Tag: Anders Lindback

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Predators Ship Out Lindback and Wilson

As Friday wanes this is still no news on Milwaukee’s new head coach.

However, that coach to be named later will be guiding an Admirals’ team without another one of its key players as forward Kyle Wilson, who spent the majority of his 2011-2012 season with Milwaukee, was packaged as part of a deal that sent one of the NHL’s top backup goaltenders in Anders Lindback and a seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The seventh-round pick in 2008 also played a pair of games in Milwaukee last season.

In exchange Nashville restocks its previously near-barren draft cupboard, snagging two second-round picks in the upcoming draft, plus a third-round pick in 2013 and journeyman goaltender Sebastian Caron.

The Lightning will still need to sign Lindback, who is an RFA, but it looks like Steve Yzerman found a potential long term No. 1 goaltender on the cheap. Personally I think Lindback is a diamond in the rough with all the potential to be a solid starter for years to come.

Here is Yzerman’s thoughts via NHL.com:

“We are very pleased to announce this trade today,” vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman said upon making the announcement. “We believe Anders will join the team and give us a nice lift at the goaltending position as we prepare for the 2012-13 season. He has the potential to develop into the No. 1 goaltender we covet.”

At this point Caron is heading toward unrestricted free agency. The 31-year-old saw just 135 minutes of NHL action last season, his first in the league since 2007. He appears just looks like a throw in piece. Perhaps this paves the way for Jeremy Smith to enter the NHL as Pekka Rinne’s new backup, which he has proven he’s ready to do.

Meanwhile, Wilson is set to earn $550,000 next season, but now gets a legit shot to return to the NHL on a full time basis. The former ninth-round draft pick go into five games with Nashville last season, and was one of Milwaukee’s best talents when he was down with the Admirals.

So Roundtable . . . What is your take on the Lindback/Wilson for picks trade? Certainly, Nashville needs draft choices, but this is a big piece to give up? Did Preds G.M. David Poile get enough in return? Will Jeremy Smith take over Lindback’s spot?

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Preds Switch Lindback for Dekanich; Blum Recalled

Tuesday, February 22 proved to be a eventful morning in the Music City.

The Nashville Predators made a pair of in house transactions before most team employees had finished their morning coffee, first swapping goaltenders by recalling Mark Dekanich from Milwaukee to replace Anders Lindback, who was sent down to the Admirals.  This will be Lindback’s first assignment to the AHL, while Dekanich will be making his fourth trip up to the NHL this season.

From December 4 through December 17, Lindback was the hottest goaltender in the NHL, winning six of seven starts, including two shutouts, and allowing three or more goals just once.  However the Gavle, Sweden native has went cold of late in his limited action, losing four of his last five decisions, and getting lit up for six goals by the Chicago Blackhawks on January 16.

This will definitely be a conditioning assignment for Lindback, who needs some in-game action to re-find his talents.  He should get plenty of opportunities as the Admirals face a four game in five night stretch starting tonight in Houston.

On the other hand, Dekanich will be looking to expand on his one game of NHL experience and auditioning for a new contract next season.

Meanwhile, Jonathon Blum will be making his first career trip to the National Hockey League, confirming the rumors that were swirling around the internet yesterday.  Blum, who is tied for second in the Admirals in scoring, will try to help out a Nashville blueline that has been hit hard by injuries as of late, including Ryan Suter.  Suter, who logs around 25 minutes of ice time per game (second only to Shea Weber on the Predators), has been declared out for tonight’s game against Columbus.

This is a great opportunity for the 22-year old Blum to show something at the National Hockey League level, but I for one am surprised that Nashville chose him over Aaron Johnson, a player with an extensive NHL resume to his credit.  The Predators are in the midst of a dogfight in the Western Conference for a playoff spot, sitting in fifth with 70 points, but Nashville is just two points ahead of 11th place Chicago.

The AHL race is nearly as tight, with Milwaukee sitting in the top spot in the West Division with 71 points, but the Admirals are just four points in front of sixth place Oklahoma City.

So Roundtable, what is your reaction to these transactions?  Are you excited to see Lindback in the Admirals uniform, and how do you think Blum will fare up in Nashville?

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Taking a Look at Milwaukee Alums who are playing/have played with the Nashville Predators in 2010-2011

With Nick Spaling finally getting over the hump and scoring his first NHL goal, I thought it would be worth taking a look at the progress of some of the Admirals who have played with Nashville so far this season, but also who have spent time in Milwaukee.

Spaling hasn’t had much puck luck in the NHL, as it took 50 games to get over the hump against the New York Islanders.  On a 5-on-3 power play Spaling setup on the right side of the net.  A couple of nice passes later and Spaling had himself a gaping net.

“It was a pretty nice play and they set me up pretty good there,” Spaling said.  “It was a wide open and I just had to put it in.  I was pretty lucky to get that one.”

(Check out the rest of his post game conversation here)

It is now going on two weeks and Mark Dekanich has yet to get a start with Nashville during his second stint with the club in 2010-2011.  The problem has been the unbelievable play of goaltender Anders Lindback.   Lindback has two shut outs in a row, and those starts weren’t even his best so far.  Last Wednesday Lindback shut down Detroit for a 3-2 Nashville win, making 15 saves in a third period dominated by the Red Wings.

Dekanich looks likely to get in goal for his first NHL game sometime this week as Nashville faces three games in four nights starting tonight at home against San Jose.

Fellow Scandinavians, Teemu Laakso and Linus Klasen, have each played in one game a piece with the Predators and both have yet to record a goal.

Of the other players who skated with Milwaukee in 2009-2010 and are currently with Nashville, Cal O’Reilly has six goals and 18 points, Colin Wilson has six goals and 12 points, Cody Franson is off to a great start with 4 goals so far and Alexander Sulzer has yet to score in 12 games of NHL action.

Stay tuned later this week for my feature on the relationship between Nashville and Milwaukee in the Predators organization, and in January for my piece on the success of Milwaukee developing NHL talent.