Predators sign/call-up Mueller as Tootoo voluntarily enters substance abuse and behavioral health program

Nashville Predators forward Jordin Tootoo checked himself into a substance abuse and behavioral health program, the NHL announced on Monday afternoon.

Here is the NHL’s announcement:

NEW YORK/TORONTO (Decem­ber 27, 2010) — The Natio­nal Hoc­key Lea­gue Pla­yers’ Asso­cia­tion and the Natio­nal Hoc­key Lea­gue announ­ced today that for­ward Jor­din Too­too of the Nash­vi­lle Pre­da­tors has volun­ta­rily ente­red in-patient care as part of the Joint NHL/NHLPA Subs­tance Abuse and Beha­vio­ral Health Pro­gram (SABH).

Tootoo’s care will be admi­nis­te­red by SABH Pro­gram Doc­tors Dave Lewis (NHL) and Brian Shaw (NHLPA). Too­too will con­ti­nue to receive his full salary and bene­fits and will have no penalty impo­sed, pro­vi­ded he com­plies with his presc­ri­bed treat­ment and follow-up care program.

There will be no further comment.

The Tennessean reports that Tootoo will receive his full salary and benefits. There is no timetable for his return.

In addition to Tootoo, the Predators are playing without forwards Martin Erat, Steve Sullivan, David Legwand, and Matthew Lombardi. There is speculation that Legwand is probable to return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars.

The best defense is a good offense: Nashville blue line is getting the job done

The Nashville Predators have scored 84 goals this season, 15 of them have come from defensemen. Nashville is among the elite in teams that boast defense corps which aid in registering goals with only Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington and Buffalo with more blue line tallies. For a team that lacks that Sidney Crosby or even Rick Nash-type star forward, the Predators are a much more dangerous team when the defense jumps into the play.

Francis Bouillon celebrates after scoring his first (and only) goal of the season on October 14, 2010 (Photo: Yardbarker.com)

Last year 32 of Nashville’s 225 goals were scored by defensemen, 14%. Of course, that includes Shea Weber’s 16 tallies. This year, the Predators rank in the top ten for NHL scoring by defensemen, with 15 goals in 33 games, only five have come off the stick of Weber.

Head coach Barry Trotz notes that Nashville’s defensemen can all skate well and that makes it possible for them to jump up into the play to create odd-man situations. As a result, four of the Predators top six defensemen are on pace to break last years totals, and those totals may be smashed, not just broken.

Sharks goaltender, Niemi, remembers Nashville playoff series

On December 15th, the San Jose Sharks made their first of two visits to Bridgestone Arena this season. It was the first time Predators fans saw Antti Niemi since Nashville’s game six loss to Chicago in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Niemi helped the Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, and in doing so became the first Finnish goaltender to hoist Lord Stanley’s hardware.

When in town to face Nashville in San Jose’s 3-2 loss last week, Niemi spoke with Predlines about just how difficult it was to play Nashville in the playoffs.

“I think all the series were difficult, but especially against Nashville. I remember the series being tied back in Chicago and us coming back [after trailing] at the end of the game without the goalie and winning in overtime. If we lost that game they would have been leading the series,” Niemi said before adding, “It was an extremely hard series for us. It was a great feeling beating them here.”

Vokoun on friends, playing in Nashville and player development

 

After eight years with the Predators, Tomas Vokoun holds all the records for goaltending in Nashville. Vokoun is the leader for single-season record for wins (36), wins (161), losses (159), goaltender appearances (383), shutouts (21), and record for saves (9,657). Vokoun remains a fan favorite in Nashville. His name is cheered when announced he will start in goal for the visiting team, an announcement usually met with jeers throughout the crowd at Bridgestone Arena.

The Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic native returned to Nashville over the weekend when the Florida Panthers put their three-game winning streak on the line against the Predators. Vokoun was coming off a 3-0 shutout of the Capitals, a team that has lost three in a row and is 4-5-1 in its last 10 games. A shutout against a team with Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nikolas Backstrom up front with Mike Green on the blue line is no easy feat and is a good momentum builder. “Yeah I felt pretty good beating Washington. They are a good team. On the road it was a great game for us,” Vokoun said.