Nashville Predators call back up Fedor Svechkov as roster shuffle continues

Injuries and trades have kept the Nashville Predators roster in shuffle mode.

Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators
Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators | Johnnie Izquierdo/GettyImages

Fedor Svechkov has been called up by the Nashville Predators from the Milwaukee Admirals for the second time this season, giving the former 19th-overall pick from 2019 another chance to make an impact early in his NHL career.

The Predators are dealing with Cole Smith on injured reserve and Zachary L'Heureux being suspended for three games due to a slew foot against the Minnesota Wild on December 31.

With the calling up of Svechkov, the Predators have 13 forwards available for their Friday night matchup with the Vancouver Canucks. Vinnie Hinostroza and Ozzy Wiesblatt are the other forwards that have been called up this week.

Svechkov gets Part 2 to his rookie season in NHL

Svechkov showed a lot of promise in his first round of NHL games, playing in nine games from November 23 to December 10 and scoring two goals in 11:57 of average ice time. It was a good first taste of the NHL and showed some encouraging signs, including his staking and vision to find scoring chances.

With 13 forwards available, I'm interested to see who gets the healthy scratch. Svechkov has been tested at the center position already, even lining up as the second line center when the Predators were still playing Steven Stamkos on the wing. Now that Stamkos' top line center role has emerged and showing promising results, where will Svechkov slot in?

Tommy Novak has been taking third line center duties, while Michael McCarron is the fourth line center. Ryan O'Reilly has settled in as the second line center, so I'm not sure how Svechkov draws in unless Novak or McCarron get a healthy scratch, which I'm not against. Neither have done enough to get the title of being a "must start".

Wiesblatt is slated to make his NHL debut as a right winger, and the replacement to the injured Smith and the suspended L'Heureux. You also have the older Hinostroza available.

The need for so many call-ups have been due to injuries and traded. Adam Wilsby is on injured reserve and Jeremy Lauzon didn't return to the game against the Wild on Tuesday.

The Admirals have fallen back in the standings after a strong start, and navigating through all of the call-ups the Predators have had to make definitely hasn't helped. Their leading scorer, and AHL's leading scorer, Hinostroza is heading into his second game with the Predators.

The line combinations against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday will be interesting to see, and of course offensive chemistry will once again be hard to find.

Schedule