Nashville Predators: We have a love/hate relationship with the roster news
Nashville Predators had to get their roster below the league maximum of 23 before the deadline this evening. They have made their decisions.
Nashville Predators had until 4:59 PM/ET today to cut their NHL active roster down to 23 players. They were not left with a rigorous debate, it seems, since they made their decisions well before the deadline. Undoubtedly, it was a difficult decision. The Predators decided to stick with almost the exact same roster as they had in the playoffs. Unfortunately for some, that decision comes with sacrificing the opportunity for some younger players to get some much-needed NHL action.
The main players considered to be on the chopping block today were Cody McLeod, Samuel Girard, Vladislav Kamenev, and Frederick Gaudreau. Those are all young skaters the Predators are excited about, save the veteran Cody McLeod.
It is never easy to cut skaters off of the NHL roster. It is what they have dreamed about their whole lives. To be on a final cut is even harder since you can almost smell the opening night air. The Predators, however, made the wrong decisions with most of their final cuts. Read on to find out which moves I love, and which ones I hate. I will give you a hint, there is a lot of hate.
Samuel Girard Makes the Cut – Love, No-LOVE
Samuel Girard has quickly become the Nashville Predators top defensive prospect. That is not easy to do considering they also have Alexandere Carrier, Jack Dougherty, and Dante Fabbro. To make it to the top of that list, one needs to be exceptional. Samuel Girard has been just that. Many teams had written Girard off by the time the 2016 draft had come around. They new he had the skill. They were just too concerned his size couldn’t cut it at the NHL level. Oh how they were so wrong.
Girard has spent the past two seasons dominating the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). While playing for the Shawinigan Cateractes, Girard amassed 149 points in 126 games played. He also had 31 points in 26 playoff games. He plays defense, y’all. The QMJHL is known as a pretty pedestrian defensive league. But, still. Those are impressive numbers no matter what league you play in.
The Predators decided to give Girard a serious look this preseason facing the first two months of the season without Ryan Ellis due to offseason surgery. Girard logged more ice time than any other defencemen on the team. He fared very well. Girard managed to be in the top five in both major possession metrics (Corsi and Fenwick). He also had a goal differential of +5. The fact of the matter is, Girard has exceptional skating skills that help him on both ends of the ice.
Even though he has made the opening night roster, don’t look for him to stay here long. He would not have to pass through waivers if the Predators sent him down. However, due to his status, he is only eligible to stay on the NHL roster, or go back to juniors. Additionally, if he is sent back to his juniors team, he would not be eligible to rejoin the Predators until his juniors team finishes their season. Another rule with his eligibility is he can only play nine games with the Predators before it counts as a full year on his entry-level contract. The Predators will only risk counting it as a full year if they believe he can cut it this season. I predict he will be back with the Cateractes in a couple of weeks.
Vladislav Kamenev Sent Down – Really Hate
The Nashville Predators just weren’t impressed enough by Kamenev this preseason. He will be forced to join his familiar teammates down in Milwaukee to play with the Admirals this season. Kamenev is excluded from waivers, so it is likely he will be able to get some playing time at the NHL level this year. However, at this time the Predators don’t see enough to start him right away.
I thought Kamenev had a great preseason. His possession metrics were very positive. He played a clean game. He also showed that he can manage the faceoff dot, boasting the best faceoff percentage of all Nashville Predators centers this preseason. I think the thing that concerns the Predators at this point is just continuing to adjust to the speed of the game. They don’t want to rush him in and be blown by night in and night out. It is easy to get lost out there. Kamenev only appeared on the score sheet with two assists. For all of his playing time, the Predators were hoping for more production.
Still, I think Kamenev could easily handle himself on the fourth line with veterans Austin Watson and Miikka Salomaki. They would only have limited minutes anyway. If you let him play, he will adjust. Kamenev has the ability to succeed at this level and help add to the already dominant forward group.
As it stands, we will have to wait and see when Kamenev will get his chance. He should get double-digit games this season in the NHL if he keeps progressing at the rate he has since last year.
Frederick Gaudreau Sent Down – Don’t Love, But Don’t Hate
Heading into camp this season, it was expected Freddy Gaudreau would have a roster spot. He was every one’s favorite “Little Frenchman” after his performance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Gaudreau showed he had what it took to perform at the NHL level. Of course, no one could have foreseen the success Miikka Salomaki would have had this preseason. Well, almost no one. I asked nhl.com Predators correspondent, Robby Stanley when he opened up for questions about the Predators.
https://twitter.com/arob31/status/900801624209227776
He responded on his YouTube series, “The Breakout” by saying it will be difficult for Salomaki to find playing time this year. He also noted that Austin Watson did a good job last year at filling the void left by Salomaki.
All joking aside, no one could have predicted his performance this preseason. Not even me, even though I wasn’t shocked. He is essentially a bigger Viktor Arviddson with just a tad less offensive skill. However, it did happen. Unfortunately for Freddy Gaudreau, it happened. There was simply no way the Predators could ignore the success Salomaki had. So, that meant another roster spot down. Gaudreau would have to prove he deserved a spot.
Gaudreau had a below-average preseason. He posted middle of the team possession numbers throughout the preseason. Worse, he lost the majority of his faceoffs. He could not be counted on to take the fourth line center role. Ultimately, Gaudreau will earn some call-ups this season. If he could find his postseason magic again, he will be able to find a spot on the roster permanently. Until then, he will have to hang out with Kamenev and company in Milwaukee. Admirals fans rejoice.
Cody McLeod Makes the Roster – Hate So Much
The Nashville Predators started out sluggishly last season. They battled injury after injury, especially from their top D corps. Through it all, the locker room still felt like it was missing something-veteran leadership. The Predators were, and still are, a young team. After trading away their captain, Shea Weber, there was a big hole to fill in leadership. Mike Fisher filled in very nicely, but it was a Shea Weber-sized hole. So, the Predators traded for Cody McLeod from the Colorado Avalanche. McLeod was basically on his way out-of-town anyway, so David Poile felt it was worth the relatively inexpensive cost to grab a guy who could add some veteran presence as well as physicality.
McLeod started his Predators campaign with a goal in his first game, against his old team no less. For the remainder of the season, McLeod provided penalties and fights to protect his teammates. He even managed to score 4 goals in his 31 games with Nashville. He only scored one goal in 28 games with Colorado.
Much to my chagrin, McLeod played a total of 15 games in the playoffs. He was mainly there to face the much bigger St. Louis Blues, as well as the Anaheim Ducks. However, the playoffs are usually where you see enforcers dressed in suits, not in jerseys. For whatever reason, Peter Laviolette felt like Salomaki wasn’t far enough back from his injury to play plus minutes in the playoffs.
Throughout the preseason, I expected McLeod to not make the NHL roster. He is part of a dying breed in the NHL. The game is all about speed and offense now. They have changed the rules so much to limit the reckless play that McLeod excels at. He works very hard when he is out there, but hey, I could work just as hard as him. That doesn’t mean I should have an NHL roster spot.
There are too many young players in the Predators organization for Cody McLeod to have a roster spot. Plain and simple. The fourth line is potentially going to have Austin Watson and Miikka Salomaki on the wings. They both know how to use the body. Watson also has gotten into his fair share of fights. In the end, both can hit and they both are very good in the offensive end. All McLeod can do is somewhat hit and put in the occasional greasy rebound. I cannot believe they decided to keep him.
Next: Young defensive star Girard earns opening day spot
In the end, the roster is set. Hockey is back in this week! The Predators have a chance to make it far this season and many years to come.