Predators goaltending question settled with 13-feet of goalie

The Nashville Predators announced Thursday afternoon that goalie Mark Dekanich was reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals. Dekanich played two periods during the preseason, but faced only a handful of shots each game. In Nashville’s preseason opener, Dekanich stopped 6 of 7 shots faced in a 3-1 losing cause to Carolina. The following night, Dekanich started the game for Nashville and again stopped 6 of 7 shots faced in a 2-1 win. Dekanich dressed for Wednesday night’s game in Atlanta, but after Anders Lindback allowed two quick goals in the second period, Coach Barry Trotz decided to leave Lindback in goal for the final 20 minutes.

With Dekanich being sent to Milwaukee, Lindback is the only goalie vying for the job of backup remaining at camp. Jeremy Smith and Chet Pickard had already been sent to the Admirals training camp.

Hornqvist’s stock continues to rise

In the September 27th edition of The Hockey News, the magazine ranked the top 20 players in each position. With the strength of the Predators back end, it is no surprise that Pekka Rinne comes in at number 12 on the top goalies list. Tomas Vokoun is listed at no. 9. It is also no surprise that defensive partners Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are ranked 7th and 12th respectively. Only Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia also had more than one defensemen to make the top 20 list. Former Predator Kimmo Timonen ranks in just behind Suter at no. 13. To date, Nashville hasn’t been known for producing top scoring threats, but Patric Hornqvist landed in at number 15 on the top 20 players at the position of right wing.

Being listed in the company of the likes of Chicago’s Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa, the Capitals Alexander Semin, as well as San Jose’s Dany Heatley, Hornqvist finds himself in with some pretty elite company. When asked about the rankings, Hornqvist was surprised to be included but determined to prove he belongs on the list. “Of course that surprises me” Hornqvist said, adding “I’m happy for that. It gets some more pressure on my shoulders.”

Tennessee native to make NHL debut tonight

Tonight the Nashville Predators hit the ice against the Carolina Hurricanes for the first of three preseason games being played at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators also play three away road games before the regular season starts on October 7th.

The roster for the Predators is made up of mostly prospects. Cody Franson, Marcel Goc, Jordin Tootoo, JP Dumont, Patrick Hornqvist and Pekka Rinne are the only Predators regulars who’ll be given ice time when the puck drops at 7 p.m.

Nashville players in the lineup who are vying for roster spots include Sergei Kostitsyn, Jonas Andersson, Ryan Parent as well as top prospects Ryan Ellis, Jonathon Blum and Taylor Beck. Anders Lindback is sharing duties in goal with Rinne. But all eyes will be on Brentwood native, Blake Geoffrion.

Geoffrion will play for the first time in front of his hometown as a member of the Nashville Predators. For Geoffrion, tonight’s game will be a special one. “I’ve been a fan [of the Predators] since they started playing in 1998. To play for your home town is the best thing. It isn’t a huge market but it’s special to play in the rink I grew up.”

Training camp storylines: Taylor Beck wants to be Nashville’s Shane Doan

The Nashville Predators sent four players back to their junior teams in the Canadian Hockey League and released two other players from their amateur tryout agreements.

This year’s first round draft pick, Austin Watson, has been sent back to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Another 2010 pick, Taylor Aronson has been sent back to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Aronson has been recovering from an offseason shoulder surgery and as a result didn’t have an opportunity to make a name for himself at camp. Michael Latta and Charles-Olivier Roussel, both 2009 draft picks, have been sent to their junior teams, the Guelph Storm and the Montreal Junior Hockey Club. Jamie Doornbosch and Cameron Wind were the players released from tryout agreements. Doornbosch is only 20 and technically can still play one more year of junior for the Peterborough Petes.

That leaves 12 players who had attended the Predators Rookie Camp remaining at the main training camp. Included among the rookies still vying for a roster spot include local prospect and Hobey Baker Award winner Black Geoffrion, Ryan Ellis, the Predators first round draft pick in 2009, Nashville’s 2007 first round pick, Jonathon Blum, Mike Santorelli’s brother Mark, and Taylor Beck, the third round pick of the Predators in 2009.

Training camp storylines: Kostitsyn speaks

The first day of the Nashville Predators training camp is in the books. The players were split into three groups, each with an hour and a half of ice time and practice drills to show the coaching staff what they bring to the team.

Head coach Barry Trotz admits that he has some tough decisions to make, and it isn’t just deciding who will be Pekka Rinne’s backup goalie. As a result, the team is moving to a scrimmage-based training camp rather than one dominated by practices.  “Everybody is working really hard,” Trotz said, adding that difficult decisions will have to be made at all three positions.

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Ranking the top defensive players will be tough for the coaching staff as Trotz believes the ranking is wide open after the first several slots suggesting “it is everybody probably from number 6 to probably number 10. And they are all pretty good.” Trotz cited players such as veteran skater Aaron Johnson and the young prospects at camp including Jonathon Blum, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis, as players trying to force the organization into making those tough decisions.

Rookies not deterred by one-way contracts

Tonight, the Nashville Predators rookies will be hitting the ice at Saveology.com Iceplex in Florida to take on the Panthers prospects. The game isn’t on tv or the radio, but when the puck drops at 6 p.m. CT, fans will be following as best as they can to have a first look at Nashville’s prospects in action–many for the first time in a Predators uniform while others are veterans to the rookie-camp scene.

The big battle at camp is who will be the backup to Nashville’s starting goalie, Pekka Rinne, when the puck drops on the Predators’ season October 9th at Bridgestone Arena. Goaltending battles aside, because the Predators have drafted many quality defensemen over the years, some returnees to the rookie training camp are highly drafted experts on the back end of the rink.

As Training Camp Starts, An Unusual Suspect Shines

The Nashville Predators future took to the ice at Centennial Sportsplex Tuesday afternoon in their first, and only, practice before heading to Florida. Nashville’s prospects play the Panthers rookies tomorrow and again on Thursday before heading back for their last on-ice testing session before full training camp ice sessions begin for everyone on Saturday.

It comes as no surprise that some prospects would stand out above the rest. Predators fans have heard nothing but how impressive Swiss defenceman Roman Josi is with his passing game and hard shot. Ryan Ellis, the Canadian Junior phenom, has a similar style and easily impresses. The 5’9 Hamilton, Ontario native can find the open man, move the puck up the ice and has a sharp one-timer. These skills were on full display Tuesday afternoon.