According to AHL Transactions the Nashville Predators have recalled center Vladislav Kamenev from the Milwaukee Admirals. It is his first career NHL recall and comes complete with a cross-country flight as the Admirals were in San Jose yesterday ahead of their game tonight. The Predators are playing on the road against the Florida Panthers tonight.
Kamenev may have been considered a snub when it came to yesterday’s 2017 AHL All-Star Classic roster announcement. He certainly is having a season with the Admirals deserving enough to be there. He is currently second on the team in scoring with 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games. By missing tonight’s game for the Admirals it will be the first game is has missed all season.
Should Kamenev play tonight, a distinct possibility given the nature of this cross-country recall, he would wear #50 for the Predators. He becomes the third member of the Predators 2014 Draft Class to make it to the NHL behind Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson.
As for the Admirals. This move likely means seeing them play with all defensemen available with Jonathan Diaby and Rick Pinkston coming back into the lineup. How ironic would it be should Trevor Murphy be pushed to forward from defense once again as the last time the Admirals went to California last season Murphy scored a hat trick and three assists in a 7-3 win against the Bakersfield Condors.
The American Hockey League has announced the participants for this year’s 2017 AHL All-Star Classic and Milwaukee Admirals defenseman Alex Carrier and goaltender Juuse Saros have been selected. The AHL All-Star festivities take place later this month on January 29-30th at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania which is the home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today the playing rosters for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross, to be held January 29-30 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Each of the AHL’s four divisions will be represented by 12 players. Rosters were determined by committees of AHL coaches, and all 30 AHL teams are represented by at least one All-Star.
The 2017 rosters feature 37 first-time AHL All-Stars, 12 rookies and seven former first-round draft choices. In addition, 27 of the All-Stars named have been recalled to the National Hockey League already this season, including standouts Jake Guentzel of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh), Zane McIntyre of the Providence Bruins (Boston), Juuse Saros of the Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville) and Brendan Perlini of the Tucson Roadruners (Arizona).
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli, Syracuse Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx, Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Todd Nelson and Ontario Reign head coach Mike Stothers will serve as coaches for the event.
The 2017 AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Giant Food Stores and Velaspan on Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m. ET) will pit the All-Stars from the two Eastern Conference divisions against those from the two Western Conference divisions in seven skills events.
In the 2017 AHL All-Star Challenge on Jan. 30 (7 p.m. ET), the four teams will participate in a round-robin tournament featuring six games of 10 minutes each, played entirely at 3-on-3. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin will face off for the championship, a six-minute game also played at 3-on-3.
Starting at just $26 each, single-event tickets are now on sale for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross, featuring the AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Giant Food Stores and Velaspan and the AHL All-Star Challenge. To purchase event tickets, please visit phantomshockey.com, call 610-347-TIXX or visit the PPL Center box office.
The 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross will be preceded by a Phan Fest on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a Tailgate Party beginning at 6 p.m. Both events will take place at the PPL Center and tickets for both the Phan Fest ($5) and Tailgate Party ($10) are also available now at phantomshockey.com.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, trainers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of NHL players last season were AHL graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers. In 2015-16, over 7.1 million fans attended AHL regular-season and playoff games across North America, the highest total attendance in league history.
To view the full 2017 AHL All-Star Classic roster please view the AHL Press Release linked above.
Carrier is the youngest member of the Admirals current active roster. You would never be able to tell that if you’ve watched him play in what is his first pro season. The Québec native has been the Admirals top defenseman this season and, since the arrival and subsequent pairing with veteran Adam Pardy, has seen his all-around play get even better. Carrier has 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists) in 31 games with a plus/minus rating of +6 and 14 penalty minutes.
Saros has done so incredibly well in the AHL this season that, actually, he isn’t in the AHL anymore. The 21-year old from Forssa, Finland arrived to the North American pro scene last season with a ton of hype surrounding him. He met it in 2015-16. I believe he has surpassed it in 2016-17. The work Saros was able to provide for the Admirals this season saw him win 11 games from 13 starts with a 1.76 goals against average, 0.938 save percentage, and one shutout. He has continued this high level of performance for the Predators at the NHL level as well by winning half of his starts from 6 appearances to go with an astonishingly better 1.16 goals against average, 0.957 save percentage, and -also- a shutout. The NHL All-Star break overlaps this stretch of time so -hopefully- Saros is able to participate in the AHL’s All-Star festivities.
The Nashville Predators have officially recalled defenseman Anthony Bitetto from his conditioning assignment with the Milwaukee Admirals. Bitetto played in last night’s 5-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and earned a power-play goal and an assist on the evening.
It seemed that this was always going to be a one-and-done scenario for Bitetto given how the Admirals schedule plays out this week. It didn’t seem likely that Bitetto was going to be tasked with joining the team on their first trip out to California this weekend. After how he played last night? He pretty much guaranteed there was no chance of that being required.
The first few shifts it appeared that there was some clear coming to grips with game speed once again. He said himself after the game that his decision making was a little slow. He did get better and better as the game progressed and he and his defensive partner last night, Trevor Murphy, were outstanding. The two combined for 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists).
Hopefully 2017’s side of the 2016-17 season will be much kinder to Bitetto. The year started off with a nasty upper-body injury that had him out for a good chunk. He returned on a conditioning assignment with the Admirals briefly before going back up and almost instantly breaking his hand. He even took a high stick in a practice in Nashville just before heading to Milwaukee on this most recent conditioning assignment that narrowly avoided direct impact to his right eye. He has played a total of 7 games this season between the NHL and AHL. It’ll be a pleasant sight to get that kid playing for the rest of the season as he can be a plus-defender for the Predators down the stretch.
Harry Zolnierczyk has been officially recalled by the Nashville Predators from the Milwaukee Admirals. In addition, Anthony Bitetto has been activated from Injured Reserve by the Predators and assigned to the Admirals on a two week conditioning assignment. The Admirals also added forward Shawn O’Donnell from the Cincinnati Cyclones on a PTO Contract.
Zolnierczyk has 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games this season for the Admirals. His efforts in December earned him our nod for Admiral of the Month. He has been a terrific spark plug for the Admirals this season. This will mark the second time that the Predators have recalled him. He logged a single game to this point for the Predators which came during the food poisoning game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bitetto has had awful luck this season. After a strong showing ahead of the 2016-17 season he was injured on opening night after a fight with Jordin Tootoo. He made his comeback following a conditioning assignment with the Admirals that saw him play a pair of games before going back up where he would break his hand and be sidelined yet again. With how the Admirals schedule is set, with a game tonight in Milwaukee and a California road swing this weekend, there is a chance that this will be Bitetto’s lone appearance on conditioning assignment before immediately returning to the Predators.
For O’Donnell this is the second time in which he has been added to the Admirals on a PTO Contract. Yet, in that first instance, he never actually played. That came during the scramble of the Predators food poisoning situation up top and enough players ended up being able to report back to the Admirals rendering O’Donnell as a healthy scratch that evening. He was part of the team’s Training Camp prior to the start of the 2016-17 season. He has 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 17 games for the Admirals ECHL affiliate the Cyclones this season and also has 128 career games of AHL experience.
The Nashville Predators have reassigned defenseman Adam Pardy to the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators also announced this afternoon that defenseman P.K. Subban will be placed on Injured Reserve with an upper-body injury and will be evaluated further in two to three weeks.
In recent practices for the Predators it appears that Anthony Bitetto is nearing a return following a broken hand. Should that occur it opens this door for Pardy to make his return to the Admirals while Petter Granberg remains topside as a flex option. Pardy’s absence has been very much missed for the Admirals who have sought out Blake Kessel and Rick Pinkston on PTO Contracts from the ECHL trying to find defensive balance.
During Pardy’s time at the NHL level this season he has played 4 games with no points of offense to speak of with 6 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of -1. He has been a healthy scratch for the Predators in their last 3 games. With the Admirals this season he has played 16 games, scored 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists), has 18 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of +6. His defensive partnership with rookie Alex Carrier has mainly served as the top defensive pairing for the Admirals.
Update: The Admirals released Kessel from his PTO Contract. His rights belong to the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) but he declined to report to them following an early season ECHL trade. It is unclear where he goes next from here.
Update Part II: The Predators have placed forward Reid Boucher on waivers with the intent to reassign him to the Admirals. It will become clear tomorrow afternoon if he clears waivers and is able to reach the AHL.
The Milwaukee Admirals have recalled Justin Kirkland from their ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones. This move comes following the completion of Reid Boucher‘s conditioning assignment and today’s news that the AHL has suspended Cody Bass for the next game.
Kirkland has now played 4 games with the Cyclones in the ECHL. He has produced 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in that time with a plus/minus rating of +2 and 2 penalty minutes. He has only produced an assist at the AHL level in 15 games this season with the Admirals. The boost in minutes that he played in the ECHL could see that production change.
The American Hockey League has suspended Milwaukee Admirals forward Cody Bass for one-game following his boarding major that earned him a game misconduct against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday night.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced the following suspensions:
Milwaukee Admirals forward Cody Bass has been suspended for one (1) game as a consequence of a boarding incident in a game at Grand Rapids on Dec. 21.
Bass was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Milwaukee’s game Monday (Dec. 26) vs. Chicago.
Chicago Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington has been suspended for one (1) game as a consequence of his actions in a game at Rockford on Dec. 21.
Binnington was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Chicago’s game Monday (Dec. 26) at Milwaukee.
The play that earned Bass a suspension saw himself and Kyle Criscuolo moving in on a puck towards the penalty box area. Criscuolo had body position ahead of Bass and the Admirals forward caught him in an awkward spot as he was leaning in for the puck just before reaching the wall. Criscuolo remained down on the ice briefly, exited for the locker room, but did return in time to notch a primary assist on a power-play goal during the major penalty assessed to Bass for the incident. The Admirals lost that game to the Griffins 3-0. Bass did play last night when the Admirals lost 8-4 on the road to the Chicago Wolves.
Bass will be unavailable for the Admirals on Boxing Day when they face-off against the Wolves at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. As you can also see in the AHL’s press release the Wolves will be without goaltender Jordan Binnington in that same game after his antics Wednesday night against the Rockford IceHogs.
With Bass now unavailable, and Reid Boucher‘s conditioning assignment fulfilled, it is likely that the Admirals will need one more player prior to the Boxing Day game. Max Görtz would step in but the Admirals would still be a player short of a complete squad. That would likely mean seeing Justin Kirkland or Anthony Richard return from the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
The Nashville Predators have recalled defenseman Adam Pardy from the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators play later tonight on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers.
This is the second time that Pardy has been recalled by the Predators. The veteran defenseman was acquired earlier this season in an AHL trade between the Admirals and Springfield Falcons. Pardy earned an NHL contract quickly with the Predators on the back of great play at the AHL level: 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 16 games with a plus/minus rating of +6. He has logged a single game so far for the Predators this season.
The Predators game starts at 6:00 PM CST tonight. At midnight tonight the NHL roster freeze will take place. The Predators are then in action on Tuesday night at 6:00 PM CST on the road against the New Jersey Devils before returning home on Thursday night for a 7:00 PM CST face-off against the Los Angeles Kings. That finishes off their slate before the Christmas break. As for the Admirals they’re on the road for the next two games with the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday night at 6:00 PM CST and the Chicago Wolves on Thursday night at 7:00 PM CST.
The Milwaukee Admirals have reassigned forwards Justin Kirkland and Anthony Richard to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The two could be in the lineup tonight at 6:35 PM CST when the Cyclones face-off against the Indy Fuel in Cincinnati.
Kirkland earned his first pro point with an assist from his last outing for the Admirals. However, it has still been a slow start for both himself and Richard at the AHL level. This run with the Cyclones should place them in a much larger role and could get them the spark they need to return to the Admirals with extra confidence to their game.
Richard has played 2 games for the Cyclones this season and scored his first pro points at the ECHL level by getting a goal and an assist in his first game for the Cyclones. Kirkland has suited up once so far this season. This is Richard’s third trip to the ECHL and Kirkland’s second.
Something was a little bit off this morning when I sat down in the stands at the MSOE Kern Center for practice. The Milwaukee Admirals were all on the ice. Jonas Gunnarsson was in one net. And there was one of Scott Ford’s practice skill toys was stationed in the opposite one. There wasn’t a Juuse Saros to be found.
As it happens, the Nashville Predators have once again decided to recall Saros from the Admirals while reassigning Marek Mazanec to the AHL. This is the third time that the two have swapped places this season and we’re three months in.
Since the previous occasion that the two have switched Saros has been the more active of the two with the Admirals. Dare I say it. The 21-year old Saros, in those recent games, has almost looked human: 2-1-0-0 record, 2.36 goals against average, and a 0.911 save percentage. The brunt of that looking human for a change came mainly down to his last outing which saw him allow 4 goals from 25 shots in a 5-4 win over the San Antonio Rampage.
As for Mazanec, he has only had a single appearance since his last stint with the Admirals. It was a relief effort in a game that the Predators came out flat against the Dallas Stars and lost 5-2. That said, Mazanec may have been the lone bright spot to that game. He looked his typical self when playing with confidence. He was active around his net, moving pucks out of the zone, and looked very locked in to shooters on a night that the Stars chased Pekka Rinne from net. The only goal he allowed came from a Stars power-play that saw the Predators defensively collapse and allow Tyler Seguin to be wide open for a one-timer at his sweet spot on the low left wing circle. Beyond that, Mazanec had made 18/19 in the saves department in that game. He has been stationary since.
One would wonder just how much this sort of perpetual motion of up and down would hurt more than help the two goaltenders. Having been around the rink today I decided to ask Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason what his views are on the goaltending situation the organization finds itself in.
“So far we haven’t seen anything negative from either one of them,” said Evason. “I don’t anticipate any negativity from [Mazanec] coming – certainly nothing from [Saros]. It’s what Nashville wants to do and it is our job to make it the best situation that we possibly can. And we’re going to do that. If the player has the right attitude he’s going to give himself an opportunity to have success within the role that they’ve been dictated to.”
And, when asked if these repeated goaltending moves are down to maximizing the amount of minutes both are receiving to keep sharp, Evason said:
We’re trying to get both guys as much time as we possibly can in the net. They’re both very comparable goalies, clearly. They both had NHL games. [Mazanec] was there for a long time. He can play in the NHL. [Saros] can play in the NHL. It maybe looks a bit unique but it is no different than when a player like Pontus Åberg gets called up and he’s not going to get used up there – so he needs to come back down here and play hockey. Same as when we send a guy to Cincinnati. If he is not going to play here then he needs an opportunity to play. So, we send them to Cincinnati and they play games. They come back. They’re ready, confident. And that’s what we’re doing with the goalies.
As much as a frequency as seeing Mazanec and Saros rotate is feeling like – that from Evason puts better perspective on it. There isn’t any long-term ill effects that we have exactly seen out of either, yet.
If anything Mazanec and the Predators can benefit from the process should the added game-time finally see him get some NHL starts and quality NHL starting performances through confidence building outings in the AHL. He’ll get the minutes Nashville aren’t willing to give him right now but, for his last effort in net, he is getting more of it together than the times prior to that.
For Saros, you would prefer to see him logging games to keep his development process going. But there is still a lot of perspective in learning the NHL lifestyle and what it means to be a pro at that level that he can get while on these recall stints. He is an astonishingly mature person as it is. If he is to be groomed for an eventual big role with the organization some of these times spent just seeing what it takes to be an NHL caliber player on and off the ice can have benefits that won’t be known until years from now. He hasn’t shown negative signs in the spurts that see him go up, not play, get returned to the AHL, and play. So, these moments aren’t negative on him either.
Thoughts on how the Nashville Predators have been cycling the back-up role this season? Do you feel it would better for the Predators to look for a better fit at back-up goaltender if they have so little confidence in Mazanec? Should the Predators end up keeping Saros up or will this back-and-forth persist all season?
Admirals Roundtable 