Constant Travel: it looks a heck of a lot like Simon Moser in this photograph. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
For those following along on Twitter todat and might have been a wee bit confused by the comings and goings of Simon Moser I have some clarifications for you!
As mentioned here at the Roundtable, he was reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals with Colton Sissons on Sunday. Moser played in his first career NHL game the day prior in St. Louis. He played 10:21 of ice time over 16 shifts.
Then came some conflicting reports on the Twitter-verse:
So, what’s the deal? I’ll tell you. Moser was scheduled to leave for the Olympics today. Instead, he was given another quickfire recall from the Nashville Predators where he took part in team practice today at 10:30am with the team. It’s odd that, given his reassignment on Sunday, he was recalled back so quickly – and before the Admirals play on Wednesday when the Predators play a state away in Minnesota on Thursday. This seems to be the second time in a week when Moser was scheduled to join Team Switzerland in Sochi. He was about to join the Olympic squad prior to his first NHL recall. Still unknown exactly when he departs North America. If anything, perhaps he’ll leave when fellow Predator and Swiss Olympian Roman Josi departs for the Olympics.
What are your thoughts on the yo-yo style call ups for Moser these last few days? Will he remain in the NHL until the Olympic break?
Colton Sissons takes in his surroundings for his first career home game as a member of the Nashville Predators. (Photo Credit: John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
It might not have been the longest stint but, in three-games, Colton Sissons achieved his dream of playing in the NHL. His call up to the Nashville Predators came during a run of injuries taking out the team’s forward group left and right. At the time of his first ever NHL recall he was leading the Milwaukee Admirals in points and goals scored: 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists). It was three-games. How did the first-year pro handle himself?
Sissons was able to play his first career NHL in front of his family in Winnipeg as the Predators finished their Western Canada road-trip against the Jets (game highlights). Just like his debut with the Admirals this season – he treated the fam with a first-career point. He managed to produce a secondary assist playing with the same hockey smarts we’ve become accustomed to seeing in his forty-two games with the Admirals.
He made a smart play defensively to stir this play forward and then, no nonsense, cycled the forecheck behind the net. Paul Gaustad made a brilliant play to win the puck and dish it off to Nick Spaling for the goal. Being that Sissons played on the fourth line in each of these three-games with the Preds – that’s all you could ask for. Nothing flashy. Just smart.
In that first career game he played a total of 14 shifts and logged 10:49 of ice time. Of that ice time – all of it came at even-strength. He had 2 hits, 1 shot, and went 1/4 (25%) in faceoffs.
This is what he had to say after having played that first career game in the NHL:
In his next game he made his home debut in Nashville while taking part in a thriller of a game against the New Jersey Devils (game highlights). The Predators came back in the final seconds to tie the game and then won it in overtime. It was all jolly exciting, but Sissons didn’t entirely take much part in it.
In his home debut he had 11 shifts and played 5:06 of ice time. No one on the team had few shifts. No one on the team played lesser minutes. In his first AHL game he scored his first AHL point (an assist).
In his first NHL game he scored his first NHL point (an assist). In his second AHL game he scored his first AHL goal. In his second NHL game he earned his first NHL penalty (two-minutes for holding). …not quite as parallel as I was hoping for after the first game.
Despite a game where he wasn’t on the ice that much – he did manage to take 4 faceoffs in the home debut: 2/4 (50%).
His third game with the Preds would be his last before being reassigned on Sunday (Roundtable story). It was another road game for Nashville – this time in St. Louis. He did manage more shifts and ice time than the previous game, 15 shifts for 8:00 minutes, but he still had the least shifts and playing time of any Predator.
He did earn another plus in the plus/minus department, being on the ice for Paul Gaustad’s goal, to bump up his NHL total to +2. He also rang a shot off the post in the first period – nearly scoring his first career NHL goal (game highlights). Again, despite the time on ice, he was productive again in limited faceoff work – winning 3/4 (75%) of his faceoffs in that game.
He’ll make his return to the Milwaukee Admirals Wednesday night when the team squares off with the Hamilton Bulldogs. There is no doubt his addition to the Ads will be a massive boost. Whether or not it is a truck stop for him in Milwaukee before the Predators play in Minnesota the next day is another question. If that’s how it shakes out – it’s a win-win. Sissons plays extra minutes with the Admirals and then travels back to help out the Predators and their banged up forward group without missing any time between either club. We’ll just have to wait and see how that story plays itself out after Wednesday’s game.
What is your impression of Colton Sissons’ first rodeo in the NHL? Positive? Negative? Did the team use him in his best capacity or the only capacity they had open due to the injuries? Can we expect to lose him again after Wednesday’s game?
Colton Sissons was able to score his first career NHL point (an assist) in his first career NHL game. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
We have a roster move to discuss the afternoon. After both the Admirals and Predators played last night, Colton Sissons and Simon Moser have been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals.
For those who caught it in this morning’s edition of The Chatterbox, I had asked head coach Dean Evason last night about potential reinforcements that could be incoming with their team stretched so thin:
“We’ll wait and evaluate and see what Nashville does. Clearly that’s what we do. I mean, it’s trickle down.” Dean Evason
I can only assume a phone call took place either right after last night’s game or early this morning.
Sissons played in three games with the Nashville and scored an assist in his first NHL game for his first NHL point. In his first game he logged 10:49 in ice time. Since, he has played 5:09 TOI and 8:00 TOI while playing on the Pred’s fourth line.
Moser, who played in his first career NHL game in last night’s 4-3 shootout loss for the Predators, registered sixteen shifts and played 10:12 of ice time in his debut. Word was that he had an out clause if he wasn’t up in Nashville by December (source). To boot, he was close to joining the Swiss Olympic squad just around the time of this call up. He played his first career NHL game and is on the brink heading to Sochi for the Winter Olympics. Not a bad few weeks in the life of Simon Moser, eh?
It’s unclear whether or not this move will be a short one or not. The Admirals play on Wednesday night against the Hamilton Bulldogs and then the Nashville Predators play in Minnesota on Thursday. If bodies are still needed up top – it’s quick travel and a quick way to keep guys fresh. Sissons has been playing fourth line minutes. Moser was on the third line with Taylor Beck last night. Both would earn more playing time than they would get on the lower end playing lines. If even this is a quick stint back down for both before joining the Predators in Minnesota the next night – it helps everyone involved.
Thoughts on the roster move? Is this just a quick stop for one game for both?
The good news for Simon Moser keeps on coming. The Swiss Olympian is reportedly en route to join the Nashville Predators for his first ever stint in the NHL. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Interesting developments taking place before tonight’s game against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Reports are suggesting that the Nashville Predators have called up Simon Moser from the Milwaukee Admirals this morning.
Swiss sources indicating that Simon Moser has been recalled by the Predators. Nothing from the team just yet.
No official conformation yet. Though, Moser has already been added to the team’s active roster on the team website. Official confirmation forthcoming? I suspect as much.
This season with the Admirals, Moser has played in 40 games and scored 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists), tallied 8 PIM’s, and has a plus/minus of +2. This would be his first ever taste of the National Hockey League. Prior to the Admirals, he had played in his native Switzerland for Martigny and primarily Langnau. He was one of the final roster cuts from Predators camp in the pre-season before heading to Milwaukee. According to Jim Diamond, he had an out clause in his contract allowing him to go back to his team in Switzerland if he wasn’t in NHL by December. That never manifested itself. And now Moser is an Olympian on his was to the NHL at the start of February en route to the Olympic break.
UPDATE: It’s official. He’ll be wearing his #21 with the Predators and make his NHL debut tonight.
With @Spals88 (lower body) joining @VStalberg/Cullen on the injury list, the @PredsNHL will bring in Simon Moser for his NHL debut tonight.
There hasn’t been a counter move made yet by the Admirals. The top choice down in Cincinnati of the ECHL would have been Josh Shalla – but he took a puck to the face recently and missed last night’s game for the Cyclones. If you want to see the damage done to Shalla’s noggin – here’s the aftermath. If you want to see a less gruesome photo of the damage – here you go. Anyways, unclear as to his official status after sustaining that injury. With this potential recall for Moser taking place as quick as it is on a game day. I fully anticipate last night’s roster with Shalla’s buddy Zach Budish inserted into the lineup (he was the lone healthy scratch last night).
Thoughts on the call up? Think this will give Simon Moser a boost heading to Sochi? What should the Admirals do to get more bodies back in camp? Who are the options in Cincinnati you’d like up with the team or is another PTO on the horizon?
Colton Sissons is set to join recent call up Taylor Beck in Nashville. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The first season of professional hockey for Colton Sissons just opened an extra chapter up before the AHL All Star pages are written. It’s just been announced that Sissons will be called up to join the Nashville Predators.
Upon his first career NHL call up, Sissons leads the Admirals with 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists). I might add, that is also a team-best for goals scored on the team – five more goals than the next closest Admirals (11, Beck and Salomaki).
From the opening games of the season in Abbotsford, where he scored his first professional point (an assist) and first professional goal on back-to-back nights, Sissons has been among the Admirals most consistent performers all season long. He plays with great maturity. He very rarely looks lost on the ice. And he plays in every scenario: power-play, penalty kill, the works. On Friday night, he provided the perfect highlight reel goal that Nashville fans can watch over-and-over to understand just what Sissons’ game is all about:
Shorthanded. Perfect position. Active stickwork. Speed. Skill. Finishing. He can pick his spots to deliver all his qualities at once but, when he does, that’s the type of play Sissons can deliver.
I also would like to do a call back to an interview I had with Mike Liambas earlier this month.
Liambas talks about Colton Sissons and predicts his NHL call up (1/10/14):
Atta boy, Mike. And an even bigger “atta boy” to Colton Sissons – en route to Winnipeg to join the Nashville Predators.
Thoughts on the call up? Surprised to see a first-timer get the call over Filip Forsberg? What does that say about Forsberg’s maturation process – will he be here for a while?
In the first half of 2013-2014, Milwaukee’s offensive charge has been lead by a pair of talented rookies, brothers from another country, that share much in common despite their far different backgrounds.
With Colton Sissons and Miikka Salomaki leading the way, Nashville is building a stockpile of great young talent in its farm system. Read more about the two budding AHL stars in my most recent feature at MilwaukeeAdmirals.com: Sissons, Salomaki Making an Impact.
In case you missed it, here are my other feature stories on the Admirals this season.
Kevin Klein played with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2004-08.
Taylor Beck wasn’t the only move of the day. This afternoon the Nashville Predators traded defenseman Kevin Klein to the New York Rangers for defenseman Michael Del Zotto. This is what Nashville’s President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile had to say in the team’s official press release regarding the trade:
“Michael gives us another young, gifted left-handed shooting defenseman with significant offensive upside. We look forward to his presence on our already talented young blue line, further balancing our defensive corps.” David Poile
The move seems to indicate a future top four in defense with two rights and two lefties: Shea Weber, Seth Jones, and Roman Josi. That’s if the team re-signs Del Zotto in the summer – where he can become a restricted free agent. The move for Klein takes place in the first year of a five-year, $14.5M contract. Del Zotto makes $2.55M this season.
Thanks everyone! Going to miss the friends I have made in Nashville. But a new chapter in New York.
Kevin Klein played with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2004-08. In that time he scored 81 points (19 goals, 62 assists) in 220 games. He also played 32 playoff games where he produced 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists). Last year he was voted to the Top 35 Admirals of All-Time list – coming in at #31.
What do you make of this trade? Is Del Zotto a good fit for the Predators? What trades, if any, do you see the Predators making next? What are your memories of Klein’s time with Milwaukee?
Nashville Bound: Taylor Beck leads the Milwaukee Admirals with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) this season. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
It’s been hinted at the last few days and now it is pretty much done. The Nashville Predators will be recalling Taylor Beck for their upcoming four-game road trip to Western Canada.
“He’s been their best player. He’s going to come up and join us.” – #Preds Head Coach Barry Trotz on @taybeckone9 and the @mkeadmirals.
Beck leads the Admirals with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists). His season may have started off slowly but from November and onward he has been a workhorse for the team. He plays in all facets of the game and has often doubled up on offensive lines when the team dresses an extra-defenseman. This call up takes place in a month where he has been producing fantastic numbers: 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 9 games.
This will be Beck’s third stint in the NHL with the Nashville Predators. Last season he played in 16 games and scored 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists). He was called up earlier this season in November when they flipped him with Filip Forsberg. Beck suited up twice, picked up no points and 2 PIM’s, and swapped back with Forsberg shortly after the two traded places.
Thoughts on the move? How do you feel Taylor Beck has played this season? Has he earned this call up or is there another player who you feel could have gone up – and if so who and why? With Beck getting called up and Filip Forsberg remaining with the Admirals – what does that say about Nashville’s plans for Forsberg short term?
Some curious news out of the American Hockey League today involving one of the league’s most successful franchises. It is appears that the Winnipeg Jets are planning to pick up their American Hockey League affiliate from St. John’s, Newfoundland and relocate them to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Though only in its second year of existence, St. John’s routinely sells out games and ranks sixth in the AHL in average attendence with 6,287 fans per home date. However, the team is also remotely located, and a far-cry from its parent club in Winnipeg.
Why this concerns Milwaukee is the divisional breakdown of the AHL. Currently, Milwaukee fits comfortably in the Midwest Division, with fellow logical local foes Grand Rapids, Chicago, Rockford and Iowa. With St. John’s moving potentially moving west to Thunder Bay, it would only make sense to move that franchise into the Western Conference, replacing it in the east with a whole host of potential options like Rochester, Charlotte, Utica or another franchise.
Then again, despite its remoteness, I would think that St. John’s would look pretty attractive to another struggling AHL franchise, especially after hosting the likely-to-be highly successful 2014 AHL All Star Classic. AHL franchise moving season is far from over, but it seems at least one big shake up will again occur. At the very worst, Milwaukee will likely be gaining a new foe a long bus ride or short flight away.
So Roundtable… Do you know the way to Thunder Bay?
Goaltender Marek Mazanec returns to the Milwaukee Admirals after a two month stay in the NHL with the Nashville Predators. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Scott Darling was injured in practice on Tuesday. Magnus Hellberg was injured last night in overtime against the San Antonio Rampage. This sets the stage for the return of Marek Mazanec to the Milwaukee Admirals after a lengthy stint in the NHL with the Nashville Predators.
Mazanec started the season with the Admirals by winning all five starts in net with a 1.97 GAA, and a 0.933 SV%. This paved the way for him to switch spots with Hellberg in Nashville where he would make a quick dent by earning the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November. This season in the NHL he has gone 8-10-4, 2.80 GAA, 0.902 SV%, and has recorded two shutouts.
The move comes two days after the Nashville Predators acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Matt Hendricks. This meant three goalies were in camp when the Predators played against the Flyers on the road last night. Carter Hutton made the start and save of the season in the shootout win. Dubnyk sat on the bench in full Oilers gear. And, odd man out, Mazanec was scratched. A move was needed for the Predators’ sake. And now a move is really needed for both the Predators and Admirals’ sake.
The injury to Darling isn’t really known to this point. The injury to Hellberg last night involves his right ankle and it might be a ‘wait and see’ game to hear how exactly bad he is injured. He tried his best to play on after the injury took place but the team removed him with four-seconds remaining in overtime – placing Hannu Toivonen into the fire for his Admirals debut. Two goalies down. One goalie in on a PTO. Six Games. Nine Days. Help was needed and needed fast. Whether he knows it or not Mazanec is coming to the rescue of the Ads in a big stretch of games. If he wants to play consistently. He’s going to get that and more in nine days time.
Thought’s on the move? Did Nashville make the right choice in sending down Mazanec and keeping Hutton up? With the recent injuries – will this have to be all Mazanec in net? How do you think he will fair shouldering the work load during this big stretch of games?
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