For Predators rookies, their futures are now

 

Two weeks before the trade deadline, the Nashville Predators acquired Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators for their 2011 first round draft pick as well as a conditional pick in 2012. Nashville then traded defenseman Alexander Sulzer to Florida for a conditional draft pick, leaving the Predators down to five healthy defensemen with Francis Bouillon out with a concussion.

In the meantime, it was announced that Marcel Goc was out for the season with his shoulder injury and Marek Svatos was waived and picked up by Ottawa.  Just a day after losing Svatos, however, Steve Sullivan was put on injured reserve.  These roster transactions left the Predators shy a healthy defensemen and a forward to complete their roster.

Jonathon Blum

The trade deadline came and went with the Predators standing pat. On February 22, four games before the trade deadline, Jonathon Blum got called up from Milwaukee. Two games later, and still two to go before the deadline, Blake Geoffrion joined Blum in Nashville.

The two highly touted Predators prospects are considered to be key parts of the organization’s future, but are now a part of its present, both playing in the NHL for the first time.

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.”