Does the prospect of having Kevin Fiala for an extended period of time mean good things for the Milwaukee Admirals this season? I’m thinking yes. (Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro)
The Nashville Predators have effectively sent the Milwaukee Admirals team off to Milwaukee. The Predators reduced their training camp roster by 23 names late this afternoon. The lone name not heading to Milwaukee will be Yakov Trenin who is set to join his junior team Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL). Meanwhile, Kevin Fiala looks as if his 2015-16 season will start in the AHL with the Admirals as he is part of the 22 names heading to Milwaukee’s training camp which starts on Tuesday.
Nashville, Tenn. (September 26, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Saturday that the club has assigned goaltenders Marek Mazanec and Brandon Whitney; defensemen Conor Allen, Johan Alm, Trevor Murphy, Jonathan Diaby, Mikko Vainonen, Jaynen Rissling, Kristian Nakyva, Taylor Aronson, Jimmy Oligny and Garrett Noonan; and forwards Kevin Fiala, Miikka Salomaki, Joe Pendenza, Felix Girard, Pontus Aberg, Vladislav Kamenev, Max Reinhart, Max Gortz, Frederick Gaudreau and Eric Robinson to Milwaukee (AHL). The team also assigned 2015 second-round draft pick Yakov Trenin to his junior team (Gatineau, QMJHL).
Nashville’s training camp roster is now at 28 players – 17 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. An updated roster is attached.
The Nashville Predators play their final two preseason games this week against the Columbus Blue Jackets, first at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. CT), then Saturday in Columbus (6 p.m. CT).
The Preds begin the regular season at Bridgestone Arena by hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. CT (FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). Full, half and 13-Game Flex Plan ticket holders continue to receive the biggest savings and the most comprehensive benefits that Smashville has to offer. Season-ticket holders are guaranteed to choose from any regular-season game at Bridgestone Arena, as well as receiving access to 2016 NHL® All-Star festivity tickets. For more information on purchasing season-ticket or flex packages, preseason or regular season tickets, visit NashvillePredators.com/Seasons or call 615-770-7800.
A name that you may have noticed isn’t coming back, at least not yet, is Viktor Arvidsson. There’s still plenty of time for names to trickle down to Milwaukee. For example, Anthony Bitetto is also still with the Nashville camp at the moment. Still, it is impressive to see that for all the Steve Moses buzz and whether or not Fiala can challenge him for a wing role he has been surpassed in the pre-season by Arvidsson. I’d point to age being a small factor but, no matter how it was going to shake out, the internal competition at forward right now should only mean great things across the entire organization.
Surprised to see Fiala end up starting this season with the Admirals? What percentage of Fiala’s season do you expect will be spent in the AHL? Can Arvidsson make the Predators opening day roster?
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
It’s that time of year again! (Photo Credit: Sunnie Hirschfield)
The 2015-16 season is almost upon us. With that in mind I feel it is time for a re-introduction of all things Admirals Roundtable to get newbies up to speed with all that happens around these parts.
My name is Daniel Lavender and I am the editor-in-chief of Admirals Roundtable. This is now my third season with Roundtable and will be my fourth covering Milwaukee Admirals hockey up close and personal. After graduating from UW-Parkside I joined the front office as a communications intern and was fortunate enough to join during the 35th Anniversary season. Ever since I’ve quintessentially made covering this team around-the-clock my full-time job. It has been tons of fun to do and I’m so very excited to get the puck dropped on this year’s campaign.
As far as what to expect from content on Admirals Roundtable here is the prototypical breakdown: Scouting the Enemy, Game Recaps, Chatterbox, Feature Stories, and as much news as we can get published as possible when, after, or sometimes before it breaks.
Scouting the Enemy: I always try to get as comprehensive of a scouting report of the next Admirals opponent as I can published prior to game day. It’s either up the day-of or the day before the game is played. Considering back-to-backs and the frequency of seeing similar opponents takes place often – expect the length of these or manner in which the content is presented to change. I could purely talk about -say- the Grand Rapids Griffins or go back to a previous game in which the Admirals and Griffins played and the do’s and don’t’s that should take place in the game ahead.
Game Recaps: As far as timing goes, I try my best to get recaps up as quickly as I possibly can but would say a polite ETA is a little after a half-hour after the game is completed. For road games I’m able to get those up quickly due to the fact I’m watching the game from the comforts of my own home via AHL Live. When the Admirals are home I’ll be in the locker room area getting through interviews with coaches and players post-game which will make the recap take a touch longer – but also that little bit better thanks to the addition of quotes.
Chatterbox: What on Earth is Chatterbox you ask? Well, it is the audio portion of my post-game interviews with coaches and players that get published the morning after a home game gets completed. You’ll hear myself and the Admirals talk about the game, various other talking points, or -hopefully more this season- the beauty that is locker room pranking (e.g. interview bombing). I always encourage you readers on Twitter or Facebook to give a shout out if there is a certain player you want to hear from or have a specific question you’d like to have asked. I love to be your conduit to the team so having your involvement in this process makes everything that much more fun. Let your voice be heard. Let your question be answered by the player you wanted to hear from.
Feature Stories: This is another area where I love getting readership feedback as to a certain player you’d like to know more about. As examples: last season I did features on Magnus Hellberg‘s journey from Sweden to Milwaukee, Anthony Bitetto‘s road to playing in the NHL, and how all the European talents get to adapting on and off the ice here in North America. Often times I’ll come up with a story I find would be interesting but, like Chatterbox, it’s even more fun when suggestions come in and I can deliver insight readers and fans alike are looking for. So, for a laugh, answer this question. Who should be the very first player featured this season?
News: There’s not much more to say other than delivering news is the backbone of Roundtable. When a player goes up to Nashville, gets sent down from Nashville, gets called up from Cincinnati, etc etc it will be made perfectly clear here. There will come times when I might happen upon things a touch later than you might find in the social media spectrum but, fret ye not, it will be up here with a bit more than a 140 character perspective of events.
Speaking of social media, I do trust you to find Admirals Roundtable content where ever it suits you best as well. I always leave our social media outlets as the signature to stories but will say this in regards to what you get from each. Twitter is where I frequent the most so it is the busiest and heaviest stream of content and/or silly pictures. Facebook is for the more laid back inclined, I’d think. I update Facebook at the end of each period of hockey rather than a full play-by-play as I would on Twitter. So, if the noise of Roundtable is getting too loud for you on Twitter simply like the Facebook page and check things out there. As for Instagram? That’s probably as laid back as it could possibly get and runs purely off of the credited photographers with my news headlines. Get the content as you would like it best I say. No matter how it gets served I’m sure you’ll enjoy it all the same.
That will do as far as re-introducing is concerned. I believe the best thing coming up is next week when practice starts up and a home exhibition game is afoot. As always, I hope to see you folks out at games and/or events that the Admirals hold during the season and look forward to the conversations we’ll be having as things motor ahead.
Any questions, thoughts, or suggestions for Admirals Roundtable? Anything you would like to see get added to the mix? Please let me know!
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Milwaukee, it’s time for hockey. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)After a day of welcoming back IndyCar to Road America in Elkhart Lake – I return with some great news from the Milwaukee Admirals. The first piece of news is that the training camp schedule has been officially released. The second involves a specialty uniform that the team will wear this season.
Saturday, Oct. 10: 10:00 am – 11:00 am (MSOE Kern Center)
– 7:00 pm – Season Opener @ Chicago –
There you have it. In precisely one week the Admirals will be back playing hockey in downtown Milwaukee. Best of all? You can come down and watch! All dates and times listed at the MSOE Kern Center are open to the public to attend. Any practice that is featured at the BMO Harris Bradley Center is closed to the public.
I’m hoping to get out to as many of these as possible. Some days I might purely be there to watch practice. Others I might do a round of interviews back at the Bradley Center. Either way, hope to see you folks out at practice as we all get a first look at some of these new faces.
~May The Schwartz Be With You~
It feels like it has been a proper while since the Admirals have had a fun speciality uniforms. By that I mean something a little less serious. The Cancer Awareness unis represent a great cause. The camouflage fatigues looked pretty good. But what about remembering that this is still minor league hockey and you can have a laugh for one game or two? Well, ker-blammo.
(Photo Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)How great is that? In a year when Star Wars makes its long awaited return to the big screen the Admirals will rock Stormtrooper uniforms. This is a massive winner in my book. And dare I say it, I’m tempted for once to get involved in the jersey bidding that will take place on Nov. 27 and 28. That’s correct. Two dates meaning there will be two Stormtrooper games with the opponents being the Grand Rapids Griffins and Rockford IceHogs aka Rebel Scum.
On an off-note, remember the Roundtable Mail Bag in which someone asked about the whereabouts or details on the Milwaukee Brewers patch on the new uniform? This Star Wars jersey provides an answer to that question. The retro “ball in glove” MB logo is gone and has been replaced by the current hat insignia of the Brewers. Curiously, as all uniform details are tonal in the Stormtrooper uniform, it still remains questionable how the Brewers logo will actually appear on the uniforms. Will it be BP Hat blue? Plain ol’ white with a navy outline to make it pop? Or, could it in fact be kept tonal to blend into the Admirals new color scheme? Time will answer that question. If I had to hazard a guess I’d imagine it’ll be kept as close to the bog standard hat logo – so white with an outline.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Ryan Ellis’ beard is majestic. (Photo Credit: Jim Diamond)
The 2015 Rookie Tournament provided a nice appetizer for hockey’s return. Yesterday in Nashville was the pre-season opener. In short, we’ve all survived the dreaded, long, cold, and dark off-season. Hockey is back and it is fast approaching its arrival back here in Milwaukee.
~Pre-Season Double Dip~
The Nashville Predators had a double-header of pre-season games yesterday against the Florida Panthers that saw both teams split squads to handle the action. Here’s a quick run-through how the rosters split and who of the expected Milwaukee Admirals were featured.
The first contest ended with the Predators winning 5-2. Filip Forsberg opening the scoring with Kamenev adding one of his own for a 2-0 first period lead. Roman Josi extended the Predators advantage to 3-0 in the second period. Halfway through the frame Mazanec relieved Carter Hutton to split the goaltending duties for the game.
In the third period, disaster, as Salomäki was slapped with a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct after tagging defenseman Josh Brown. Unfortunately this is not the first time something like this has happened with Miikka. So, for those wondering if his shoulder injury that put him out of the end of last season would alter his tenacity or aggressiveness in his return to the ice… the answer is a hard no. I would add here though that having him play a settled down or muffled style ruins what makes a player like Salomäki so fun to watch. Hopefully this incident doesn’t hurt his reputation with his team and beyond but I imagine a talking to about “being smarter” was had between player and coaches.
After that incident cooled the two sides exchanges a back-and-forth of power-play goals. Forsberg added a power-play goal for his second goal of the game. In an unrelated story Martin Erat recently signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. The Panthers finally ended the combined shutout bid with power-play goal of their own from Connor Brickley. Nashville would add one last tally in game one when Sissons contributed a power-play goal. And the final bit of scoring would come off the tape of Jussi Jokinen on a power-play to see Mazanec’s day in net have two goals allowed attached to his name. Both were on the power-play so I suppose you can only be so harsh on Maz.
~Game Two~
This game was a little less explosive but that should really be expected when the Finnish National Team’s goaltending duo are representing Nashville. Pekka Rinne made the start and Saros would enter mid-way through the second period. The game spilled to overtime where Nashville was treated to their first glimpse of three-on-three OT hockey. The Panthers would take this one 3-2 in overtime to split the day.
Who opened the scoring in game two you ask? Guess. *pause* If you guessed Aronson you would be correct! Aronson scored with he and fellow Admirals-defenseman Noonan both up on the play. How about that? And then Carrie Underwood‘s hubby scored to make it 2-0. Aleksander Barkov –reportedly– made Rinne look very un-Rinne on a breakaway to make things 2-1 at the end of one.
The scoreline remained at a 2-1 margin all the way until the final minutes of the game. With 2:17 remaining Florida was able to beat Saros with a power-play goal from a man who should be very familiar to Admirals fans, Shane Harper (formerly of the Chicago Wolves). The game would be settled with three-on-three overtime and defenseman Mike Matheson would see to it that the Panthers clawed back from a 2-0 hole to get a 3-2 overtime win.
~Impressions~
All in all, I like much of what I’ve seen from names that we’ll be seeing in Milwaukee. Seeing Sissons get on the scoresheet, power-play or not, I think is an important confidence builder for him after a slow start last season with his Nashville camp not going the way he’d hoped possibly lingering over him. It’s a good first step and a “remember me” to Nashville. Kamenev getting a goal? Aronson getting a goal? It’s all great stuff as well as seeing how Saros doesn’t seem too ill affected by the speed of the North American game in net.
Plenty to be giddy about at the moment. Add a slice of that Salomäki game misconduct, penalties on Bitetto and Girard, and a poor showing from Kevin Fiala and I think that should give you the level headed feeling you need to have come Admirals season. There’s excitement, yes. Maturity level on the ice and being able to put together complete games and avoid long losing skids? That’s the story to wait and see play out as far as the Admirals go in 2015-16.
~All He Does Is Score Goals~
If you missed this news on the weekend then this should raise your brow. Gary Steffes will not be back with the Admirals for this season. In fact, he won’t even be in the AHL. He re-signed with the Allen Americans of the ECHL last Thursday.
This comes as a slight shock to me considering he scored 52 goals in all competitions last season – ECHL regular season with Allen, late in the AHL season with the Admirals on a loan move, and then the ECHL playoff run with Allen that ended with he and his teammates winning the 2015 Kelly Cup. What more could there possibly be left for him to accomplish in the ECHL after a season like that? Is the market, specifically AHL, that poor that no one was willing to take a chance on him? It kind of leaves me mystified. My only hope for him is that he puts up another blistering scoring season with Allen and an AHL team gives him the shot he’s earned.
~Ramble, Ramble~
Some great news. This should be the last edition of Ramblings for quite awhile. Heck, I finally brained up and removed ‘Summer’ from the title. September isn’t exactly my idea of Summer. Anywho, expect things to really ramp up as we near camp opening up here in Milwaukee soon. I’m hoping to get an idea of when an Admirals group will be setup for practices at the MSOE Kern Center and an actual main camp begins. When that happens I’ll let you folks know.
Remember, practices at the MSOE Kern Center are open to the public. Getting out to a morning skate to greet the team and make some of these new players feel welcome is a fun thing. I highly recommend swinging by for a practice or two or more sometime this season.
Roundtable should be getting into full-stride pretty soon. I’ll get some things gathered for the end of the week. In the meantime my mind is firmly set on attending the first full practice that the Admirals will have downtown and the eventual interview session afterwards. Plenty of new faces to see and get to know this season. It’s exciting times. All that’s really left is for the puck to drop.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Nashville, Tenn. (September 17, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the team has signed defenseman Trevor Murphy to a three-year entry-level contract.
Murphy, 20 (7/17/95), has spent the past four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League split between the Peterborough Petes (2011-12) and the Windsor Spitfires (2012-15), amassing 140 points (42g-98a) and 296 penalty minutes in 235 games. Serving as an alternate captain for his hometown Spitfires in 2014-15, the Windsor, Ont., native ranked third among OHL defensemen in goals (24), tied for fourth in points (63) and ranked fifth in assists (39). The 5-10, 175 pounder was also one of just two OHL blueliners to post at least 40 points and 100 penalty minutes during the campaign.
A teammate of Predators forward Austin Watson with Peterborough in 2011-12, Murphy attended Predators Development Camp in July, Rookie Camp last week, and is currently in attendance at Training Camp.
This is a solid signing for the Predators organization. And one that appears to be his former general manager’s worst nightmare. Murphy has put up great offensive numbers throughout his time in the Ontario Hockey League with both the Peterborough Petes and Windsor Spitfires but really exploded in the 2014-15 season: 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games. Grain of salt with last season is a plus/minus of -15 and 105 penalty minutes.
The addition of Murphy it creates a situation that should have fans in Cincinnati very excited. Last season was a slight defensive log jam. This season more than trumps it. Without naming Murphy the Admirals are already slated to have the likes of Anthony Bitetto, Conor Allen, Taylor Aronson, Johan Alm, Jonathan Diaby, Jimmy Oligny, Garrett Noonan, Jaynen Rissling, Mikko Vainonen, and Kristian Näkyvä as options on defense. To put it bluntly, our losses in Milwaukee are Cincinnati’s gain this season – and the gain should be pretty solid.
Thinking about this as a long term project, as this is a three-year entry level contract, it is also a smart move. Defensemen whose contracts are set to expire after this season include all but Diaby, Rissling, and Vainonen. The bulk on the out are RFA’s while Allen, Aronson, Bitetto, and Oligny will become UFA’s. No matter who stays and who goes the Predators just brought in one solid project that will be in the organization. It’s been awhile since the Admirals in particular have had a defenseman who could really load up on offense. Murphy could be that guy before a potential leap up into the NHL.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Big Head, Bigger Goals. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
It looks as if Zach Budish will still remain relatively close in the organization. The 24-year old right winger just signed an ECHL contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones for the 2015-16 season. Budish has played his entire professional career to this point within the Nashville Predators organization after being selected in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He has played a role with both the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and Cyclones in the ECHL and is coming off of his most productive season to date.
CINCINNATI, OH- The Cincinnati Cyclones have signed forward Zach Budish for the 2015-2016 season. The 24-year-old skated in 30 games for Cincinnati last season, however spend the bulk of the year with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Milwaukee Admirals.
“Zach is a player we have seen in the past two years at times, and he always bring a great work ethic,” said Cyclones Head Coach Matt MacDonald. “He has been a player we have leaned on in all situations, and we know he brings a lot to our team both offensively and defensively. He’s also a player who will compete every day, and brings the character and attitude we want in our organization.”
Drafted in the second round by the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Budish accounted for eight goals and 15 assists while in a Cyclones uniform last season. His offensive presence was felt early and often, as he registered a four-point outing (1g, 3a) on November 22 against Kalamazoo, and put together a pair of five-game point streaks from December 3-13 (2g, 3a), and December 27-January 23 (4g, 2a). The Edina, MN, native also saw action in 43 games for Milwaukee, totaling six goals and eight assists.
Budish split time between Cincinnati and Milwaukee in 2013-14 as well, skating in 16 games with the ‘Clones and accounting for three goals and six assists. He spent the first half of the season with the Admirals where he saw an identical stat line of three goals and six assists.
Prior to turning pro in 2013, Budish enjoyed a successful collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, where he amassed 94 points (35g, 59a) over four seasons, and served as team captain during his senior year in 2012-13.
The countdown to the 2015-16 First Face-Off is underway! The Cyclones will return to U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday, October 17 when they host the Toledo Walleye at 7:30pm. Between now and then, be on the lookout for several offseason events like Meijer Concrete Clones! 2015-16 Season Ticket Packages are available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates throughout the offseason on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram!
In 2014-15, Budish split time between the AHL and ECHL but it was his time with the Cyclones that really helped vault him into the Admirals lineup until season’s end. He produced 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games for the Cyclones and then 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 43 games for the Admirals. It was -again- his best pro season yet and his solid work could also be found away from the rink. Budish was voted the Milwaukee Admirals 2014-15 Man of the Year for his contributions to the local community.
Being that this is an ECHL deal it would take a loan move or for the Admirals to buyout Budish’s contract from the Cyclones before you see him again in Milwaukee. Should he put all the pieces together as he did in Cincinnati at the start of last season there’s no reason to believe that couldn’t happen. It’ll be nice having Mr. Big Head back under our ECHL affiliate’s banner.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
In keeping with the Roundtable’s off-season Q&A series I reached out to Cutler Klein of Today’s Slapshot and Penalty Box Radio to get his thoughts and impressions of the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals.
~Q&A~
Admirals Roundtable: The Nashville Predators off-season goal appeared to be keeping the band together. There have been some additions made but, ultimately, things look pretty similar to last season. Was that the right move and can this team take the right steps forward this season in the attempt of winning a Stanley Cup?
Cutler Klein: With the crop of free agents that was available, and with the countless young talents making their way through the system, it was absolutely the right move. As of right now, the Predators have all but one of the pieces necessary for a Stanley Cup-caliber team. That missing piece is an elite center.
However, this off-season, there wasn’t an elite center available on the free agent market, and a trade seemed far-fetched. While that center might be available at the trade deadline, in future free agent markets, or even sitting on the Milwaukee Admirals right now, he wasn’t there to be acquired this Summer. To trade/make an expensive move for someone other than that center would have been foolish. The team looks poised to repeat much of the success of last year, and then some.
AR: One of the more interesting items as far as Nashville signings go this off-season was them being able to keep both Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. Do you see one of them potentially getting traded?
CK: There is a chance, but only in certain circumstances. It depends on what the return in the trade would be (if a top center were to be coming the other way, then moving Wilson or Smith might make sense). It also depends on how much money Seth Jones and Filip Forsberg want when they hit the free agent market next year. If one, or both of them, wants a crazy raise, then there might not be enough cap room to keep all four of those players. There are a number of other scenarios, but overall, the only way I see either Smith or Wilson get moved is if the return is a pot of gold, and then some, for the Predators.
AR: There seems to be a lot of talk in regards to Steve Moses vs. Kevin Fiala for a roster spot in Nashville. Who do you see getting that spot and why?
CK: Without having seen either of these players in training camp or the pre-season, I would have to give the edge to Moses. Fiala looked pretty undersized in his short-lived appearances at the NHL level last year, and could benefit for at least another half a season in Milwaukee. Moses, meanwhile, has experience playing with near-NHL-caliber talent in the Kontinental Hockey League, and at the IIHF World Championships last year. That experience should help him out a lot.
However, ultimately it will come down to who shows up in training camp and impresses the coaching staff. If Fiala bulked up, and worked on his game hard this off-season, there’s a chance he can snag the final spot.
AR: It just wouldn’t be a Q&A without asking about the new look of the Milwaukee Admirals. What do you think of the re-design for the Admirals?
CK: I’d consider myself a hockey jersey fashionista, if that’s even a thing. Call me the Tim Gunn of hockey jerseys. The new logo is sleek, and captures the same essence as the old one, but with a slightly more intimidating feel. I like how the team kept the same team colors as well. The most important thing is that the players look good in them as well, and will look slick every time they take the ice. I’m excited to see them in action.
AR: Milwaukee will be seeing some new blood added to the mix for 2015-16: Juuse Saros, Max Görtz, and Vladislav Kamenev. Who will be the best of that trio this season and then in the long run?
CK: All three of those players should elevate their game as they make the transition to North American pro hockey, but if I had to pick one to excel this season, I’d take Saros. He has looked solid at the rookie tournament, and has the experience of playing against top-end talent at IIHF Worlds. That experience will help him out as he tries to transition to this level of the game. As a goaltender, he’ll have the toughest task ahead of him, but I think he’s more than capable of pulling it off and make for a fine replacement for Magnus Hellberg.
AR: There’s also still a quality group of players in Milwaukee who could be considered NHL ready if need be: Viktor Arvidsson, Austin Watson, Colton Sissons, Anthony Bitetto, Marek Mazanec, and Miikka Salomäki. Who stands the best chance of significant playing time in the NHL out of that group and could there be a name not included on that list that could make the leap up from the AHL?
CK: Salomäki and Arvidsson are probably the first go-to forwards if the Predators find themselves bitten by the injury bug at some point in the season. They’ve both done it before, and they’ve looked good. Their playing styles also fit head coach Peter Laviolette’s speedy, fast-paced offense nicely. In addition, Bitetto would likely be the go-to on defense. Clearly the Predators see a space for him in the organization, as they just gave him a new contract. However, it might be harder for him to earn significant playing time this season, as the Predators are perhaps the deepest team on defense in the NHL. Finally in goal, Mazanec is probably going to stay in Milwaukee, unless there is another injury to either Pekka Rinne or Carter Hutton. I believe Mazanec is poised to take Hutton’s spot at some point, but I’m not sure it’s this year.
Outside this list, Austin Watson deserves a look for NHL playing time. His big size and offensive ability should fit nicely on the bottom six for Nashville. However, I don’t see him getting the nod over Salomäki or Arvidsson. He and Sissons would likely be the next two up after that.
In general, it will be very hard for prospects to see time in Nashville this season. This team is just so deep and so crowded at forward. There are a number of players that deserve a roster spot, but simply won’t get it because of the logjam of forwards.
~Le Fin~
You can follow along with Cutler’s work via Twitter, Today’s Slapshot, and on Penalty Box Radio. Cheers for taking the time out on answering some of my queries, sir!
Have a different take with some of the questions that were asked? Do comment below with your perspective.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Brandon Whitney already has a Milwaukee Admirals mask complete with the new logos and colors. Your move, Juuse Saros and Marek Mazanec. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Lightning)
Huzzah! Hockey is back, everyone. This weekend was the start of the Nashville Predators participation in the 2015 Rookie Tournament. The Predators prospects played Saturday and Sunday and have come away with a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s prospects and a 5-2 win over the Florida Panther’s prospects.
~2015 Rookie Tournament~
I was able to watch the Saturday night contest in full and, while the 5-1 loss looks bad on paper, there were lots of positive performances. Juuse Saros was in net for half the game and looked good in net. Brandon Whitney entered mid-way through the second period and also put in a solid effort despite conceding four goals. Kevin Fiala scored the lone goal for the Predators prospects in the game and appeared primed to earn a place on the Predators opening day roster. He looks a bit bigger on the ice, plays so smoothly with the puck, and showed some feistiness by getting into a post-whistle scrum and drawing a penalty.
(Photo Credit: Florida Panthers Twitter)
It seems fitting to save more of the praise for the second outing for the Preds prospects who played Sunday because the 5-2 scoreline says enough. Pontus Åberg scored a gritty goal playing tight to the net looking for and cashing in on a rebound opportunity. Garrett Noonan blasted in a power-play goal from the center point while quarterbacking the power-play unit. Viktor Arvidsson whistled in a wrister. And then Yakov Trenin and Vladislav Kamenev both scored five-on-three power-play goals. Brilliant stuff from several lads that even included a scrap from Aaron Irving.
Small sample size but each game had it’s standout performer I feel. Fiala was a lot of fun to watch in the first game for Nashville. He seems to have filled into his frame that little bit more and when he was on the ice you could just see a talent difference – not too dissimilar to last year’s Rookie Tournament whenever Filip Forsberg took a shift. As good as Fiala looked Saturday he was one-upped the next day by Arvidsson. The Swede factored into the Preds first three goals and was a constant buzzing threat on the ice.
Small Note: Eric Robinson participated in the earlier Summer Rookie Development Camp in Nashville and has played in this Rookie Tournament as well. Curious about his contract status with the Predators? Right now Robinson is on a PTO with the organization after completing his ATO out of Dartmouth College last season with the Admirals. I’m assuming if an NHL entry level contract or two-way contract doesn’t get hammered out by the Predators then it’ll be the Admirals signing him to an AHL deal for this coming season. It all depends on how he performs ahead of the season.
The final contest of the 2015 Rookie Tournament will be in the early going’s of tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM. Don’t have a work meeting at that time? Don’t have a morning class you need to attend? Well, good news! The Tampa Bay Lightning have been streaming the tournament live on their website for free. You can dial up the feed here come puck drop tomorrow morning and tune in to see the Preds battle the the prospects of the Washington Capitals. I can’t applaud the Lightning enough for being so kind as to get a live feed of these games up for all to see.
~Musical Question~
This is more of an amusing question that I thought I would throw back to you fans more than anything and it is this. What do you think about the music that is played at Admirals games, what are your likes and dislikes, and what would you change or add if you could?
I’m simply asking that for the fun of it. I happen to sit next to the maestro that coordinates the tunes at Admirals games and have had a few requests added to the rotation in the time I’ve been with Roundtable. Last season in particular saw The Durango Riot get plopped into the mix as well as Kevin Owens or The Ascension‘s theme songs blast out during tilts on the ice. As for the random goal song change that lasted all of some.. one or two games.. that was a call made from the locker room, actually. That same mentality bleeds out into the pre-game skate tunes you hear from 6:30-6:45 PM as well most game nights.
So, what sort of music would you want to either hear or hear more of? Personally, I’d love to hear some Guns N’ Roses this season.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
The Sheriff is back with the Milwaukee Admirals yet again. This time he’ll be taking up an entirely new role while kicking back on the bench. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Milwaukee Admirals have just announced that long-time Admirals defenseman and captain Scott Ford will be an assistant coach for the 2015-16 season. He’ll join the bench with head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Stan Drulia. Ford is expected to work with the team’s defensive group.
Milwaukee, WI—The Admirals announced today that Scott Ford has been named as an assistant coach for the 2015-16 season. Ford joins current Admirals Head Coach Dean Evason and Assistant Coach Stan Drulia and will work with the team’s defensive corps.
“We’re really looking forward to having Scott as our second assistant coach in Milwaukee,” said Admirals General Manager/Nashville Predators Assistant GM Paul Fenton. “Obviously his experience and knowledge of our organization played a large role in his hiring. His leadership and his ability to help our kids develop as players will be a tremendous benefit and we are really pleased to have him.”
Ford finished a distinguished 11-year playing career last season, splitting time with the Admirals and the South Carolina Stingrays. He skated in 12 games with Milwaukee, posting a pair of assists and 14 penalty minutes. The Brown University alum helped the Stingrays to an ECHL-record 23-game winning streak and a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals.
Overall, Ford spent parts of seven seasons with the Admirals, including two as team Captain, and his 378 games played are the second most in club AHL history. The Fort St. John, BC native posted 14 goals and 31 assists for 45 points, a +37 rating and 577 penalty minutes—also second most in team AHL history. Ford is one of just two defensemen since 2004 to finish the season +20 or better. (+24 in 2011-12).
This signals what I saw coming down the road for the Sheriff which is a transition from on-ice duty to a coaching role. Ford has natural leadership qualities and joins a coaching staff that is incredibly familiar with and appreciative of all that he brings to the table. Plus, Ford’s short stint with the team late last season brings him up to speed with some of the new philosophies that came with Peter Laviolette’s introduction in Nashville. It’s a perfect fit for Ford to start his career in coaching.
Excited to have the Sheriff back with the Admirals? Do you feel Ford’s presence helps the Admirals? Can his mind for defense help the young defensemen that the Admirals will be fielding once again this season?
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
Cliche photo of mail spilling out of a bag for a mail bag column. (Photo Credit: Google Image Search)
Last week I asked for you folks to pass along your questions my way to get featured and answered here on Roundtable. Today we get to answering them. If you missed out on asking a question, or have a new one that popped into mind, feel free to ask away in the comment section below and I’ll zip that into the column.
~Mail Bag~
Are you still taking questions for the mailbag? If so, please ask Greenberg if we will continue to wear the brewers patch on our jerseys! That will put them over the top amazing for me. (I don’t see why we wouldn’t, just want assurance) Thanks DL! ~Toasted Whole Grain
This is actually something I took for granted when the Milwaukee Admirals debuted their new look back in July. Notice anything here? What about here? There isn’t a Milwaukee Brewers patch on the front of the jersey. Does that mean it has been scrapped? Are the Brewers no longer going to be the Admirals uniform patch? Will a different sponsor patch be introduced to the front of the Admirals jersey like others do around the league?
Good news and fret ye not! Per a source I can confirm that the Admirals will still have a Brewers patch on their jerseys. Interestingly though, that same source also claims that it may no longer be the retro ball-in-glove logo. If that’s to be the case than it’s fair to assume the Milwaukee Brewers current primary logo could be making a return. The Admirals wore that logo as a patch shortly after Harris Turer took over the team. It wasn’t until the completely new re-designed threads came in 2006-07 when the retro Brewers logo was introduced to the Admirals jerseys. Will that be the case again? We might not know until I get a look at the jerseys during Media Day or perhaps as late as the season opener.
Which Admiral player needs to have a strong season to make it in Nashville? ~SmoothJazZ85
I think this is an important season for Viktor Arvidsson. Look at Nashville right now: everyone of importance was brought back from last season, there were some subtle additions at forward (Cody Hodgson and Steve Moses), and then it seems destined that Kevin Fiala makes the Predators roster out of camp. With all that in mind where does that leave Arvidsson? Answer: Milwaukee.
For Arvidsson to really make his place in Nashville he needs to yet again be the man for the Admirals. He needs to produce the same amount of damage, if not better, in scoring while taking his all-around game up another level. You also hope him seeing the proverbial glass ceiling that he managed to break through last season getting thickened with other talent doesn’t get between his ears and affect his on-ice performance (e.g. Kevin Henderson).
The necessary tools are all there for Arvidsson to be successful once again this season. Can he manage to do even better or does he have some sort of a sophomore slump? The answer to that question could be the difference between him being big in Nashville or a so-so European version of Gabriel Bourque at the NHL level (if even that – so many Euros end up right back in Europe).
Who do you see as being a breakout player on offense this season? ~Justin Bradford
This answer might confuse some but it’s Colton Sissons. He is about to enter year number three of his professional playing career. He managed to play in the NHL in his debut professional playing season but was unable to repeat the feat last season. With that comes the threat of his window closing as the prospect pool comes in and flushes him out… Jimmy Vesey, anyone?
Sissons does everything really well. He’s good on face-offs. Works both sides of special teams. Is a leader by example through his work ethic and was voted as an alternate captain by his teammates last season. Should the coaching staff in Milwaukee go down that road again, having the players vote for their choice of captains, I anticipate Sissons to be a serious contender to rock the “C” for the Admirals in 2015-16. He turns 22-years old in November. If it were to happen he would be the youngest team captain of the Admirals in the AHL era of the franchise by a long shot and, with the players voting, it would be hard to argue against him deserving such an honor.
The reality is there is one element to Sissons game that is the difference between him being an NHL level talent and not an NHL level talent: offensive explosiveness.
When Sissons was told that was the area of his game he needed to take care of before the start of last season he opened things off by totaling 11 points (8 goals, 3 assists) in the 2014 portion of the 2014-15 calendar. Even worse to me? It took him 25 games before registering an assist. For a center to pull that off, especially one logging as many minutes as Sissons, is bad. Yet, it was bad last season and could mean all the difference moving into this one.
Sissons is a pro on and off the ice and I have to imagine, as one of the returning players from last season’s Admirals roster, he has a massive chip on his shoulder. Who wouldn’t knowing how rough the season ended? There should be zero excuses this go-around for someone like Sissons to perform. Frankly, I don’t think there will ever be a need to make one. He should be the Admirals first choice center at the start of the season and could well have dynamic scoring wingers like Arvidsson and a 100% healthy Miikka Salomäki as linemates. The forward depth is pretty good this season and down the middle it is Sissons standing on top of them all. There is no better time for Sissons to breakout and make a statement to the Nashville Predators that he should still be a part of their future plans.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how many times do your interviews get interrupted by one of the guys trying to be funny? ~AwaitingSeason
Hurm. On the 1-10 scale? I would say it’s really only about a 2, actually. Most interviews I get to do with either the coaches or players are very professional and to the point. When the shenanigans are afoot it is almost always after a win, a practice, or when a player you wouldn’t associate with “Superstar // Game Winner” is who I’m chatting with (e.g. Joonas Järvinen – audio).
Last season being what last season was – it didn’t happen too often. Hopefully that changes! It’s always fun being part of that locker room dynamic though. Plus, I’m very happy two of the better interview bombers, Anthony Bitetto and Austin Watson, should be back in action this season.
What’s your favorite bro-mance on the team? ~AwaitingSeason
What’s evil about this question is that my quickfire answers to this aren’t going to be here this season. Scott Ford and Triston Grant go -way- back. And a case can be made for Ford and Joe Piskula with their third-wheeler Bitetto. Even the roomie pairings of Sissons and Mike Liambas or Pontus Åberg and Magnus Hellberg has been broken up.
The good news? There is one specific group that has stayed together and they even have a name for themselves: The French Fries. So often when I am around the team the French Canadian group of Jonathan Diaby, Jimmy Oligny, Félix Girard, and Frédérick Gaudreau are all together speaking French. I also turned up to a game at the same time as them once last season to see Diaby and Oligny rocking matching suits. I think they’re the benchmark for Admirals bromance entering the 2015-16 season.
UPDATE: Now that Ford is back as an assistant coach, him and Bitetto. Who’d have thought that this would be a question that gets a serious update?
Will a veteran Predator pass through waivers and start the season with the Admirals? ~Brandon Marshall
First of all Brandon – this is a money question. Last season saw Rich Clune and Viktor Stålberg trickle down to Milwaukee and both for pretty much the exact same reason: their NHL performance wasn’t up to snuff and their contracts were too much to take on so no one claimed them. This season? I don’t exactly see a circumstance such as that repeating itself.
When looking at possible candidates that could fall into this trap it’s difficult to find a winner that Milwaukee fans could get themselves hopeful about seeing fall through the cracks. That said, how about a Top 5 ordering from likeliest to least…
(1) Eric Nystrom is 32-years old, his offensive numbers regressed last season, and I wonder if there comes a point when someone says, “Why can’t Austin Watson just do this when he’s on a one-way contract next season anyways?” He has one-year remaining with a price tag of $2.5 million next to it. Is another NHL team really going to be all that interested in picking it up should he be in bad enough shape to be placed on waivers in the first place? My guess is no. Therefore Admirals.
(2) Carter Hutton. This might be a surprising name to throw out there but look at it this way. The Predators liked Marek Mazanec enough to jettison Hellberg to the New York Rangers for next to nothing. Mazanec has actually appeared to do better in the NHL than the AHL and might learn more as an understudy to Pekka Rinne than as the main man in net for the Admirals. Should Mazanec start the season hot in Milwaukee, as is his custom, who is to say Nashville doesn’t attempt to make a swap and see about Hutton and the last of his $725,000 contract landing in Milwaukee and be the one to set an example for Juuse Saros as well?
(3) I just have to believe that for one-year, $866,250, someone would claim Gabriel Bourque. In fact, you could even make the slight case that a change of scenery might be the little boost he could need to get the wheels spinning and catching solid traction. His 2013-14 season? Not too bad. 2014-15? Meh. If there is more “meh” days ahead it could lead to the waiver wire. Clearing that would be the question mark.
(4) There is talk that the camp battle to watch for is Steve Moses against Fiala. Let’s say Fiala gets that spot and Moses is effectively so on the outside looking in that Nashville try to send him to Milwaukee to keep him in arm’s reach. Like Hodgson, he has an incredibly affordable one-year contract that a lesser team might leap at should Moses live up to his goal scoring record last season in Russia. I don’t think he would clear waivers at all.
(5) Cody Hodgson would probably get the waivers treatment only if he sputters and someone in Admirals-land is shining. The problem here is that his affordable one-year contract would almost have to get swept up by someone out there. But, if it makes you feel any better, there still is a Derek Roy game-prepped Admirals jersey from last season when he sort-of kind-of cleared waivers for all of some two hours. You can purchase that hot item right here!
How did you start making blogs? ~Scouter715
I started with online journals on Red vs. Blue’s website before making the full leap in college to actual sports journalism with the student newspaper, The Ranger News. Once I finished up at UW-Parkside I had an internship with the Milwaukee Admirals during the 2012-13 season where I helped out writing material for the 35th Anniversary campaign. When that season came to a close I was picked to succeed Ryan Miller here on Admirals Roundtable. This website entirely exists because of Mr. Miller but he’s now quite busy being the best dad ever. All I’ve wanted to do since heading up Roundtable is make this the go-to website for Admirals and Predators prospects news. It’s been incredibly rewarding so far and I hope to keep it up this coming season.
Cheers for the questions! Again, if you have any other questions you would like to ask I will answer that ASAP.
Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.
News & Discussion Site For Your Milwaukee Admirals
Admirals Roundtable 