyclones played their opening contest of the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals last night against the Greenville Road Warriors. The Cyclones won 4-1 behind a Josh Shalla hat trick and are set for Game 2 later tonight in Cincinnati.

Shalla now has 10 points (8 goals, 2 assists) from 13 playoff games. He leads the Cyclones in goals during the playoffs and is second on the team in playoff points behind Byron Froese (18).

In addition to the offense, Rob Madore had continued his phenomenal run for the Cyclones. Last night he stopped 31 of 32 shots and has an overall playoff statline of 1.83 goals against average with a 0.941 save percentage. Madore is giving the Cyclones great balance when it comes to their shoot ’em up offense. Regardless if he kept this form up all throughout the ECHL Playoffs – I would be shocked to not see him playing AHL hockey next season.

Are the Cincinnati Cyclones heading for the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals? Do you think a strong playoff performance could help Josh Shalla’s chances of being an Admiral regular next season?

The Milwaukee Admirals announced late this afternoon that forward Joe Pendenza will be returning to the team for the 2014-15 season.

Pendenza joined the Admirals in April on an amateur try-out contract. He played in 5 games, didn’t score a point, had a plus/minus rating of -1, and 2 penalty minutes. He was coming off of a brilliant campaign for U-Mass-Lowell where he led the River Hawks in all scoring categories: 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists).

~Pendenza’s Chatterbox – April, 4 2014~

Pendenza participated with the 2013 Predators Development Camp:

Pendenza discusses his time with U-Mass-Lowell:

Pendenza describes his game:

Pendenza becomes the second signing of the Admirals off-season. Mike Liambas re-upped last Thursday. One wonders what moves are coming next. There are still a fair bit of unrestricted and restricted free agents to rundown. I also wonder what this signing means in terms of Braden Pimm. Does it mean the the picked Pendenza over Pimm or could both be back next season? Still plenty of unknowns but, hey, this is why they call it crazy season right?

Happy with the signing of Joe Pendenza by the Admirals? What could his signing mean for others looking to return to the team next season? Which unrestricted free agents should the Admirals target next?

There is a full slate of games tonight for the 2014 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. For those who aren’t keeping track of what’s what – here is where the playoffs stand right now.

Eastern Conference

(4) St. John’s IceCaps 3 – (8) Norfolk Admirals 2
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 – (7) Providence Bruins 1

Western Conference

(1) Texas Stars 2 – (4) Grand Rapids Griffins 2
(2) Chicago Wolves 0 – (3) Toronto Marlies 3

We saw it first hand, but those Marlies are just clobbering their way through the playoffs. They have yet to take a loss in the playoffs and are on the verge of a clean four-game sweep of the higher-seeded Wolves.

The other scrap out of the Western Conference is proving to be pretty entertaining. I would have thought the Texas Stars were a shoe-in to represent the West in this year’s Calder Cup Finals. Instead, they’re facing a Griffins side that has bounced straight back on home ice to even the series at 2-2.

As for the Eastern Conference, I think it mirrors what the Cincinnati Cyclones have had happen during their ECHL Playoffs. The top seeds are gone and it pits some real tough teams head-to-head.

I do feel we’ll see the Baby Pens face the IceCaps in the Eastern Finals. Still, the Imposter-Admirals fended off elimination with an OT winner in Game 5 and were able to beat the top seeded Manchester Monarchs. To boot, that Bruins team isn’t too far off the Baby Pens in all actuality. They’re able to generate offense and their one win in the series came via a shutout.

One last note: former Milwaukee Admiral Drew MacIntyre has a 1.82 goals against average and a 0.941 save percentage. He has won all 6 games that the Toronto Marlies have played so far in the playoffs.

Who do you think will be in the Conference Finals and Calder Cup Finals? Could the team that thwarted the Milwaukee Admirals be on an undefeated run to the Calder Cup? Can the Griffins upset the Stars?

The Milwaukee Admirals have announced that Mike Liambas will return for the 2014-15 season after signing a one-year AHL contract this afternoon.

During the 2013-14 season, Liambas set an Admirals AHL record for penalty minutes in a season with 267. That topped the previous record held by Jordin Tootoo in 2004-05 when he spent 266 minutes in the penalty box. Liambas was second in the AHL last season in penalty minutes to only Zack Stortini‘s 299.

Liambas has now played in 87 games as a member of the Admirals. He joined the team in February of the 2012-13 season and has a career total of 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) to go with 341 penalty minutes.

He has made big strides in his all-around game since arriving in Milwaukee. Pekka Rinne called him a warrior. And he has fantastic leadership skills on and off the ice. I think this is a great first re-signing for the Admirals.

Happy to see Mike Liambas returning as an Admiral for next season? Who would you like to see brought back next?

Last night our pals in the ECHL, the Cincinnati Cyclones, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. They took down the eighth seeded Fort Wayne Komets in six games in a series that saw three-games go into OT. The finale last night was capped off in regulation with a 4-1 victory on home ice.

Speaking of home ice, this is the beautiful thing for Cincinnati that will happen in the Conference Finals. The Cyclones are the fifth seed. Thanks to other dominoes falling they will have home ice against the seventh seeded Greenville Road Warriors. The Conference Finals for the Cyclones starts on Monday night.

How have the members of the Milwaukee Admirals been contributing you ask? Quite well.

Josh Shalla in particular has shined in this playoff run for the Cyclones. He has 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) in 12 playoff games. Zach Budish has picked up 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) to go along with one of the team’s top plus/minus ratings, +7. Barry Almeida has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). Taylor Aronson has 4 points (all assists).

Magnus Hellberg hasn’t factored into any of this playoff run for the Cyclones. While you might think that’s a downer – think again. Rob Madore was the hot-hand going into the Kelly Cup playoffs and he has responded with banana crazy insane numbers: he has started all 12 playoff games, won 8 games, has a 1.89 goals against average, and a 0.938 save percentage. The Cyclones have a really strong offense that has averaged 3 goals per game in the playoffs. Pair that with a goalie allowing less than 2 goals per contest and it sounds rather successful – if I do say so myself.

Do you feel like our Cyclones in the ECHL are heading to the Kelly Cup Finals? How do you think the members of the Milwaukee Admirals have performed at the ECHL level?

When the Milwaukee Admirals were swept out of the Calder Cup Playoffs by the Toronto Marlies there wasn’t a whole lot to feel happy about. The run into the playoffs was so promising. The forwards were cranking out good numbers. And it all went for naught.

Perhaps lost in all that disappointment was a stallar display from Marek Mazanec in net. The numbers might not necessarily back that up – 3 games, 3 losses, 3.03 goals against average, and a 0.898 save percentage – but his work kept that opening round series from being down-right painful.

For those still picky about those numbers, and yes he is in the second round, but Mazanec has better playoff numbers than the AHL’s top goalie this season Jake Allen: 3.21 goals against average and a 0.879 save percantage.

What impresses me the most when it comes to Mazanec’s 2013-14 season is the massive work load he endured all while experiencing his first ever North American pro-hockey season. Example: These are his games played (GP) numbers, season-to-season at all levels, dating back all the way back to his under-18 playing days with IHC Pisek.

2004-05: 1 GP
2005-06: 9 GP
2006-07: 15 GP
2007-08: 52 GP
2008-09: 47 GP
2009-10: 51 GP
2010-11: 63 GP
2011-12: 48 GP
2012-13: 55 GP
2013-14: 59 GP

Those numbers are all via Elite Prospects and the bulk of those seasons come from the lower-tiers of the Czech leagues, under-18/under-20 teams, and the Junior International set-up. If you want to dig into his playing numbers at a professional level it goes like this:

2009-10, HC Plzen: 1 GP, 9.00 GAA, 0.769 SV%

2010-11, HC Plzen: 15 GP, 2.79 GAA, 0.911 SV%

2011-12, HC Plzen: 19 GP, 2.96 GAA, 0.900 SV%
~ Playoffs: 5 GP, 2.15 GAA, 0.919 SV% ~

2012-13, HC Plzen: 21 GP, 2.49 GAA, 0.912 SV%
~ Playoffs: 20 GP, 2.13 GAA, 0.932 SV% ~

2013-14, Nashville Predators: 25 GP, 2.80 GAA, 0.902 SV%

2013-14, Milwaukee Admirals: 31 GP, 2.44 GAA, 0.914 SV%
~ Playoffs: 3 GP, 3.03 GAA, 0.898 SV% ~

His most comparable season to this year was, as you may expect, his season prior to making the leap to North America. He had an amazing playoff run with HC Plzen that culminated in winning it all.

So, when you start looking at the breakdown of his 2013-14 season, you begin to realize how taxing the campaign really was considering the raised level of competition and amount of games logged.

October, 2013
AHL: 3 GP, 3 wins, 1.96 GAA, 0.933 SV%

November, 2013
AHL: 2 GP, 2 wins, 2.00 GAA, 0.933 SV%
NHL: 11 GP, 5 wins, 2.48 GAA, 0.932 SV%

December, 2013
NHL: 8 GP, 2 wins, 2.52 GAA, 0.865 SV%

January, 2014
NHL: 6 GP, 1 win, 2.79 GAA, 0.883 SV%
AHL: 7 GP, 3 wins, 2.51 GAA, 0.913 SV%

February, 2014
AHL: 7 GP, 1 win, 3.07 GAA, 0.900 SV%

March, 2014
AHL: 8 GP, 5 wins, 2.87 GAA, 0.886 SV%

April, 2014
AHL: 6 GP, 4 wins, 2.01 GAA, 0.934 SV%

May, 2014
AHL: 1 GP, 1.02 GAA, 0.955 SV%

It was that stretch from January to March, right after his reassignment from Nashville, where he was the team’s work horse in net. During that span he played in 70.9% of the Admirals games (22 GP out of 31 games). Then he caught his second wind out of the team’s four game road trip in late March: 3/21 @ Hamilton: L, 4-2… 3/22 @ Toronto: W, 5-1… 3/23 @ Utica: L, 4-3 (SO)… 3/26 @ Rochester: W, 3-1. After that spell where he split time with battery-mate Scott Darling – Mazanec played 6 games, won 5 of them, had a 1.51 goals against average, and a 0.946 save percentage.

There will be some questions that need answering in regards to who backs-up Pekka Rinne next season. Going back to Nashville Predators GM David Poile’s presser on the day Barry Trotz said goodbye – it sounded almost matter-of-fact that Carter Hutton will be re-signed as a free agent and back in Nashville for the 2014-15 season:

“The 51-games for Pekka [Rinne] being out I mean that was really hard to overcome. Carter Hutton couldn’t do it at the time. We put him in and he couldn’t do it. And now he can. I mean, Mitch [Korn], scouts, good scouting, and we got a great number-two next year.” David Poile

Should that be the case, and injuries not being the case, the goaltending situation should be exactly as it was at the start of the 2013-14 season: Pekka ready to be Pekka, Hutton preparing to back-up, and then a tandem of Mazanec to go along with Magnus Hellberg.

It is that stability that should lend extremely well for both to have strong seasons next year – especially Mazanec who played through this past season relatively unscathed on the injury front. For him to be able to settle in -particularly with one team for a full season- it should mean better results from his familiarity and comfort level improving dramatically with that first North American playing season under his belt.

He had plenty thrown at him in a season where he was expected to go 1-A and 1-B with Hellberg from the start. I think Mazanec’s 2014-15 season, with plenty of organizational stability at the goaltending position, should be a strong one for him and the Milwaukee Admirals.

How do you feel Marek Mazanec’s season went? Do you think he is the team’s number-one netminder in 2014-15? If Nashville does not re-sign Carter Hutton – what will that mean for Mazanec and fellow goalies in the system?

Firstly, a belated Happy Mother’s Day. Hope you all had the chance to catch up with family and, for you Sconnies, enjoy some of the outstanding weather we finally had this weekend.

We’ve hit into which members of the Milwaukee Admirals will be upcoming free agents. We have also taken a peak into who is on next season’s radar (and beyond) as far as new blood is concerned. There will almost certainly be members of that restricted free agent list, possibly even unrestricted free agent list, due back for the 2014-15 Admirals season. Curious as to how that whole free agent process works out? I say give this link a gander.

The question I have for you all today is this. Out of the list of restricted and unrestricted free agents – who do you think this team needs the most?

Restricted Free Agents

Taylor Beck: I feel he is coming off of his best professional season. He played strong two-way hockey, could log lots of minutes in various situations, and was really a consistent performer start to finish.

Anthony Bitetto: His season started off red hot offensively but seemed to cool half way through the season. His defense was spotty at times but did look better as the season wore on.

Joonas Jarvinen: He started the year with an injury and also missed some time in the late stages to due the dreaded “upper-body” injury. When he was on the ice he was one of the Admirals best defensive defensemen. He’s big, physical, and seemed to elevate his game from the previous 2012-13 season.

Simon Moser: I feel like his game really shined during the Olympics and the brief time he had in the NHL afterwards. He might not thrill too much on offense but he is sound defensively and has some good skill. It’s still a shame that the IceHogs injured him during that outstanding stretch of games for him.

Joonas Rask: I actually think there are some slight comparatives with Rask to Moser. Differences? Moser is ahead of him offensively but the two player solid defense from the wings and Rask may have been one of the fastest skaters in Milwaukee this past season. There was a learning curve for him adjusting from the European style rinks to the North American game – but he still played rather well on a low-line role.

Charles-Olivier Roussel: He worked his way on the roster from camp and into the lineup time-and-time again. I think he wasn’t too far behind Bryan Rodney in terms of skill set and, to be honest, was more reliable on defense. The question you have to ask is whether or not he’s playing to his ceiling or if there is yet another level to his game that we could see next season?

Scott Valentine: His season ended with shoulder surgery but his combination with Scott Ford was as good of a shutdown d-pair as the team had to offer. I feel we’ve seen a lot of what he can and cannot do in his three-seasons in Milwaukee (he was even an ace on color commentary with Aaron Sims during the playoffs). I do think that the young defensemen coming in for next season means limited room for left shooting d-men. It could be that Bitetto gets tabbed for a role over him when it is all said and done.

Unrestricted Free Agents

Paul Crowder: 29-years old. Played practically his entire season at the ECHL level. Has 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists), 34 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of -8 from 106 career AHL games. Unlikely to be re-signed? Unlikely.

Scott Darling: If not for the lack of games and minutes he would be right there in all major AHL goaltending categories for his 2013-14 efforts. I think he has earned himself a two-way NHL deal or a minimum of an AHL deal elsewhere. The Predators seem like they’ll make a push to keep Carter Hutton. Add to the fact they have Marek Mazanec and Magnus Hellberg and you are left exactly where the Admirals were at the start of the season before all the injury news surfaced. I doubt we see Darling return as an Admiral next season – but I expect him to play elsewhere in the AHL.

Scott Ford: A team without the Sheriff sure would be strange right? The 2012-13 season started off that way but, with a veteran-max issue in Peoria, we brought him back. I wonder what the future holds for him. Watching his work in-person I felt his regular season was alright. Watching him play in the playoffs against Toronto and I feel as if he was getting beaten to areas of the ice a defenseman shouldn’t. The pace was lacking and therefore his greatest asset, keeping the play in front of him to defend and use his strength in-tight, was gone. Were he to return next season he would be 35-years old by Christmas. It makes you wonder just how much more is left in the tank.

Mike Liambas: There isn’t much to not like about his work rate this season. Yes, he did his share of fighting (25 in total). But, I was real happy to see his other abilities come to the surface. As Pekka Rinne said, “he’s a warrior.”

Joe Piskula: He may have been the best all-around defenseman on the Admirals this season. 23 points (3 goals, 20 assists) and a plus/minus rating of +20. He always seemed really smooth and under control. As veteran d-men returning are concerned I feel he might be top man on the list.

Bryan Rodney: A veteran puck moving d-man and one that gave Admirals fans plenty to love and hate – making his alias the Thunderdome. As far as next season’s defense is concerned there are lots of young players coming in the mix with the space for a veteran being either useful or tough to find a place for. When it comes to Thunderdome – I think it will be hard to find a place for him.

Vinny Saponari: How good was this guy last season? 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 58 games. He may not have started the season off where he wanted to but once he left Cincinnati in November he never looked back.

Mathieu Tousignant: The pesky pest, French chrip-o-matic, and always entertaining Tousi provided plenty of energy to the team this season. He skates fast, has shown some amazing skill in shootouts, and really brings the type of all-around fight that you want from the lower lines on your team.

Francis Wathier: Alright, technically he is the Texas Stars’ free agent because he was “loaned” to the Admirals but still. He added a real nice element to the team that I felt they lacked. He was a big body forward that could play wing or center and was comfortable in all game situations because of his  great veteran maturity.

Out of the names above, who should return and who should be let go? Do you feel like this was the final playing season for Scott Ford in Milwaukee? Are there other players that you would be interested seeing the Admirals add as a free agent next season?