The Nashville Predators have selected defenseman Frédéric Allard with their second of two selections in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Notes via Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects:
A tenacious two-way defenceman that has a distinct willingness to do whatever it takes to keep his team up. Battles hard for puck possession and has a very good active stick. Not consistent enough to be relied upon in all situations, especially under high pressure, but is definitely getting there and his game is rounding out well at an accelerated pace. Possesses a hard, accurate shot and is creative with his passes. As such, his primary function as an offensive defenceman is to be played on the forecheck and in situations where pressure is sustained. All-in-all, a hard-nosed two-way defenceman that has the raw tools and the upward-trending tendencies that point to a positive development path.
Allard becomes the Predators third defenseman selected from their first four draft picks in the 2016 NHL Draft. Allard has been playing for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 18-year old defenseman is coming off of a 2015-16 season in which he scored 69 points (14 goals, 45 assists) in 64 games as well as 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 6 playoff games.
The Nashville Predators have selected center Rem Pitlick with the first of two selections in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft. This draft pick comes courtesy of the Predators trading away the rights of wayward son Jimmy Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres.
Pitlick is a Minnesota native and product of the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s system. Last season he played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and scored 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 56 games. Pitlick is the first forward selected by the Predators in the 2016 NHL Draft and will be joining the University of Minnesota in the Fall.
The Nashville Predators have selected defenseman Samuel Girard with their second round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. Following in the footsteps of yesterday‘s first round selection of Dante Fabbro the Predators have made it two-for-two in drafting defensemen.
Notes via Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects:
A flashy offensive defenceman who takes advantage of opportunities and is always looking to make an impact each shift. Works very hard and isn’t afraid to play the body. Skates with exceptional exuberance and fluidity. Accurate release on his shot and a good eye for open passing lanes. Proactive defensively and puts the pressure on the opposition. Needs to have a more active stick and a more felt presence in shooting lanes, but he has shown a willingness to learn, and these skills will develop. All-in-all, an exciting offensive defenceman who displays noteworthy offensive and defensive instincts.
Girard plays for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and was named the 2016 QMJHL Defenseman of the Year and the 2016 CHL Sportsman of the Year. He scored 74 points (10 goals, 64 assists) in 67 games for Shawinigan last season as well as 22 points (2 goals, 20 assists) in 21 playoff games. You can read up on other insights on Girard here courtesy of Jeremy K. Gover on 102.5 The Game.
Dante Fabbro – Defenseman, 18th-ranked North American Skater, NHL Central Scouting. 6-0, 189 pounds – Penticton, BCHL. June 20, 1998 – Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
Named the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Defenseman in 2015-16, leading all British Columbia Hockey League blueliners with 67 points in 45 games. Led defensemen in points per game (1.49) and finished second in both goals and assists to help Penticton finish with the BCHL’s top regular-season record.
Set up the gold medal-winning goal for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in 2015. Won gold with Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Led all defensemen with eight assists at the 2016 Under-18 World Championship.
Dante Fabbro is a dependable two-way defenseman with high offensive upside. He plays with poise and makes mature, high-percentage decisions under pressure. In his own end, he is proactive with both his body and stick, and does everything right to interrupt passing lanes and win back possession. With the puck on his stick, he is mobile at an elite level and can direct plays like a quarterback. He possesses a hard and accurate release on his shot, that he gets off quickly and on-net. All-in-all, a complete defenseman that plays a refined game at both ends of the ice.
Fabbro only just turned 18-years old this past Monday. He will be joining Boston University in the Fall. When you look around at the current crop of Nashville Predators prospects there are plenty of forwards making waves in the prospect pool but the defensive depth is lacking. He might not impact the system immediately but he will impact the system effectively once he arrives.
Milwaukee, WI—The Milwaukee Admirals have signed defenseman Teddy Doherty to a American Hockey League Contract for the 2016-17 season.
This past season Doherty captained Boston College to the regular season Hockey East title and a berth in the Frozen Four. The Hopkinton, MA native led BC defenseman with 13 goals on the year and was second among team blueliners with 26 points, while posting a +17 rating and playing in all 40 games in four seasons at Boston College Doherty tallied 22 goals and 58 assists for 77 points in 144 games and helped the club to the NCAA tournament all four seasons and a pair of Frozen Four appearances.
The Admirals will open up the home portion of their 2016-17 season on Saturday October 29th at the UWM Panther Arena. The remainder of the schedule will be released later this summer.
Doherty is a 22-year old left-handed shooting defenseman who comes from two phenomenal hockey factories: Shattuck St. Mary’s and Boston College. Players who’ve come through the Shattuck St. Mary’s pipeline include Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Zach Parise. Following that experience he joined Boston College where he played in 144 games, scored 80 points (22 goals, 58 assists), and amassing 64 penalty minutes with a plus/minus rating of +52. He was team captain in the 2015-16 season and did make his pro debut at the ECHL level at the end of the season with the Missouri Mavericks.
One might make a quick assessment of this signing by looking at Doherty’s height, 5-9, and wondering if the Admirals are doubling up on a similar style defenseman in Trevor Murphy. They’re both small in size but skate well and have an eye for offense. If anything it is a really a nice depth signing with upside. It will bring into question a matter of speed versus strength, though. If you put Dogerty in the mix down the left, behind Murphy and Jimmy Oligny but over Jonathan Diaby, the Admirals don’t have a defenseman standing above 5-10. Size might not be everything but some variety does make a difference in my book.
This morning the Milwaukee Admirals and the Wisconsin Center District held a ceremonial ground breaking at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The event officially dropped the puck on the $6.3 million worth of upgrades and renovations due to be installed during the course of the Admirals lease that was announced in March. Construction starts on Monday via JP Cullen Construction with a goal for completion by October.
Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:
Milwaukee, WI—Renovations and upgrades to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena will begin this Monday, June 20th in anticipation of the 2016-17 Milwaukee Admirals season, their first at the arena since 1986-87.
The total cost of the project will be $6.3 million, of which $2 million will be provided by the Admirals and the remainder paid for by the Wisconsin Center District, who operates the Panther Arena as well as the Milwaukee Theatre and the Wisconsin Center.
“We are excited to get the renovations and improvements underway here at the Panther Arena,” said Admirals Governor and CEO Harris Turer. “The facilities that will be created for players will be NHL-caliber and combined with the intimacy and fan-friendly atmosphere of the Arena, we will have a tremendous home ice advantage.”
The keystone project to the renovations will be the addition of a new locker room for the Admirals, as well as a new locker room that will be used by the Milwaukee Wave Soccer team and visiting hockey and basketball teams. Here is a complete list of projects to be completed this summer:
Ø New Admirals Locker Room
Ø New Wave/Visiting Hockey/Basketball Locker room
Ø Commissary Kitchen Upgrades
Ø Seat Replacement Phase 3 (Replacement of remaining blue seats)
Ø Replace Existing Sport Lights and Work Lights with LEDs
Ø Install WiFi Access Points in Arena Bowl
Ø Purchase New Dasherboards with Optimized Acrylic
Ø Purchase Retractable North Risers and Rink Side Risers
Ø Purchase Necessary Equipment for Hockey
Ø Upgrade South Upper and North Box Offices & Will Call Room
Ø Team Store Expansion
Ø Convert Police Room to 1st Aid Room
Ø Kitchen & Concession Upgrades
Ø Elevator Refurbish Ceiling and Floor
Ø Concourse & Restroom Upgrades
Ø Renovate Ticket Lobby & Concourse Floors
Ø Arena Roof
Ø Upgrade Media Room
Ø Painting Upgrades
“The UW Milwaukee Panther Arena is home to the best variety of sports and entertainment events in Milwaukee,” said Russ Staerkel, President of the Wisconsin Center District. “Facility investments including free WiFi, new seats, and expanded concessions will solidify our place as the best fan experience as well.”
JP Cullen Construction, which is based out of Janesville, will oversee the projects which are scheduled to be completed this fall in advance of the Admirals home opener on October 29th. In business since 1892, JP Cullen is a $380 million full-service pre-construction and construction company with 600 employees, managing projects from $1,000 to over $80 million in size, including the Camp Randall Student Athlete Performance Center at the University of Wisconsin and the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences building.
Shown at this morning’s press conference were details of the new Milwaukee Admirals locker room which included a rendering of how it will look. For those who may have entered the player locker room during a season ticket holder event you would immediately spot the changes.
(Photo Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)
The locker room will no longer have a “road” atmosphere look about it. Rather than being squared off, pushing players far apart, it will instead be rounded to keep the team nestled together just as many teams at the NHL level have. The area in which the Admirals will be calling home is also fairly expansive.
(Photo Credit: Milwaukee Wave // Facebook)
Additionally, there will be renovations and an expansion of the Milwaukee Admirals team store as well as upgrades made to additional locker rooms in the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena for youth, high school, college, and adult hockey teams.
LED lighting is going to be introduced to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. If utilized in the capacity I’ve seen with some NHL teams around the league I feel Wisconsin Center District President Russ Staerkel’s comment of, “the first hockey match we have here I will want you to be here,” has me all the more giddy. Staerkel also made mention that concessions at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena will also be getting upgraded. There will be new food items made available around the concourse so options aren’t limited to a choice of hot dog or hot dog. The goal with upgrades outside of the locker room are aimed at making the fan experience second to none.
Thoughts on the upcoming renovations and upgrades to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena? When was the last time you attended an event in that building? Are there any questions, comments, or concerns that you might have in regards to the current state of the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena that you would like asked? The plan today was for a Chatterbox. Due to car trouble that couldn’t be done -but- perhaps the silver lining could be presenting your questions to the higher-ups of the Admirals. So, please, ask questions if you have them!
The Nashville Predators have just announced that they have re-signed goaltender Marek Mazanec to a new one-year, two-way contract to keep him in the organization through the 2016-17 season. Mazanec has spent the past three seasons in the Predators organization and has logged 118 career games with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL.
Nashville, Tenn. (June 13, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed goaltender Marek Mazanec (MAIR-ehk muh-ZAN-ehk) to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level for the 2016-17 season.
Mazanec, 24 (7/18/91), tied for 12th among AHL netminders in goals-against average (2.45), tied for 14th in wins (19) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4) with Milwaukee during the 2015-16 campaign, his third season in North America. In 27 career NHL contests since 2013-14, the 6-4, 202-pound native of Pisek, Czech Republic has posted an 8-11-4 record with a 2.77 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage and two shutouts in 27 appearances. Mazanec played the fifth-most minutes of any rookie NHL goaltender (1,369:32) in 2013-14, appearing in 25 contests for the Predators and being named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2013 after going 5-4-1 with two shutouts, a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
In his final season in the Czech League in 2012-13, Nashville’s ninth choice, 179th overall (sixth round), in the 2012 Entry Draft led Plzen to its first title by stopping 48-of-51 shots in a Game Seven double-OT victory in the league final. He ranked fourth in 2013 playoff goals-against average (2.13) and sixth in save percentage (.932), in addition to tying for second in shutouts (2). During the 2012-13 regular season, Mazanec ranked sixth in the Czech Extraliga in goals-against average (2.49).
Despite not logging a game in the NHL this past season I would go on record by stating that the 2015-16 campaign from Mazanec was his best since arriving in North America. In the past, there would be moments, stretches, or spurts where it would seem as if Mazanec was a deer caught in headlights. There was no such occurrence of that with Mazanec this season and his numbers reflect that: 39 appearances (38 starts), 19-15-5-2 record, 2.45 goals against average, 0.912 save percentage, and 4 shutouts. If not for the last game of the regular season, where he was hung out to dry in Rockford, he would have set career bests for himself in goals against average and save percentage. Additionally, his shootout numbers greatly improved going from a 0.565 shootout percentage (10 shootout goals allowed) to a 0.800 shootout percentage (3 shootout goals allowed).
What’s interesting about this signing is that it doesn’t quite signal the end of Carter Hutton‘s tenure with the Predators organization just yet. This deal for Mazanec is 100% identical to that of last season when he re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract for the same amount of money. It isn’t to say Mazanec won’t be in the running to back-up Pekka Rinne. He will be. It just doesn’t mean he is an immediate lock for the job.
The goaltending group is right now could be set organization-wide with Rinne and Mazanec in Nashville, Juuse Saros and Jonas Gunnarsson in Milwaukee, and Brandon Whitney in Cincinnati. This could all be given an extra curveball should Hutton come back into the picture or if the back-up role to Rinne is a two horse race between last year’s goaltending duo in Milwaukee.
Don’t adjust your eyes when reading the headline. Max Reinhart will be joining Corey Potter at Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Reinhart has officially signed a one-year deal that will have him playing his first season of European hockey in 2016-17.
It wasn’t that long ago when the Potter news struck. That could kind of be seen coming but this one was a question mark once the season ended. Reinhart, despite the lack of NHL playing time, just stamped down one of his best pro playing season of his career. He logged a career best 73 games at the AHL level as well as a career best 23 goals and plus/minus rating of +16. The games that he missed weren’t due to injury, either. He was sent home to clear his head after being upset with a lack of NHL opportunities. He returned, conducted himself like a professional, continued to wear an “A” on the front of his jersey that his teammates voted for him to wear, and finished a solid season for himself.
At 24-years of age Reinhart leaves the North American game behind temporarily. If he were to follow-up what he did in 2015-16 as a member of the Milwaukee Admirals in the Europe scene for a few years I don’t see why his path to an NHL career would be disrupted. It may be a slightly different story but Derek Ryan out of the Carolina Hurricanes organization this past season comes to mind as someone that can come back and get NHL playing time after such a long time away from North America. Ryan is 29-years old and spent his pro playing career in Austria and Sweden after a junior and collegiate playing career. Reinhart should do very well overseas. I can see him transitioning away from the DEL to a more competitive European league such as Russia, Finland, or Sweden off of the 2016-17 season before potentially coming back towards the NHL and AHL scene.
The Nashville Predators have just announced that they have re-signed Cody Bass to a new two-year, two-way contract that will keep the veteran forward in the organization until the 2017-18 season.
Nashville, Tenn. (June 1, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the club has signed forward Cody Bass to a two-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 at the AHL level in 2016-17, and $650,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 at the AHL level in 2017-18.
Bass, 29 (1/7/87), split his first season in the Nashville organization between the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals (39gp, 4g-5a-9pts, 84 PIMs) and the Predators (17gp, 0pts, 17 PIMs), while also suiting up for six of the team’s seven games during their Round One series victory over the Anaheim Ducks. The 6-foot, 205-pound forward has appeared in 66 career NHL contests with Nashville, Ottawa and Columbus since 2007-08, posting five points (2g-3a) and 88 penalty minutes, and 370 career AHL games with Milwaukee, Binghamton, Springfield and Rockford, posting 98 points (41g-57a) and 794 penalty minutes. The Owen Sound, Ontario, native has served as an alternate captain at the AHL level in five of the past six seasons, and won the 2011 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as presented annually to the AHL’s man of the year for service to his local community. He also helped Binghamton win the 2011 Calder Cup.
Ottawa’s third choice, 95th overall (fourth round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, Bass logged 247 Ontario Hockey League games with Mississauga and Saginaw from 2003-07, amassing 124 points (40g-84a) and 371 penalty minutes.
This news is fantastic to hear given the youth of both the Milwaukee Admirals as well as their parent club of their parent club. I joked at the start of last season that Bass was the oldest player on the Admirals roster. Having someone of his experience and leadership qualities is a tremendous asset to have at the AHL level. Not only that but Bass’ abilities on the ice lent itself to a return to the NHL. Bass played 17 games with the Predators last season as well as 6 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was his first taste of NHL action since the 2013-14 season as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As far as front-runners for team captain of the Admirals go for next season I believe Bass will be at the top if he doesn’t outright make the Predators out of pre-season camp. Should he return to the Admirals the bottom line grit and penalty kill won’t miss a beat.
The first domino in the goaltending situation for this off-season has fallen. Though, I can’t imagine how many people had this one on their radar. The Nashville Predators have announced this morning that they have signed goaltender Jonas Gunnarsson to a one-year entry level contract.
Milwaukee, WI–Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent goaltender Jonas Gunnarsson to a one-year entry-level contract.
Gunnarsson has spent the past two seasons with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League. In 2015-16 the Eksjö, Sweden native played a league-high 44 games, ranking ninth among netminders in save percentage (.913) despite his team finishing 12th out of 14 teams, and in 2014-15, he ranked ninth in Swedish second division goals-against average (2.28), helping Malmo earn promotion to the SHL.
From 2009-14, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound netminder played with HV-71’s under-18, junior and SHL teams, winning the junior league title in 2013 and a silver medal in 2012. In 2010-11, Gunnarsson was named the junior league’s top goaltender after posting a league-high .932 save percentage, and in 2013-14, he was a teammate of Predators 2014 first-round selection Kevin Fiala. Gunnarsson also played with Predators defenseman Petter Granberg at the 2010 Under-18 World Championship, helping the Tre Kronor earn a silver medal.
The Admirals will open the home portion of the 2016-17 on October 29th at 7 pm at the UWM-Panther Arena. The complete schedule will be released later this summer.
Gunnarsson is coming off of his strongest senior playing season in the top flight of the Sweden Hockey League (SHL) with the Malmö Redhawks. The 24-year old held a stat-line of 2.47 goals against average and a 0.913 save percentage from 44 games. Prior to this season he had only played 27 games at the SHL level but did take on a large role for Malmö in the 2014-15 season, playing 25 games with a 2.28 goals against average, in the second tier of Swedish hockey (Allsvenskan). Malmö would be promoted to the top flight on the back of that season.
This paints one interesting picture for Marek Mazanec. If this were Janne Juvonen I wouldn’t be thinking too much just yet, with him being slightly younger at 21-years of age, but this isn’t the case. Gunnarsson is just shy of the age of Mazanec. Even more importantly, this is a one-year entry level contract so he is going to be making the jump to North America. Pekka Rinne is set in Nashville. Juuse Saros is set in Milwaukee. Who gets the back-up role in Nashville was always a two-horse race. I felt the option to keep Carter Hutton was possible. I felt the option to possibly even keep Mazanec as a third choice goaltender for the Predators was possible if Hutton re-signed. Now, with Gunnarsson signed and Brandon Whitney already contracted for the season as an ECHL option for the Admirals, I can’t see a path back for Mazanec to stay should Hutton re-sign.
If you are the Nashville Predators how do you fill the back-up role next season? Do you feel Marek Mazanec would be serviceable in that role? Has Mazanec performed well enough to back-up in Nashville?
Admirals Roundtable 