For the first time in organizational history the Nashville Predators’ minor pro affiliations will be changing. While the Milwaukee Admirals were announced to a new five-year agreement as the Predators AHL affiliate the same will not be said of the Cincinnati Cyclones as the ECHL affiliate.

The Norfolk Admirals have just announced via Facebook Live that they will be the new ECHL affiliate to the Predators (NHL) and Admirals (AHL) moving forward. As of yet there has been no concrete details as to the terms of the ECHL affiliation agreement between Nashville and Norfolk but it will mean for all Admirals at all times outside of Nashville.

Once an official statement becomes available with details on behalf of either the Nashville Predators or Norfolk Admirals I will provide an update to this story with the press release. Keep your eyes peeled for that as well as updates on social media regarding the new ECHL affiliation change.

Press Release via Norfolk Admirals:

NORFOLK, VA. – The Norfolk Admirals announced today that the club has reached an affiliation agreement with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League, beginning with the 2017-18 season.

“After a thorough process, the Nashville Predators are the perfect fit for the city of Norfolk and the Admirals. Their proven history of community outreach, innovative marketing, player development and winning is everything Admirals fans demand of us,” Admirals President Michael Santos stated.

Predators Director of Hockey Operations Brian Poile represented the new parent club at the event and said, “As an organization, we’re a big believer in the direction the Admirals are headed. We love having committed relationships with our affiliates for a variety of reasons, not limited to only player development.”

The Milwaukee Admirals will continue to serve as the American Hockey League affiliate for the Predators, the bridge between Nashville and Norfolk.

Since their inception in 1998, 35 Predators have been ECHL alumnus, including players such as Tomas Vokoun, Vern Fiddler and Anthony Bitetto.

This announcement comes as the first of three major organizational changes this summer for the Admirals. A new logo and jerseys will be revealed prior to the season.

The Admirals will kick off their 2017-18 campaign in October, with the home opener coming on Friday the 27th against the South Carolina Stingrays.

Season memberships are on sale now and start as low $500 for 36 games at Norfolk Scope Arena. Memberships can be purchased by contacting the Admirals at 757-640-1212 or on norfolkadmirals.com.

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The Nashville Predators have recalled Cody Bass from the Milwaukee Admirals. This move comes a day after the “Black Aces” made their way up from Milwaukee to help bolster the Predators run in the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This season started off so well for Bass as he made the Predators roster to begin the 2016-17 season. Things then went downhill and all came to a serious injury at the end of the 2016 portion of the Admirals calendar. He injured his hamstring on 12/28/16 and required surgery. That would sideline him for the rest of the Admirals regular season as well as the playoffs. He missed the final 50 games that the Admirals played.

What is encouraging though for Bass was he started to really practice hard at the end of the season. If the Admirals playoff run lasted longer there was a chance that he could have factored in with a deep run. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. But his leadership qualities off the ice continued on as he stayed around the team at season’s end to assist where he could. Bass will still be with the organization in 2017-18 and should be fully fit when the season begins.

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The Nashville Predators have officially recalled Alex Carrier, Jack Dougherty, Petter Granberg, Vladislav Kamenev, and Trevor Murphy from the Milwaukee Admirals. They will be joining the likes of Marek Mazanec and Frédérick Gaudreau by the Predators as part of the “Black Aces” from the Admirals.

Of the names going up to help bolster the Predators depth for their playoff push there are five players who have logged a game or more with the Predators in the NHL this season. You’d have to look at names such as Dougherty and Murphy as players who have yet to participate with the Predators as of yet.

This end-season recall for the group that played in the AHL at the end of the season helps to both give a look up at the NHL level as well as to provide depth on-ice during practice sessions and more for the Predators. For a player specifically like Dougherty, who has yet to get a recall until this moment, it offers a glimpse at the end goal being worked so hard for. It wouldn’t be clear if any would suit up for a game -but- the options now exist for the Predators thanks to revamped depth.

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The Nashville Predators have officially recalled Frédérick Gaudreau from the Milwaukee Admirals. This news follows that of Marek Mazanec being recalled Thursday – the day after the Admirals were eliminated from the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs.

Gaudreau’s work since the 2015-16 season with the Admirals has been among the top of the top. His skill level as well as defensive and skating abilities were easy to spot when he arrived from the QMJHL as an undrafted AHL signing prior to the 2014-15 season but his offense jumped up in his sophomore campaign and increased even further this past season.

During the 2016-17 season, Gaudreau produced 48 points (25 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games with the Admirals in the AHL. He also logged his first career games in the NHL as a member of the Predators where he tallied an assist from 9 games. The soon to be 24-year old forward finished the Admirals recent playoff run as their leading scorer with 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 3 games.

Prior to traveling from Milwaukee to Nashville we had the chance to speak with Gaudreau during the Admirals’ Exit Day. These were his comments on the Admirals season and more.

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The Nashville Predators have recalled Marek Mazanec from the Milwaukee Admirals following their elimination from the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs last night. More names of the “Black Aces” are expected to come in the near future.

This season could just as easily been one to forget for Mazanec after having won the back-up role to Pekka Rinne in pre-season camp only to lose out to Juuse Saros by December. It wasn’t a forgettable campaign for the 25-year old Czech native. He came to Milwaukee with a great attitude was very much the backbone of the Admirals.

Mazanec went 27-17-3-1 this season from 47 appearances with a 2.65 goals against average, 0.912 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. In his AHL career with the Admirals he has 82 wins from 165 appearances with 11 shutouts and -offensively- has 11 assists to his name. He very much should be considered in the discussion for one of the best all-time Milwaukee Admirals goaltenders. This recall comes after the Admirals season ends and, with the completion of the 2016-17 season, Mazanec’s contract will also end.

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The Nashville Predators have announced this afternoon that they have extended their affiliation agreement with the Milwaukee Admirals for five-years. The extension lasts until the 2021-22 season. The two have been partnered ever since the Predators franchise came into the NHL.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI—Admirals Owner and CEO Harris Turer and Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the two clubs have extended their affiliation agreement for five years, taking the long-standing partnership through the 2021-22 season.

“We are excited to continue the successful relationship with Nashville,” said Turer. “David, [Nashville Assistant GM and Milwaukee GM] Paul Fenton and their staff are committed to developing players by continuing a winning tradition in Milwaukee, as evidenced by the success we have had in this affiliation.”

“We are very proud of the Admirals alumni like Pekka Rinne, Viktor Arvidsson, Roman Josi and many others who have helped to make the Predators a top-flight NHL team.”

Heading into tonight’s game the Admirals have accumulated a 783-513-31-71-102 record, good for a .589 points percentage, during their time with the Predators. The Ads have won five Division Titles, including last season, two conference crowns and won the Calder Cup Championship in 2004. Milwaukee became the first team in AHL history to record 40 or more wins in 10 straight seasons and they have posted 90 or more points in 10 of the past 13 seasons, including six years when they have broken the 100-point plateau. In addition, he Ads have qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs in 14 of the past 15 seasons, including the 2016-17 campaign.

Counting this season the Admirals have accumulated the second-most points in the AHL, behind only Hershey, since joining the league in 2001-02 after 24 seasons in the IHL.

The Predators and Admirals have functioned as affiliates since Nashville’s inception in 1998-99, the third longest active streak in the AHL, and more than 175 players have played at least one game for both teams in the past 19 seasons. Additionally, six of Milwaukee’s head or assistant coaches have graduated to the NHL level, including current Washington Capitals Assistant Lane Lambert, Tampa Bay Assistant Coaches Todd Richards and Brad Lauer, and Edmonton Oilers Assistant Coach Ian Herbers.

Many of Nashville’s core players spent time with the Admirals, including three of their top four point-getters in 2016-17. Three-time Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne spent his first three seasons in North America with the Ads from 2005-08, while Viktor Arvidsson, who tied for the Predators lead with 61 points this year, played parts of two seasons in Milwaukee from 2014-16. Filip Forsberg recorded 34 points (15g-19a) in 47 games with the Admirals in 2013-14 before going on to become the first player in Preds history to score 30 goals in back-to-back seasons and NHL All-Star Roman Josi patrolled the blueline for the Ads in 2010-12.

In addition, roster mainstays for the Predators like: Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Colin Wilson, Calle Jarnkork, Austin Watson, Colton Sissons, and Anthony Bitetto all spent time developing in Milwaukee before becoming full-time players in Nashville.

This season alone 19 players have skated for both the Admirals and Preds, including Alexandre Carrier, Vladislav Kamenev, Mike Liambas, and Freddy Gaudreau who all made their NHL debuts.

After the announcement both Milwaukee Admirals Owner Harris Turer and Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile were available to speak with the media to discuss the exciting news regarding the Predators and Admirals continued partnership.

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The Milwaukee Admirals have announced that their first two home playoff games will be contested on Wednesday April 26th at 7:00 PM CDT and -if necessary- Friday April 28th at 7:00 PM CDT at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI—Admirals President Jon Greenberg announced today that the team will play home playoff games on Wednesday, April 26 and, if necessary, Friday April 28. Both games will be at 7 pm at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

The Admirals will be the third seed in the Central Division and start their series on the road against either the Grand Rapids Griffins or the Chicago Wolves. The complete first round series schedule will be released as soon as the opponent is known, but it will not be prior to the conclusion of Friday night’s games.

Tickets for the April 26th game are as low as just $8 and are now on sale by clicking here or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Groups of 10 or more receive priority seating and discounts off the face value of the tickets. Fans interested in group tickets should call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.

In addition, ticket packages for the playoffs are currently available by clicking here. The packages begin at just $120 and include the same seat for every game during the Admirals post-season run. If the team doesn’t play all of the games the excess money can either be refunded or applied to a season tickets for the 2017-18 season.

At this point it still isn’t all that clear whether or not the Admirals will be facing the Chicago Wolves or the Grand Rapids Griffins in the opening round of the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. What is known now is that the opening round series will be formatted as 2-2-1 with the Admirals slotted as the third seed taking the second set of home games in the best-of-five series.

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According to Renaud Lavoie the Nashville Predators have placed Jonathan Diaby on unconditional waivers. Diaby still has a year remaining on his three-year entry level contract but this looks to be the end of his time with the organization.

Diaby was drafted by the Predators in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft out of Victoriaville in the QMJHL. His most successful season would be his first pro season in 2014-15 which saw him play 52 games for the Admirals. After that, he mainly spent his playing time with the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL.

In total, Diaby logged 82 games with the Milwaukee Admirals and scored 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) and accumulated 150 penalty minutes. His time with the Cyclones in the ECHL saw him play 77 games in which he produced 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) and 99 penalty minutes.

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Leadership at any level of hockey is a very important quality to possess. Yet, I feel it is of highest importance at a level such as the AHL where there is a buffer zone between young and old with everyone still fighting for their chance to make it into the NHL. You very much need that calming presence that can balance out a group and bring a complex mixture of first-year pros and long established talent together to help see individuals form a team. The Admirals team captain Trevor Smith might be one of the best examples that this organization has had at doing that.

When Smith signed a two-year contract last off-season with the Nashville Predators organization he did so after making a great name for himself in the AHL and NHL and then testing the waters in Europe with the likes of SC Bern. He had already played 106 games in the NHL and totaled 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists). He has experienced plenty and was looking to make an immediate return to the North American scene after a season spent in Switzerland.

While the NHL opportunities for Smith have been limited, just the one game played via a bout of food poisoning for the Predators in late-October, the body of work established with the Admirals has been great.

Smith was voted by his teammates to be the team captain and has genuinely shown time and time again why that is the case. He leads by example with tremendous on and off ice work ethic. And, something that fans can’t see, often times would usher the players together after games to have player meetings. It would happen after wins not only losses. He was keeping the team together and on the same page. With such a young locker room, such as the likes the Admirals have this season, it goes a long way and is an attribute that is helping in ways that far exceed his own personal goals. He really is a team first player. And he was like that from the moment he arrived in Milwaukee.

The thing to remember with Smith is this: he isn’t here for a season and gone. Smith is still under contract in the Predators organization for another season. He will most likely continue on as the Admirals captain for the 2017-18 season. Considering how his first season as the man rocking the “C” has gone? I think everyone should be quite happy to know that he’ll be back and can still put his name into the discussions for rotating up to the Predators roster should a veteran center be needed. He still has plenty of quality to offer at both the AHL and NHL stage.

Cheers to Trevor Smith for taking the time for this interview! We’ve now pretty much run down everyone this season for Fifteen but -if there are still players you haven’t heard from yet that you would like to- please leave a suggestion in the comment section below.

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Tyler Moy has officially signed his entry level contract with the Nashville Predators. The terms of the deal is good for two-years. Moy was selected by the Predators in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft and is coming off of a stellar season at Harvard University.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has signed forward Tyler Moy to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Moy, 21 (7/18/95), played 36 games for Harvard University this season, and led the club with 22 goals while tying for the team lead in points (45). He ranked among the NCAA’s Top 15 in points per game (1.25) and goals per game (.61), as well as pacing the Crimson and ranking among the Top 10 in the nation in power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (5). The native of La Jolla, California also helped Harvard reach the 2017 Frozen Four, scoring three goals in two games during the East Regional en route to being named to the all-tournament team.

Nashville’s sixth-round selection (175th overall) in the 2015 Entry Draft, Moy finished his four-year collegiate career (2013-17) with 101 points (45g-56a) in 131 games.

It isn’t clear at this time if Moy will be joining the Milwaukee Admirals at the end of their regular season or for their playoff run. What is for certain now though is that he will do what his Harvard teammate Jimmy Vesey didn’t which is join the organization that drafted him and look to make good on their selection. Moy turns 22-years old in July and is a natural center. That role within the organization just got even deeper today.

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