After three games in the NHL Rookie Showcase at the Bellevue Ford Ice Center the Nashville Predators are ready for training camp.
All 26 players from this last week will report along with everyone else to Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday for physicals & team meetings.
Beforehand the Predators played one more showcase game against the Carolina Hurricanes winning 5-4. Forward Reid Schaefer played until the first few minutes of the third period. He exited the game & did not return with what appeared to be an injury to his right arm after absorbing a hit.
Milwaukee Admirals head coach Karl Taylor was happy with what he saw & expects to see these young men take it to some of Nashville’s regular roster players.
Nashville saw forward Fedor Svechkov for the first time this showcase on Monday. He missed the last two contests & prior practices leading into the event for undisclosed reasons. The young Russian played in the middle of Ozzy Wiesblatt & Joey Willis.
“He was arguably our best player in the playoffs last season, his game really rose in Milwaukee,” Taylor said. “I know there’s a high expectation for him moving forward through the main camp.”
Svechkov said he was ready to go after injuring his leg last season & nothing was nagging him going into training camp. He was all smiles after getting a game under his belt.
This season the 21-year-old is focused on one thing at a time as he goes through another process of being part of the main camp.
“I’m not overthinking about it. I’m just trying to go to the next game & show my best,” Svechkov said. “Trying to play with skill & hockey smarts without mistakes.”
He said he wants to look good, play good & feel good this season as a layer of confidence has been added to his game since coming to play in North America.
Nashville got out in front early taking a 2-0 lead over the Hurricanes to start the final game of the showcase. The goals came from forwards Kalan Lind & Ozzy Wiesblatt. Both points came with a decision from a defenseman taking an extra look to make a play.
Jack Matier was holding the line during an offensive possession & opted to fire a quick shot from the right side of the ice. It appeared to throw Carolina netminder Ruslan Khazheyev off guard while Lind was calling for a shot to come his way.
Jeremy Hanzel was on the left side of the blue line a few minutes later & found Wiesblatt in the slot for a wide-open look. Wiesblatt picked his corner as Nashville continued to dominate the opening frame.
Nashville’s goalie Magnus Chrona was solid stopping 18 shots through 40 minutes then allowed a pair to end the showcase. He helped Nashville go 5-for-5 in killing penalties to make his first full-game impression in front of the Predators staff.
The Predators bullied the Hurricanes for the majority of the contest & maintained the puck for the majority of the time. There wasn’t a shift that went by without multiple body checks & attempting to get into the passing or shooting lanes.
“My teams in Milwaukee are very heavy & direct & we don’t apologize for it,” Taylor said. “I told the referee we have a good powerplay we just have to show you.”
Carolina came out surging in the second as Antonin Verreault & Gleb Trikozov tied it up for the Hurricanes. Despite allowing two quick goals the Predators kept goalie Magnus Chrona in the game.
Nashville’s special teams were challenged as well killing off four penalties through two frames. Notably forwards Austin Roest & Lind were all over the ice talking away lanes or finishing checks.
As the contest winded down Nashville’s Easton Armstrong, a camp invite from the WHL, scored twice and Willis found the back of the net too sneaking one under the left pad of Khazheyev on the rush.
Nashville & Carolina went through a five-round shootout, as in the other games, to close out the contest. Navrin Mutter & Andrew Gibson scored on their attempts.
Nashville wins final showcase game 5-4. Here’s an Andrew Gibson’s goal in the shootout after his squad won in regulation. pic.twitter.com/c2oGrdDW4r
— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) September 16, 2024
Nashville’s first practice on training camp is on Thursday at 9 a.m. in Bellevue. It’ll be a three-session day with a different group each time.
The Predators will play a doubleheader this Sunday in Florida against the Panthers starting at 1 p.m. to begin the preseason action.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photo courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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