When Adam Payerl‘s 2015-16 season began it did so with an ECHL contract from the Cincinnati Cyclones. He was invited to the Milwaukee Admirals pre-season camp on a PTO contract basis which rolled into the season. He scored 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 8 games for the Admirals. This morning he’s being rewarded by the team by being released from his professional try out contract and signed to a standard player contract that will keep him with the team for the rest of this season.
Prior to joining the Admirals Payerl was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization where he predominantly played AHL hockey in Wilkes-Barre Scranton. He scored 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 130 games for the Baby Pens and was able to suit up for 2 games in the NHL back in the 2013-14 season.
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Another day. Another roster move to announce. The Nashville Predators have recalled Milwaukee Admirals team captain Colton Sissons this morning and have placed Carter Hutton on injured reserve.
Nashville, Tenn. (November 10, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has recalled forward Colton Sissons from Milwaukee (AHL) and placed goaltender Carter Hutton on Injured Reserve.
Sissons, 22 (11/5/93), leads the Milwaukee Admirals in points and assists (2g-5a-7pts) through 10 games this season, and has recorded points in six of his last seven outings. Named team captain for 2015-16, the North Vancouver, B.C., native appeared in all 76 of Milwaukee’s games in 2014-15, ranking second on the team in goals (25) and third in points (42), becoming the first Admirals player in the team’s AHL history to record back-to-back 25-goal seasons to start his career. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has suited up for 17 career NHL games – all with Nashville during the 2013-14 season – recording four points (1g-3a).
Nashville’s second choice, 50th overall (second round), in the 2012 Entry Draft, Sissons is on Twitter @Colton_es15.
The Nashville Predators play the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7 p.m. as they continue a five-game home stand (TV: Fox Sports Tennessee; Radio: 102.5 The Game). Tuesday’s game is a Nissan Tuesday where fans can purchase a pair of Upper Bowl tickets for $60, or a pair of Lower Bowl tickets for $120, and receive a free Gold car flag. Tickets to Tuesday’s contest – as well as the other three remaining games of the home stand against Toronto (Thursday), Winnipeg (Saturday) and Anaheim (Nov. 17) – are limited and available by visiting NashvillePredators.com or by calling 615-770-7800.
At the time of this announcement Sissons was leading the Admirals in scoring with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 10 games. He also saw a career best six-game point streak come to an end in the Admirals last outing against the Rockford IceHogs. This will be Sissons first look back up in the NHL since his professional debut season of 2013-14 when he managed to suit up for 17 games and total up 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). He spent all of last season at the AHL level.
Eyes should now shift towards the Admirals ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones. I would expect a recall of a forward, and quite possibly a lone defenseman to boot, to get moved up ahead of the Admirals morning game tomorrow.
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The Nashville Predators have just recalled Marek Mazanec from the Milwaukee Admirals under emergency conditions and placed forward Eric Nystrom on Injured Reserve. In addition, the Admirals have recalled goaltender Brandon Whitney from the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. These moves all come due to the news that Carter Hutton is currently considered “day-to-day” with injury.
Nashville, Tenn. (November 9, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has recalled goaltender Marek Mazanec from Milwaukee (AHL) on emergency conditions and placed forward Eric Nystrom on Injured Reserve.
Mazanec, 24 (7/18/91), has played in five games for the Admirals this season, posting a 2-2-1 record with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. In his most recent start on Saturday at Rockford, he stopped 33-of-35 shots as Milwaukee won its third straight game, 3-2 in overtime. The Pisek, Czech Republic native has played in 27 career NHL games – all with Nashville – since his first North American professional season in 2013-14, posting an 8-11-4 record, two shutouts, a 2.76 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound netminder played the fifth-most minutes of any rookie NHL netminder (1,369:32) during the 2013-14 campaign and was 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.
Nashville’s ninth choice, 179th overall (sixth round), in the 2012 Entry Draft, Mazanec is a right-handed catching goaltender; only three right-handed catching goalies have appeared in the NHL this season (Philadelphia’s Steve Mason, Calgary’s Jonas Hiller and Winnipeg’s Michael Hutchinson).
The Nashville Predators play the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. as they continue a five-game home stand (TV: Fox Sports Tennessee; Radio: 102.5 The Game). Tuesday’s game is a Nissan Tuesday where fans can purchase a pair of Upper Bowl tickets for $60, or a pair of Lower Bowl tickets for $120, and receive a free Gold car flag. Tickets to Tuesday’s contest – as well as the other three remaining games of the home stand against Toronto (Thursday), Winnipeg (Saturday) and Anaheim (Nov. 17) – are limited and available by visiting NashvillePredators.com or by calling 615-770-7800.
Mazanec is coming off of what I would consider to be one of his best performances in net as an Admiral. He stopped 35/37 shots on goal and really kept the Admirals heads above water to allow for them to pick up the 3-2 overtime win on the road against the Rockford IceHogs. This season he has made five starts, picked up two wins, has a 3.09 goals against average, and a 0.900 save percentage.
The turnaround move to this sees Whitney join the Admirals from the ECHL. He’s made two starts on the season including this past Saturday when he stopped 25/26 shots on goal in a 2-1 Cyclones win over the Evansville IceMen. He’s mainly sat back while long-time AHL netminder Brad Thiessen has been doing outstanding work for the Cyclones at the start of this season.
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DANGER, Eric Robinson, DANGER. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The Milwaukee Admirals have recalled forward Eric Robinson from his loan assignment to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The move comes with Vladislav Kamenev‘s two-game suspension coming to a close when the Admirals next play on Thursday morning in Iowa.
Robinson joined the Admirals late last season when he finished up his collegiate career at Dartmouth. He suited up for 10 games and scored a goal in that time. He signed a PTO contract with the Admirals to start this season, took part in various activities in Nashville’s pre-season and rookie development camps, and was loaned out to the Cyclones to begin his 2015-16 season in the ECHL. He’s hit the ground running with Cincinnati: 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 4 games. His recall to the Admirals comes after a Halloween game that saw Robinson score 2 goals in a 5-1 Cyclones win.
Will Robinson factor into the Admirals lineup on Thursday? Are certain struggling forwards at risk of being scratched for the likes of potential producers such as Robinson?
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Félix Girard doesn’t have a single point of offense to his name in the Milwaukee Admirals opening month of the season. Don’t let that fool you when you consider how great his all-around play has been. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
When thinking of who would be the top performing member of the Milwaukee Admirals in the opening month of the season you’re met with reminders of how very little actual consistent play was produced. The team’s record of 2-4-1-0 (5 points) basically drives that message home but, individually, pretty much the same can be said.
So, who was the Admirals most consistent and reliable performer in a poor opening month? When thinking about how everyone played I kept coming back to one man and that man is Félix Girard.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
What’s funny is, if you were to simply looking along the stats of the Admirals you probably end up looking clean past Girard. And I understand that. He hasn’t scored a single point of offense in the Admirals opening seven games. What you are missing when overlooking him purely based on stats is that he is probably the only Admirals forward from game one to game seven that has looked sharp. He’s done solid work on the lower lines for the Admirals, works his butt off shift after shift game after game, has been a great penalty killer, and is probably unlucky to not have actually produced offensive numbers considering his partnership with Frédérick Gaudreau has been so good. Whether it’s winning faceoffs in the defensive zone, getting the Admirals out of an offensive rut by getting the cycling game working in the attacking zone to tilt the ice, it has been Girard really doing a lot of very positive grunt work that has shined out of several less than stellar individual performances from more high profile talents that were expected to hit the ice and steal the show. Girard isn’t a Kevin Fiala type who can dangle through a defense and score a spectacular goal but he’s a table-setter for other forwards to follow up his shift with a work rate that is equal to what he’s delivering. Unfortunately not many have done such so far. And I think that’s what makes Girard’s work stand out even more.
There are of course other options for the statistically inclined: Colton Sissons, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists)… Vladislav Kamenev, 4 points (4 goals, 0 assists)… and Viktor Arvidsson, 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and 15 shots on goal in 3 games. In a not so statistical option, an Admirable Mention if you will, Jimmy Oligny was also quite good in October and probably the best defenseman in the opening month.
~Admiral of the Month Award~
October: Félix Girard
Who do you feel was the Milwaukee Admirals top performer during the month of October? Was it Girard, Sissons, Kamenev, Oligny, or someone else?
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Vladislav Kamenev has been leading the way for the Admirals offensively to start the season. They will now be without him for these next two games in Iowa due to suspension. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The AHL has just announced that Milwaukee Admirals center Vladislav Kamenev has been suspended for the next two games in connection to his boarding incident that took place Thursday night against the Manitoba Moose.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced that Milwaukee Admirals center Vladislav Kamenev has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of a boarding incident in a game vs. Manitoba on Oct. 29.
Kamenev was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Milwaukee’s games tonight (Oct. 31) and Thursday (Nov. 5) at Iowa.
In addition, Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Tyler Bertuzzi and Toronto Marlies center Sam Carrick have been suspended pending the league’s review of their actions during a game between their teams on Oct. 30.
As I made mention in the Game Recap on Thursday – I didn’t really get a good look at the incident as it happened. The AHL reviewing the play evidently has and saw fit to slap a two-game suspension on Kamenev. The only thing I saw at the time was that Matt Fraser was down and hurt badly enough that the trainer and two teammates needed to escort him off the ice – and that players in Manitoba blue were not happy with the Russian centerman. Fraser didn’t return to the game and he also did not play yesterday when the Moose played against the Chicago Wolves.
With Kamenev suspended these next two games, both road games for the Admirals against the Iowa Wild, it would seem likely that Jamie Devane comes in on the wing and either Cody Bass or Frédérick Gaudreau setup at center. My guess would be Bass assumes the center role while Kamenev is out. You do hope this isn’t something that hangs over the head of the young Russian and also doesn’t become the start of any sort of bad reputation against him. Not having witnessed the play or been privileged to see a replay I can’t assign how bad the hit was. I leave that up to the officials and the AHL. And this is what they’ve judged to be appropriate punishment.
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Görtz played in the Admirals opening two games of the season and registered an assist on a Miikka Salomäki goal on the home opener. Afterwards, he along with fellow Swede Pontus Åberg were slapped with violating team rules and did not travel with the Admirals to Iowa for the third game of the season. Görtz was then assigned to the Cyclones of the ECHL in an effort to log more minutes.
How did Görtz do in his ECHL stint, you ask? He played just a single game, registered 2 shots on goal, wasn’t on the ice for any of the goals forced or allowed, and the Cyclones won 4-1. Perhaps Görtz ends up moving back to the Cyclones depending on how long Salomäki stays with the Predators – and for however long Viktor Arvidsson is staying with the Admirals for that matter. For now though, the Admirals do have an option at forward now with someone getting scratched tonight. I’d find it a touch odd if that man is Görtz considering they make this move today and the object was to get him playing time in Cincinnati – who next play Friday. It will be interesting to see what Dean Evason rolls with tonight. Speculation from me: why not put Görtz in the lineup over Jamie Devane? The Ads are going to need all the offensive firepower they have at their disposal tonight.
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The Nashville Predators have recalled Miikka Salomäki from the Milwaukee Admirals. The move comes a few days after Viktor Arvidsson was returned to Milwaukee, quickly brought back to Nashville following Calle Järnkrok suffering an illness, and returned to Milwaukee on Sunday. The recall for Salomäki is the second of his career.
Nashville, Tenn. (October 26, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has recalled forward Miikka Salomaki (MEE-kah SA-loh-MA-kee) from Milwaukee (AHL).
Salomaki, 22 (3/9/93), scored a goal in his lone NHL game to this point, a 3-2 overtime victory vs. the Dallas Stars on Jan. 8, 2015. This season, the Raahe, Finland, native has two points (1g-1a) in three games for the Admirals, bringing his career AHL total to 70 points (28g-42a) in 116 games since the 2013-14 season, when he tied for fifth among league rookies with 50 points (20g-30a). Prior to making the jump to the North American professional scene, the 5-11, 208-pound left wing played three seasons with Karpat Oulu of the Finnish Elite League (2010-13), the same club that produced Predators netminder Pekka Rinne.
Nashville’s second choice, 52nd overall (second round), in the 2011 Entry Draft, Salomaki helped Finland to a silver medal at the 2014 World Championship, and played in three consecutive World Junior Championships from 2011-13, as well as a pair of World Under-18 Championships in 2010 and 2011, earning a bronze medal in the latter.
The Nashville Predators will play their next four games on the road as the team’s home, Bridgestone Arena, hosts the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. Nashville starts the road trip on Tuesday in San Jose and continues on to visit Los Angeles, Anaheim and Minnesota. The Preds return to Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Nov. 7 to take on the St. Louis Blues. Every Saturday this season, the team will have a promotional Golden Giveaway item as part of the club’s Golden Saturdays. For more information on all the promotional giveaway items, click here. To purchase tickets, visit NashvillePredators.com or call (615) 770-7800.
The Admirals play tomorrow night at home against the Texas Stars while the Predators do not play until Wednesday when they hit the West Coast. This is a slightly interesting move in the sense that Arvidsson went through the roster rodeo and is tasked with staying in Milwaukee while Salomäki goes up in his place.
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Fo’get about it! It’s Tony Time! (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
As if getting Viktor Arvidssonback wasn’t enough. How about this piece of news ahead of tonight’s game against the Rockford IceHogs? The Nashville Predators have assigned Anthony Bitetto to the Milwaukee Admirals on a conditioning assignment. Perhaps that explains yesterday’s other news that saw three players head to the ECHL.
Nashville, Tenn. (October 24, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Saturday that the club has sent defenseman Anthony Bitetto to Milwaukee (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
Bitetto, 25 (7/15/90), has suited up for one game with the Predators this season – his eighth career NHL contest (all with Nashville). A season ago, the 2010 sixth-round selection ranked second among Admirals defensemen in points (4g-26a-30pts) while appearing in 70 of the team’s 76 games.
The Nashville Predators take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday for their final home game before embarking on a four-game road trip (7 p.m., FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). The first 16,000 fans wearing Gold on Saturday will receive a Terry Crisp Halloween Mask as part of the club’s “Golden Saturdays” campaign. Saturday nights are also McDonald’s Family Four nights in Smashville. Fans who purchase a McDonald’s Family Four Pack receive four upper-level tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsi products and four McDonald’s specialty items starting at just $129. Limited tickets are still available by calling 615-770-7800.
How long is a conditioning assignment you ask? Well, courtesy of our ol’ friends at On The Forecheck from two-years ago, here is an answer:
13.8 Conditioning Loan. Unless a Player consents, he shall not be Loaned on a Conditioning Loan to a minor league club. Such Conditioning Loan shall not extend for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days. The Commissioner may take whatever steps he deems necessary to investigate the circumstances under which a Player is Loaned on a Conditioning Loan. If the Commissioner has reason to believe or determines that the Club has used the Conditioning Loan to evade the Re-Entry Waivers, or otherwise Circumvent any provision of this Agreement, he may take such disciplinary action against the Club, as he deems appropriate. The Player shall continue, during the period of such Conditioning Loan, to receive the same Paragraph 1 NHL Salary, and be entitled to the same benefits, that he would have received had he continued to play with the Club.
In short, Bitetto gets two-weeks (fourteen consecutive days) to be a member of the Admirals. By waiting until today to make this move it ensures that Bitetto can be with the Admirals on conditioning assignment until November 7th. That means Bitetto is eligible to play the next 7 games of the Admirals season. Were this move made yesterday? He’d be a game less off here at the AHL level.
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If you’re like me you probably have been keeping tabs on the AHL’s transactions wire following today’s news that Viktor Arvidsson was reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals from the Nashville Predators. What you might have been expecting was for at least one forward to go down to the Cincinnati Cyclones. What has actually happened is that Max Görtz, Joe Pendenza, and Jonathan Diaby have all been sent to the Admirals’ ECHL affiliate.
Görtz is making his professional playing debut this season in North American after signing his entry level contract last summer. He played in the Admirals opening two games of the season, registering an assist, but was withheld from traveling with the team for the most recent game in Iowa on Tuesday due to a team violation – as was fellow Swede Pontus Åberg.
Pendenza has sandwiched the Admirals opening games of the season by playing all but the home opener last Friday. This won’t be his first rodeo with the Cyclones as he played for 13 games last season picking up 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and 14 penalty minutes.
Diaby only played 2 games at the ECHL level last season and should probably register far more than that this season. I’ve felt very strongly in watching him perform in pre-season and the pair of games he has played this season that he has easily been the weakest defenseman the Admirals have. His skating ability is sluggish, he offers next to no offensive help what so ever, and his coverage in the defensive zone has seen lapses that directly result in either goals or odd man breaks with pucks getting behind him. Cincinnati has been a great training ground that has helped boost players such as Anthony Bitetto and Taylor Aronson in the past. Being able to play a lot more minutes and be trusted in more situations could provide Diaby with valuable experience that sees him return to Milwaukee down the road with a sharper skill set provided he gets enough games under his belt to do so.
I’m slightly surprised by the two forwards sent down but someone was in need of going to Cincinnati once Arvidsson turned back up. Frédérick Gaudreau has looked great. The coaches seem to really like what they’re getting out of Adam Payerl on his PTO contract. Someone good was going to have to go and, in turn, it ends up being multiple forwards. Perhaps the move for Görtz has less to do with his team violation and more to do with igniting him offensively – because he hasn’t looked all that sharp in that respect in the two games he’s played. I always thought this season was going to be a fun one due to the depth. I’m assuming Cincinnati fans weren’t expecting to get a guy like Görtz so early into the year.
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