12:45 in the first period on March 1st, 2011.

Check out the video here!

(A quick diversion before we get to the matinee today)

We came.  We conquered.  We Roo-ed it up.

By far, our favorite landmark on the way to Rockford, is the Beef-A-Roo restaurant.

On our very first trip, we couldn’t stop laughing about the name.  And ever since then, we had vowed to have a meal there.

But something would always come up.  It was a weeknight game, and we didn’t have the time.  Eric had to wash his hair.  Sutty had a Sex In The City marathon.  Ryan was passing a kidney stone.  Stuff like that.

No more excuses.  It was determined that with the Saturday night game in Rockford, we were going to stop to experience the the legend of Beef-A-Roo.  (or fury the fury, if you rather)

Eric agreed to come out of retirement and make the trip.  Sutty, unfortunately, couldn’t make the trip, due to family obligations.  So it was just Eric and I.  Sutty’s loss.

We weren’t there for 3 minutes before we found out that our trip was totally worth it.

Eric: So what’s your specialty?  What are you guys known for?

Countergirl:  We’re known for our beef.

Complete sincerity.  Not being funny at all.  IT WAS AWESOME!

Beef?  Ya don’t say?

Better than being known for the a-roo, I guess…

So we both had beef sandwiches, with cheese fries, onion rings, and a couple of milkshakes.  All for less than $20.

And we’ll be back!  Thanks Beef-A-Roo!

UPDATE 3:24 P.M.

Now officially it seems to be all quiet on the NHL trade front.  So I leave the blog to you Admirals fans.

So Roundtable, do you think the Nashville Predators are a playoff team with the roster they currently have?

With Nashville not trading for a defenseman, has Jonathon Blum staked his claim on a NHL roster spot for the rest of the season?

Since Nashville stood pat, Milwaukee’s roster remains in tact.  How do you see the rest of the Admirals’ season shaking out?

Do you wish Nashville acquired more prospects for Milwaukee?

From the trades that occurred, did any of the AHL’s West Division teams improve/get worse roster-wise?

UPDATE 2:49 P.M.

Things appear to be slowing down, so here is a quick catch up on the day.  Nashville/Milwaukee did little if anything today other than kick tires.  Lots of rumors during the day had the Predators interested in a defenseman, either Chris Campoli or Ladislav Smid, but neither transaction materialized.

One last big deadline deal of note, former Predator Jason Arnott of New Jersey went to the Washington Capitals for West Bend, Wisconsin, native David Steckel and a second round pick.

One last small deadline deal to report, two Boston Bruins prospects, defenseman Jeff Penner of Providence and Mikko Lehtonen moved to the Minnesota Wild organization for goaltender Anton Khobodin of the Houston Aeros.

UPDATE 2:38 P.M.

It appears the Montreal Canadiens have acquired Chicago Wolves goaltender Drew MacIntyre from Atlanta in exchange for defenseman Brett Festerling, who is currently a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

AHLer Joel Perreault was the player Anaheim got in return for Maxim Lapierre and prospect MacGregor Sharp, who was playing with Syracuse.

UPDATE 2:31 P.M.

In the exchange for Chris Higgins, Florida got a third round pick and prospect defenseman Evan Oberg.  Oberg has played in 38 AHL games this season with the Manitoba Moose.  Current Toronto Marlies forward John Mitchell was traded to the New York Rangers for a seventh round pick.

UPDATE 2:18 P.M.

The NHL’s trade deadline has come and passed.  However, lots of trades will still be filtering in.  So far here is what I have heard in the last few minutes:  Freddie Modin moves to Calgary from Atlanta, Chris Higgins moves to Vancouver from Florida, Vancouver also gets Maxim Lapierre from Anaheim and Jason Arnott goes to Washington from New Jersey.  Brad Richards officially won’t be traded from Dallas.

UPDATE 1:44 P.M.

Thanks to MiB for catching my miss as I was trying to track down information on the Penner trade.  Former Wisconsin forward Brad Winchester was traded from St. Louis to the Anaheim Ducks for a third round draft pick.

UPDATE 1:31 P.M.

The first trade of “significance” today just occurred.  Dustin Penner was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to Los Angeles in exchange for a first round pick, conditional third round pick and prospect Colten Teubert.  Teubert will likely end up with Oklahoma City as he continues to develop.  He’s played 39 games with Manchester in the AHL this season.

Lots of value for Edmonton on this trade, basically two first round picks and a conditional pick that could end up being a second rounder.  Clearly the pressure was on General Manager Dean Lombardi of the Kings to do something to improve his team.

UPDATE 1:06 P.M.

The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired defenseman Chris Campoli for a second round draft pick and forward Ryan Potulny.  Potulny leaves from Rockford of the AHL, recently going pointless in Saturday’s win over Milwaukee and picking up one assist in the Ice Hogs win over Houston Sunday.

UPDATE 12:35 P.M.

Up to three total trades so far, pretty quiet stuff.  Columbus trades defenseman Rotislav Klesla for Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto.  Phoenix also gets AHL player Dane Byers from Springfield, who may be joining the San Antonio Rampage.

UPDATE 10:55 A.M.

Only two moves so far, both involving the Florida Panthers, who sent Dennis Wideman to Washington and Radek Dvorak to Atlanta while acquiring Niclas Bergfors from the Thrashers.  The Panthers picked up two AHLers, Jake Hauswirth from Hershey and Patrick Rissmiller from Lake Erie.

UPDATE 7:36 A.M.

Good morning from frigid Wisconsin.  Today is an unofficial holiday in Canada and at every other crazed hockey fan’s home.  Thanks to the NHL Network, I will have TSN’s Trade Centre on all morning/afternoon.

Anyway, I plan to update as I see them any/every trade involving the Nashville Predators, Milwaukee Admirals or any former Admiral that I recognize, anything of significance I see, something unusual (one team getting totally fleeced on a deal, aka Brad Richards being traded for a Chicago Wolves prospect), or someone with a connection to hockey in the Badger state.

As I write, Nashville sits in a monster log jam in the West at 72 points, tied with three other teams for 7th place, four points behind fourth place Phoenix and four points ahead of 12th place Columbus.  The Predators may be buying rentals to help Nashville make a final playoff push.

Feel free to chime in on the comments section.  I will try to time stamp everything I post.  Should be a fun day.

A couple of moves were made on Sunday in addition to the goalie swap.  The Admirals signed a forward and a defenseman to PTO contracts, as they get ready to head to Toronto for a Tuesday 10am game.

#16 Brock McBride — He was a member of the Houston Aeros for 19 games earlier this season.  Andrew from The Third Intermission blog had this to say about him when the Aeros released him from his first PTO at the end of November.

“I was impressed with his tenacity and overall offensive awareness. That goal he scored in Friday’s loss to San Antonio was a beaut …. He held his own up here, and I wish him nothing but the best.

I think he will be back in the AHL before too long, but I don’t know that we’ll see him again in Houston. With how well he played for the Aeros, he may get snatched up before his services are needed here.”

He did sign a couple more PTO contracts with the Aeros, but his new PTO is with Milwaukee.  He has also spent time with Elmira of the ECHL this season, averaging over a point per game (9g, 23a, 27 games).

#3 Patrick Coulombe – A defenseman with 7 NHL games on his resume…back in the 06-07 season with Vancouver.  Since then, the majority of his time has been in the ECHL, and in 50 games with Elmira this season, he has 11 goals and 22 assists.

Here are the video highlights of the Preds 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.  Blummer’s goal starts around 2:15 of the video.  Way to go Blummer!

As for Blake Geoffrion….here’s how his weekend went:

VS Dallas: 9 shifts, 5:14 on ice, 0-and-3 on faceoffs. No other counting stats.
VS Columbus: 11 shifts, 8:44 on ice, 1 blocked shot, 2 hits, 0-and-1 faceoffs

Hat tip to Mr. Puck Daddy, who hat tipped over to George Richards of the Miami Herald.

Hugh Jessiman has been called up to the Florida Panthers, and is in line to make his NHL debut tonight — making him the last 1st round draftee from 2003 to do so.

I think I speak for everyone in Milwaukee (especially reader Broad Street Bully) when I say that we couldn’t be happier for Hughie.

Mazel tov, indeed.  Good luck tonight!

And follow that link….check out Hughie’s hair from eight years ago!!!

(Photo credit:  Eric W Kent)

The Preds sent Anders Lindback to Milwaukee to get some work in.

He played four games and five days.

He got some work in.  Mission accomplished.  And as Coach Lambert said after the game yesterday, Lindback is returning to Nashville.

MEMO TO THE PREDATORS AND BARRY TROTZ AND MITCH KORN:  WORK ON LINDBACK’S PUCK HANDLING!  There were some bad goals given up in the last 48 hours as a result of Lindback errors in judgment or execution.

And on that note….welcome back Dex!

Wade Belak is on his way to Milwaukee, after having cleared waivers.

I haven’t been able to confirm whether he’ll be in Rockford in time for tonight’s game, or even if he was in Rockford, whether he would dress right away.

From what I have read, Belak is a great locker room guy, and a fun guy to have around.

But he was dead weight on Predators roster.  It’s amazing to me that they didn’t part ways sooner, because it seems like such a waste giving a roster spot to someone like that — a guy who rarely plays, and when he does play, it’s only for a handful of minutes.  It’s like dressing eleven forwards, without the benefit of the 7th defenseman.

So here he comes to Milwaukee.

Do you think Lane will use him the same way Trotz did?

Do you think his locker room presence is enough to justify the roster spot?

For the people who have pined for a tough guy, is this just what the doctor ordered?

Do we need a tough guy?  They’re in first place right now, and got there without a tough guy.

(Photo credit:  Scott Paulus.  And you probably don’t need me to tell you, but that isn’t Halischuk on the right….but instead, Team President Jon Greenberg.  Who is pretty badass in his own right!)

Aaron Sims confirmed during tonight’s pre-game show what had been rumored for a good chunk of today.

Blake Geoffrion is heading to Nashville.

Both Blake and Matt Halischuk have been recalled by the Preds.

And with the Alex Sulzer trade today, it paves the way for Jon Blum to have a lengthier stay with the big club – maybe for the rest of the season.

Linus Klasen is still out with an upper body injury, so this leaves quite the hole in the Admirals lineup.

They have called up Mike McLean (41) and Connor Shields (21), and those two are in Milwaukee and dressed tonight for the game.

McLean was pointless in six games with the Admirals last year, and had been playing with the Quad City Mallards this season with 16 goals and 25 assists.

After attending the Admirals training camp, Shields had been playing for Greenville of the ECHL, scoring 16 goals and 30 assists in 55 games.

No word yet on a 7th defenseman yet.

Ok Roundtable.  Of course we all wish Blake well.  But look me square in the monitor and tell me that Blake deserved this promotion.

Again, I don’t like running with rumors.  I’d rather get a confirmation from the team or a press release.

But when the guy’s old college teammate is tweeting it…it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s true.  Word probably travels fast.

MikeGDavies Mike Davies Congrats to my best bud @blakegeoffrion for getting his first call up to Nashville. About time. He deserves it! Good luck

We’ll see if there are other moves as well, to make up for the Preds roster moves earlier today…

And we’ll discuss whether or not he’s ready at a later time…..

In the meantime, big game tonight against Davies and the Wolves.