The Nashville Predators have a big week scheduled, especially for the off-season. The NHL Draft drove the Predators to choose plenty of “project” picks. There are two picks that are very intriguing to me… Miikka Salomaki, the 52nd overall pick, the Predators second pick of the draft, and Simon Karlsson, a 6’3” defenseman, the 142nd overall pick, selected in the fifth round
Salomaki was ranked 7th among European skaters and has been called “gritty” and “rambunctious” with some offensive upside. According to nashvillepredators.com, scouts compare him to a more skilled Tuomo Ruutu. He’s a solid 5’11” winger that is also drawing comparisons to Nashville fan favorite, Jordin Tootoo.
Another solid blueline prospect in a team rich with them, Simon Karlsson drew the attention of Predator European scouts as he grew four inches over the past year, given the success thius team has had in unearthing gems in Europe, this pick may bear watching.
Now attention turns to the Development camp that begins tomorrow with the first on-ice session on Wednesday at 10am. The camp takes place at Centennial Sportsplex. Expect to see prospects like Zach Budish, Taylor Beck, Michael Latta, Austin Watson, Ryan Ellis and Chet Pickard along with several of the Predators 2011 draft picks during the week-long camp.
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Random Notes for a Monday…
- There’s a lunchtime presser at the Bridge today, reviewing the draft and announcing the new head coach for the Milwaukee Admirals expected to be Kirk Muller
- We finally “officially” saw the new road jerseys on Saturday. Every poll I see online indicate a 50/50 split on them. I kinda like the nods towards Nashville’s music heritage.
- The Predators seemed to surprise a lot of people with their first pick Saturday… including the gang who run the draft board… they had a helluva time finding Magnus Hellberg’s name to post it. The Preds scouting staff really likes Hellberg, comparing him favorably to Pekkka Rinne and Anders Lindback.
- Realignment talk is dominating the landscape with plenty of folks weighing in with opinions and trial balloons being floated everywhere. The four division alignment that is posted on Puck Daddy is an interesting one. The thing I like best is the return to divisional playoffs… top four in each division fights it out and the survivors play in the conference finals. I like it…
- The Columbus Blue Jackets may have a PR problem on their hands. First Jeff Carter isn’t talking to anyone after his trade to Ohio, not good, no matter where his anger is directed… now rumors abound about the Blackhawks having a completed trade with the Jackets before Brian Campbell refused to waive his NTC to go to Columbus, instead going to Florida. The Jackets organization denies it, but where there’s smoke…
- Speaking of Columbus, in a classic case of too much, too soon, the Blue Jackets gave up on Nikita Filatov in trading him to Ottawa. A season or two in the AHL would’ve been just the ticket for a very talented youngster.
- Ryan Smyth is back in Edmonton and all seems right with the world… a good pickup for the Oil to bring back a leader that will help develop a lot of their young talent.
- It was pretty obvious that True North did not want to call their team the Jets. A victory for the masses as Winnpeggers were very vocal and very obstinate in their desire for the J-E-T-S, Jets and nothing else.
- Only eight Russians selected in the NHL Draft this past weekend and three of them were drafted by one team (Tampa.) While that represents an increase from last year, it still shows that the KHL is having an impact.
- The NHL’s salary cap for next season is set at $64.3 million, the midpoint is $56.3 million, the floor at $48.3 million. In five seasons, the cap has risen almost $25 million…
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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…
We close out our season with our favorite guests, Jeff Marek from Hockey Night in Canada Radio will join us along with much more… join us on Wednesday night at 6 on Nashville’s Sports Radio 560 WNSR.
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