Gabriel Bourque, @colinwilson33 & Paul Gaustad are undergoing season-ending surgeries, expected to be ready for 2013 Training Camp @predsnhl

— KWilsonPreds (@KWilsonPreds) April 11, 2013

Before his injury, Colin Wilson was enjoying a breakout season. (PHOTO: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports)

The three had 40 points between them and were each key players for the Nashville Predators this season. Colin Wilson was the team’s leading scorer with 19 points before he was knocked out on March 9th, and it took weeks for Shea Weber and Martin Erat to reach that level. Similarly, Gabriel Bourque was the team’s leading goalscorer with 11 when he was injured by Chicago Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo on April 1st. Paul Gaustad, who still ranks fourth in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage at 59.7 percent, has spent more than half the season battling an upper-body injury and hasn’t played since April 4th.

Gabriel Bourque was one of the Nashville Predators’ few bright spots late in the season. (PHOTO: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports)

Losing two top-six forwards and the team’s key faceoff man would be devastating to a team that was fighting for a playoff spot, but the knowledge that the Preds are out of the chase makes this good news to my mind. For the last seven games of the season fans won’t to wonder how long it will be before we have our best players back. They can focus on enjoying a sneak peek at the future of the franchise before they return to Milwaukee for next season.

Besides, all three of these guys play key roles, and they make Nashville a tough opponent to play against when they’re at their best. Bourque and Wilson both drive the offense and work the power play, and Gaustad is as strong a penalty killer as the Preds have had for some time. That they’re expected back healthy for training camp in September gives plenty of hope for some stability in 2013-14.

Paul Gaustad is finally back. (PHOTO: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

The first move was removing center Paul Gaustad from injured reserve and putting him back on the team’s active roster. Gaustad has missed extended time this season, with this marking the end of his second stint on IR. He led the NHL in faceoff winning percentage before his most recent injury and was a key member of the penalty-killing unit, so the team is going to be glad to get him back.

Scott Hannan makes his “O” face. Oh, oh, oh… (PHOTO: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports)

Returning Gaustad to duty would have put the Preds over the roster limit of 23 active players, so the team moved defenseman Scott Hannan to IR. Hannan was first injured two weeks ago but remained active, and he was supposedly cleared to return to action yesterday, but it appears he’s had a setback. As soon as he recovers he’ll be eligible to return, since his movement to IR is retroactive to more than seven days ago.

Hannan’s move to IR is unfortunate for him but good news for the Nashville Predators, since the team doesn’t have to make immediate decisions on any of its AHL call-ups like Taylor Beck or Chris Mueller, both of whom have been contributing in their limited ice time.

Craig Smith has returned from his conditioning stint with the Admirals. (PHOTO: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Forward Craig Smith has returned to the team after his conditioning stint with the Milwaukee Admirals. Smith had one goal and four assists in his four games with Nashville’s AHL affiliate. Technically his return isn’t a roster move, since he remained active during his conditioning assignment.

Finally, Mike Fisher is joining the team on its road trip. Fisher was injured late in last night’s blowout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. He blocked a shot with what appeared to be his hand or forearm and immediately left the ice for the locker room. He didn’t return. According to the Tennessean’s John Glennon, Preds coach Barry Trotz said Fisher didn’t break any bones.