Category: News

News

Please Welcome: Austin Watson, Chris Cahill, and Jeff Foss

They’re the next contestants on the Price is Right.

Watson, we wrote about yesterday.  He was a point per game this past season for his junior team, but one stat that lots of folks are not seeing about this season….. he was -38 defensively.  Granted, the Petes were not very good this season, but still….to be a point per game, and still -38….doesn’t make me think that Coach Lambert will be all that interested in playing him.  Word is that he needs to put some meat on those bones too.

Chris Cahill is a forward who has spent the last four seasons playing for Yale University, and he continues the Predators’ interest in drafting hockey players with high IQ’s.  As a senior, Cahill scored 15 goals and 19 assists in 35 games.

Foss was a 6th round draft pick of the Preds in 2008, and he just finished his senior season with RPI.  A 6’2 200 pound stay-at-home-defenseman, he had 3 goals and 11 assists in 38 games.  If he practices well and shows Coach Lambert some good awareness, that may mean the end of Patrick Coulombe’s time in Milwaukee as the 7th defenseman.

News

Austin Watson – Milwaukee Bound

Here’s a couple paragraphs of a Preds press release.

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed 2010 first-round pick (18th overall) Austin Watson to a three-year entry level contract. Watson will spend the duration of the 2010-11 season with Milwaukee (AHL) on an Amateur Tryout Agreement.

“The second half of the season he really played well,” Poile said of Watson. “He played in all situations and produced in all situations. Not only was he a strong defensive forward killing penalties and blocking shots – things we liked in his draft year – but he produced some very good numbers offensively. All-in-all, it was really good progress for his year for Austin.”

68 points in 68 games, split evenly between goals and assists.  Not a bad season for the Peterborough Petes.

We’ll ask Coach Lambert after the game tonight if he thinks it’s likely that Watson will receive some ice time in the near future.

We should also expect some more ATO signings over the next 48 hours.

News

OHL Playoff Update

Tis the season for ATO contracts, and once the junior seasons of some of Nashville’s prospects are completed, we may see some of them dressing in Admiral uniforms.

The playoffs started last week in the Ontario Hockey League, and here’s how things have been going for the Guelph Storm and the Windsor Spitfires.

SAGINAW vs. GUELPH
Guelph leads series 2 – 1
Game 1 – Fri Mar 25 7:11 PM SAGINAW 3, Guelph 2
Game 2 – Sun Mar 27 2:00 PM GUELPH 6, Saginaw 2
Game 3 – Mon Mar 28 7:11 PM Guelph 7, SAGINAW 3
Game 4 – Thu Mar 31 7:00 PM Saginaw at Guelph
Game 5 – Sat Apr 2 7:11 PM Guelph at Saginaw
Game 6 – Sun Apr 3 7:00 PM * Saginaw at Guelph
Game 7 – Tue Apr 5 7:11 PM * Guelph at Saginaw

Taylor Beck: 3g, 2a, 8 PIM, 1 PP point
Michael Latta:  2g, 4a, 9 PIM, 2 PP points

WINDSOR vs. ERIE
Windsor leads series 2 – 1
Game 1 – Thu Mar 24 7:05 PM Erie 2, WINDSOR 1
Game 2 – Sat Mar 26 7:00 PM Windsor 4, ERIE 3 OT2
Game 3 – Mon Mar 28 7:05 PM WINDSOR 6, Erie 2
Game 4 – Wed Mar 30 7:00 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 5 – Fri Apr 1 7:05 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 6 – Sun Apr 3 4:30 PM * Windsor at Erie
Game 7 – Tue Apr 5 7:05 PM * Erie at Windsor

Ryan Ellis:  2g, 2a, 1 GWG, +2 defensively

News

Everything Is Ok

Just so you can be informed, when your neighbor at the Bradley Center asks you WTF is going on….

Your regularly scheduled PA announcer is in Hawaii.  He’s not in trouble, the higher-ups aren’t trying to go another direction, and his job certainly is not in jeopardy.  He’s just out of town this week.  Nothing more.

That is all.  Please be advised.

News

Who’s in/Who’s out? Gauging the AHL’s Western Conference Playoff Race

As of Monday, here is the current West Division standings with each team’s remaining games:

1) MILWAUKEE: 94 points, (Games Played: 73, record: 40-19-6-8).  Remaining Games:  vs. San Antonio, vs. Houston, vs. Peoria, vs. Grand Rapids, vs. Texas, at Peoria, vs. Grand Rapids.

2) Houston: 94, (GP: 76, 44-26-1-5). RG: vs. Chicago, at Milwaukee, at Chicago, vs. Oklahoma City.

3) Texas: 88, (GP: 73, 39-24-4-6). RG: vs. Chicago, at Oklahoma City, vs. Rockford, at Peoria, at Milwaukee, vs. Oklahoma City, at San Antonio.

4) Peoria: 83, (GP: 74, 38-29-2-5). GR: at San Antonio, at San Antonio, at Milwaukee, vs. Texas, vs. Chicago, vs. Milwaukee.

5) Chicago: 83, (GP: 74, 37-29-3-6). RG: at Houston, at Texas, vs. Houston, at Peoria, vs. San Antonio, vs. Rockford.

6) Oklahoma City: 83, (GP: 75, 36-28-2-9). GR: vs. Rockford, vs. Texas, at San Antonio, at Texas, at Houston.

7) San Antonio: 81, (GP: 73, 38-30-3-2). GR: at Milwaukee, vs. Peoria, vs. Peoria, vs. Rockford, vs. Oklahoma City, at Chicago, vs. Texas.

North Division teams that could prevent a crossover:

Hamilton: (third place in North Division) 83, (GP: 72, 37-26-2-7). GR: vs. Abbotsford, vs. Abbotsford, at Lake Erie, vs. Manitoba, at Abbotsford, at Abbotsford, at Manitoba, at Manitoba.

Toronto: 81, (GP: 74, 35-28-1-10). GR: vs. Syracuse, vs. Lake Erie, vs. Manitoba, at Lake Erie, vs. Rochester, vs. Abbotsford.

Grand Rapids: 80, (GP: 74, 35-29-2-8). GR: at Abbotsford, at Abbotsford, at Milwaukee, vs. Abbotsford, at Rockford, at Milwaukee.

Abbotsford: 78, (GP: 71, 34-27-4-6). GR: at Hamilton, at Hamilton, vs. Grand Rapids, vs. Grand Rapids, vs. Hamilton, vs. Hamilton, at Grand Rapids, at Lake Erie, at Toronto.

So which teams make the playoffs/fall out of contention?

Safely in:  Milwaukee, Houston, Texas, Hamilton.  Milwaukee’s favorable schedule should result in the Admirals reaching the top spot, followed by Houston and Texas which could easily flip-flop.  With eight games left, Hamilton should grab the North’s third slot or second slot barring a disaster against Abbotsford, a team the Bulldogs play four more times this season in a bizarre case of scheduling.

Bubble teams that will make the playoffs:  Chicago, San Antonio.  I still see five West Division teams getting into the playoffs.  The veteran Wolves, which tread water all season, should squeak in as the last team out of the West.  Whether that means Chicago will face the top of the West Division or the top of the North, neither opponent will be too thrilled for that match up.  The Rampage face two critical games at home against Peoria this week.  With regulation wins in both of those games, San Antonio could basically punch its playoff ticket.

Teams that will have their playoff bubble burst:  Peoria, Oklahoma City, Toronto, Grand Rapids, Abbotsford.  In the case of Oklahoma City, their demise has much to do with having key personnel up with Edmonton.  I wonder why the Oilers’ leadership doesn’t wish for those players to get some AHL playoff experience.  Peoria, which recently led the West Division, is in the middle of a March swoon.  The Rivermen need a last stand at San Antonio and hope Milwaukee coasts in their two contests with the Admirals.

As far as Toronto and Grand Rapids, the Griffins have six games remaining, including three games against Abbotsford and two at Milwaukee.  Grand Rapids could make some noise with a full roster, but I see them running out of games.  With Toronto missing key personnel, I see the Marlies falling short despite a favorable schedule in the final stretch.

The Heat are most intriguing team of all.  Abbotsford still has nine games remaining, the most of any AHL team, including eight against fellow North Division bubble teams (Four games against Hamilton and three against Grand Rapids).  The Heat sit five points below the Western Conference’s current playoff number, but with a hot finish Abbotsford could easily catch the pack.  The Heat are certainly a team to keep an eye on, even if the Admirals haven’t played Abbotsford since the ninth game of the season on October 30.

So Roundtable, which teams do you think make the playoffs and which teams end up just short?  Am I underestimating Peoria, Oklahoma City, Toronto or Grand Rapids?

I give Milwaukee a 75% shot of finishing first in the Western Conference.  Is that number too high, too low, or just right?  How many points will it take to clinch the top spot?

How do you see the Admirals finishing out their remaining schedule?

News

Engren Officially An Admiral

We broke the story that he arrived at the Bradley Center during Saturday’s game.  And it’s official now — goaltender Atte Engren has been assigned to the Admirals.

Here’s the Preds’ press release, but I wanted to highlight this quote from Assistant GM Paul Fenton.

“We’re going to let things play out, but Atte’s ability should allow him to get a chance down the stretch here for Milwaukee.  After winning the championship last year, it took him probably about half way through the season until he got his game back together, but since the midpoint of the season he’s played very well. He signed with us this summer, so that gave us the flexibility to bring him over after his season was done in Finland. His size and athleticism led to the thought that we should bring him over and give him a prelude potentially for next season, if he does decide to play in North America next season.”

AH-tay EHN-grehn.  #35.  Get used to it.

With Dekanich a free agent after this season, the pairing of Smith and Engren may be our tandem in Milwaukee next year.

So Roundtable, how would you like the playing time to be divided the rest of this season?  For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that Dekanich won’t be back until the playoffs.

How would you divy up the last 11 games?  Keeping in mind a 3-in-3 stretch this weekend…

Also, is this officially the end of Chet Pickard’s chance with the organization?  Or has that day long since passed?

News

Geoffrion’s Big Night in Buffalo

It might be time for Admirals fans to start facing the facts.  Forward Blake Geoffrion may not be coming back to Milwaukee.

Through his first nine National Hockey League games Geoffrion was slowly finding his footing, scoring three goals and four points while logging the fewest minutes of any Nashville player.

Then came Sunday’s game at Buffalo.  Despite pocketing goal number four in the first period off a lucky deflection, Geoffrion and the Predators trailed Buffalo 3-1 with under three minutes remaining in the third period.  Yet, Nashville coach Barry Trotz continued to show confidence in the 2010 Hobey Baker winner.

At the 17:33 mark, Geoffrion stuffed in his own rebound past goaltender Ryan Miller to make it 3-2.  One minute later Trotz again put Geoffrion out for a crucial face off, which Geoffrion won back to defenseman Cody Franson.  Franson let a point shot blast go that Geoffrion tipped out of the air and past Miller to give the Brentwood, Tennessee native his first NHL hat trick and more importantly, tie hockey game at 3-3.

To add some icing to the cake, former Admiral forward Martin Erat scored the game-winner 27 seconds into overtime to give Nashville an improbable win at a crucial point in the year.  With the two points the Predators are back in the playoffs, tied with Chicago and Los Angeles for the fifth spot in the West with 86.

“Obviously we needed those points with the playoff race going on,” Geoffrion told NHL Live! Monday afternoon.  “We’re just happy to get the two wins (against Buffalo and Detroit) and come back home to Nashville.”

Geoffrion credits his time in Milwaukee for preparing him to be an impact player in the NHL.

“The Predators’ theory is that the road to Nashville is through Milwaukee,” Geoffrion said. “I am very thankful for the coaches and the people who’ve helped me get to this point in my career (playing in Nashville).  Hopefully I won’t let them down.”

To watch Blake Geoffrion’s highlight reel against Buffalo, click here.

To read my feature on the impact that former Admirals players like Blake Geoffrion are having in the NHL with Nashville and with other teams, click here.

To read my story on Geoffrion and other former Wisconsin Badgers who changed teams around the NHL trading deadline, click here.

News

Dex Out For “Extended Period”

Injury specifics are scarce this time of the season….upper-body this, lower-body that.  That’s pretty much all we get.

Here’s what we know about the injury to Mark Dekanich.

Coach Lambert talked to Aaron Sims before the Friday night game against San Antonio, and he said that Dex is going to be out for “an extended period of time.”

Dex was injured in the overtime period against the Rampage on Wednesday night, and left the ice not putting any weight on his right leg.  The estimate thrown out there during the pre-game was an absense of two weeks.

Here’s the coach:

“Let’s not try and candy-coat it…that’s not good.  But at the same time, Smitty has played very well for us all year long.  So the only difference between what Smitty needs to do now and what he’s been doing, is just that he’s going to have to do it on a regular basis.  That’s all there is to it.”

That’s a great vote of confidence.

“Jeremy Smith is a guy who has won games.  And he won a Kelly Cup last year, and he’s used to big games.”

So it’s going to be the Jeremy and Chet show as we come down the stretch.  It’s a golden opportunity for both to step up and be the man.

And for all you Dexshow twitter fans, don’t forget to follow Jeremy too, @jeremysmith30 !

News

Kathy Bates Joins Admirals

Wait?  What?  Oh, JAMIE Bates.  It’s Jamie Bates.  It’s not Kathy Bates.  Sorry if I got your hopes up.

Well, I still might.  Here’s the scoop on Jamie Bates.  He’s a 6’3 forward.  He began the day as a member of the San Antonio Rampage.  And he’s ending the day as a Milwaukee Admiral, playing in the game against Houston.

Released from his PTO with the Rampage after 15 games and six points, Bates played most of the first half of the season with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.  12 goals and 19 assists in 23 games led to his PTO with San Antonio.

Don’t read too much into the fact that the Admirals will be playing the Rampage a couple of times this week.  Coach Lambert has gone on record saying that former players don’t really have too many tales to tell about their former teams that the coaches don’t already know about.  But with Klasen on the shelf, it sounds like a case of being in the right place in the right time for Bates.