The team has assigned forward L’Heureux Wiesblatt and defenseman Adam Wilsby to Milwaukee (AHL) following a 6-4 victory to Carolina
By Anthony Pellegrino @Apelle50 IceInsider.com Founder/Owner
BOSTON--The Nashville Predators rallied past Carolina 6-4 on Wednesday, improving the team's preseason record to .500, with two games remaining before the regular season is officially underway in Dallas on October 10th.
With a roster cut down to 25 players, the two remaining preseason games can be a testament to what the regular season roster could look like.
Head Coach Andrew Brunette has been busy making sure the players feel good both as individuals and as a team before Thursday when the regular season begins.
He spoke on what he's seen from the team so far:
"It's so important to have everybody feeling good about the game and to feel good about themselves. To get some goals and some points always feels good but we (also) have a lot of work to do." (On the defensive end), "Just working on some details. These are hard games to play. When your not playing a NHL roster every night (it's) human nature to put your foot off the gas a little bit."
Some storylines that have developed over the past week:
Ten Defenseman Remain:
*As of October 3rd
While the Predator's roster isn't entirely set, the team currently carries thirteen offensemen, ten defensemen, two goaltenders, and two non-rostered players.
A typical NHL roster dresses 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Out of the 18 skaters, the roster is made up of twelve offense, and six defensemen. Nashville currently has thirteen offensemen, and ten defensemen rostered.
The most evident players expected to soon be on their way to Milwaukee include both non-rostered players, Fedor Svechkov and Austin Roest.
Svechkov suffered a lower-body injury almost two weeks ago and is currently listed as week-to-week. The 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft began his pro career with the Milwaukee Admirals last season, posting 39 points in 57 games.
Roest, 20, netted 38 goals and 33 assists for 71 points in 61 games with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. He had an excellent start to training camp for Nashville, and his timeline is unclear when he'll return.
Spencer Stastney, the Woodridge IL native, has spent parts of two seasons between Milwaukee and Nashville, with the majority of games in the AHL. In his time with Nashville, playing 20 games, the 24-year-old posted two goals and two assists, 29 blocks, and a +9. The plan is for him to either continue development in Milwaukee or attempt to spend a full season with the Predators.
Currently, he's away from the team due to personal reasons and hasn't skated for the entirety of training camp. The Predators declined to further comment on Stastney's situation.
Tanner Molendyk was selected by Nashville in the first round, 24th overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft. A standout at training camp, GM Barry Trotz has options on what he can do with the blueliner.
Since he doesn't turn 20 until February, that's the first time he'll be eligible for the AHL. He would have to stay with Nashville at least until then if they kept him past camp. Otherwise, he can play up to nine NHL games before being sent to the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL.
Skjei's Homecoming:
The newest edition to the Nashville blueline is the longtime Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei. Wednesday night's preseason game, his preseason debut for Nashville, meant a little bit more to the 30-year-old blueliner.
It happened to be his first time back to the PNC Arena since parting ways with the Carolina Hurricanes for Skjei.
He spent the past five seasons with Carolina.
"It was a ton of fun, a little strange for sure, with it being the first game in Predators gear and playing (at Carolina)."
It also gave him a chance to reunite with his "warmup buddy", that he made during his time in Carolina.
"Her name is Emma, she sits in the corner every single game where I do a little stick-handling warmup. Every game, I would usually flip a puck to her and give her a knock on the glass. Last night she came from the (Carolina side) of the ice so I could do the same thing. It was pretty fun."
Skjei, 30, inked a 7-year, $49,000,000 contract with the Nashville Predators, on July first, to open free agency. He's expected to play alongside Roman Josi on the blue line.
Where "Stammer" needs to be
Throughout training camp, a sizable storyline within the team was how fast veterans Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault would connect, and create chemistry. Wednesday night's game proved they are on the right track.
On a play along the boards, Stamkos backhanded a puck through traffic, leading Marchessault to a one-on-none with the Hurricanes goaltender.
It only took one preseason game for a power-play goal from Stamkos, something so evident from his time with Tampa. Aditionally, he's 8 for 13 from faceoffs.
Lankinen, Barrie land jobs:
Still sporting his Predators mask, and gold and navy pads, Kevin Lankinen skated out for warmups with the Vancouver Canucks, marking a new chapter in his career.
It's unclear why Trotz decided to part ways with Lankninen, and he remained on the market for two months, before agreeing to terms with Vancouver.
Tyson Barrie's patience was tested as the now ex-Predator waited the entire offseason before earning a contract, with Calgary. He had been with the Flames at training camp on a professional tryout basis; he appeared in three preseason games with the team.
One week remains:
Nashville drops the puck on the 2024-2025 regular season on October 10th against Dallas, doubling as the club's home opener.
The season looks different this time around in Music City, as GM Barry Trotz has formed a roster capable of making a deep run in the playoffs if the stars align right.
Cornerstones in Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and Juuse Saros only are getting older. The Predators window to win the Stanley Cup is here and starts Thursday.
Predators Hurricane Helene Relief: Donate Here
Single-game tickets for the Predators’ home opener against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 10, and all other 2024-25 home games at Bridgestone Arena, are now available at Ticketmaster.com.
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