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Evening Notes: Mrazek, Soderblom, Holloway, Stastney

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The Detroit Red Wings received split injury updates early on Thursday. Head coach Todd McLellan shared that goaltender Petr Mrazek will continue to sit out with a head injury, but that winger Elmer Soderblom could return from his undisclosed injury on Friday, per Max Bultman of The Athletic. Both players have missed Detroit’s last four games.

The Red Wings have maintained a duo of Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon while Mrazek’s been absent – the same tandem they ran before acquiring Mrazek at the Trade Deadline. Talbot has returned to the starting role after briefly missing time in March – and quickly found a hot streak. He’s posted a .922 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average in four games since returning – though the low numbers have only led to a 1-2-1 record. His performances have lifted up Alex Lyon’s struggles as of late, with a 1-4-0 record and .843 save percentage in his last five games. Detroit will hope that pair continues to balance each other out as they continue to chase the Eastern Conference Wild Card.

Meanwhile, Soderblom will return looking to find his spark again after netting two goals in his last three games before injury. The pair doubled Soderblom’s year-long totals up to that point, pushing him to four goals and 10 points in 23 games this season. The six-foot-eight winger is playing through his rookie season in the NHL, though he did appear in 21 games and score eight points last season. He’ll step back into a role in Detroit’s bottom-six when he’s good to go.

Other notes from around the league:

  • St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway exited their Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Penguins before the second period with a lower-body injury. He appeared to sustain the injury on a check from Penguins rookie Rutger McGroarty early in the first period. Holloway has been a major proponent of St. Louis’ 10-game winning streak. He’s scored 15 points across the streak, and was riding an 11-game scoring streak of his own before the early exit. That scoring brought Holloway up to 26 goals and 63 points in 77 games this season. Any missed games as a result of this injury would be his first as a Blue.
  • Across the Central Division, the Nashville Predators were without defenseman Spencer Stastney for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars due to an upper-body injury. He was slated to serve as the team’s seventh dressed defenseman in the matchup, but in his absence, the Predators decided to instead promote rookie forward Ozzy Wiesblatt to the rotation. Stastney has tallied three points, all assists, in 22 games this season and filled a minimal role in Nashville’s lineup as of late.

Predators Recall Ozzy Wiesblatt

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The Predators announced this morning that they’ve recalled right-winger Ozzy Wiesblatt from AHL Milwaukee. It’s his fourth recall of the season and his first since last month’s trade deadline. It’s only the second recall Nashville has made out of four allowed since March 7.

Wiesblatt, 23, has been in Milwaukee for most of the season. The former Sharks first-rounder has enjoyed something of a breakout season in Milwaukee, scoring 14-23–37 in 61 games with a plus-nine rating that all stands as the best of his professional career. That’s earned him a few looks in Nashville’s lineup throughout the year, posting an assist and a plus-two rating in four games. He’s averaged 11:03 per contest and has graded out well defensively, controlling 57% of expected goals despite starting 84% of his even-strength shifts in the defensive zone.

As the Predators wrap up a highly disappointing regular season and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for quite some time, they’re hoping Wiesblatt can continue to play well in limited minutes down the stretch and potentially grab a job on next fall’s opening night roster. They acquired him from San Jose last summer and sent the signing rights to Egor Afanasyev, who opted to return home to Russia, the other way. While his entry-level contract was set to expire this year, he signed a two-year, two-way extension with Nashville back in November to keep him off this summer’s restricted free agent market.

Wiesblatt could slot into the lineup tonight against the Stars after Nashville dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen for its last two games with Jonathan Marchessault and Colton Sissons sidelined. He’ll likely do so on a line with Kieffer Bellows and Fedor Svechkov, the team’s Brooks Bratten reports. That means 2023 first-rounder Matthew Wood will have to wait a little longer to make his NHL debut after signing with the club last weekend.

Predators Prospect Gunnarwolfe Fontaine Signs ATO With Iowa Wild

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It appears the Nashville Predators will elect not to sign 2020 seventh-round draft pick Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, who has instead signed an amateur try-out with the AHL’s Iowa Wild. The Predators were set to lose Fontaine’s rights at the end of this season if they didn’t sign him to his entry-level contract. They’ll expedite the process here, allowing Fontaine to turn pro in the AHL after completing his graduate season at The Ohio State University.

Fontaine was drafted after his second season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. He scored 26 goals and 57 points in 45 USHL games that season, apt support to a Steel roster that also contained Brendan Brisson, Sam Colangelo, Mackie Samoskevich, and Matthew Coronato. Fontaine followed his draft selection by moving to Northeastern University for the 2020-21 campaign. He scored a stout six goals and 15 points in 21 games of his freshman season, and grew to 25 points in 39 games in his sophomore year.

But Fontaine seemed to plateau a bit after the 2021-22 season. His scoring dipped as high-tier teammates like Cameron Lund and Justin Hryckowian began challenging his ice time. Fontaine managed 30 points in 35 games as a junior and fell to 27 points in 36 games in 2023-24. He failed to find his groove as Northeastern’s leading playdriver – sparking a search for bigger minutes at OSU in his graduate year. Fontaine did grow to 40 points in 40 games in the Big Ten – marking his first point-per-game season since his draft-year campaign in the USHL. He’ll look to bring that momentum to the AHL, with hopes that strong play can push him back into the attention of NHL clubs.

Predators Sign Cole O’Hara To Two-Year Contract

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The Nashville Predators have signed forward Cole O’Hara to a two-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the 2025-26 season. He will spend the rest of this season on a try-out with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. O’Hara’s third college season came to an end on March 29th, after his University of Massachusetts Minutemen lost to the Western Michigan Broncos in the national tournament.

O’Hara broke out in a big way this season. He scored a UMass-leading 22 goals and 51 points in just 40 games. That was more than he scored in his first two collegiate seasons – 17 points as a freshman, and 18 as a sophomore – combined. Many of those points came from O’Hara’s knack for controlling the puck from low-to-high – getting it on his stick below the goal-line and deking through defenders to find time and space at the tops of the circles. He excelled at getting the puck through traffic, and was helped along by the strong physical presence of Lucas Mercuri in front of the net.

The Predators drafted O’Hara in the fourth-round of the 2022 NHL Draft. He scored 25 goals and 73 points in 58 games in the USHL in his draft year – again on the back of a strong ability to work around the offensive-zone with the puck. O’Hara led the Tri-City Storm in scoring that season, ahead of a roster that featured Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Gavin Brindley and Seattle Kraken prospect Lleyton Roed. O’Hara will now join his former teammates in the AHL. He’ll be looking to hang on to his strong puck-handling while his slight frame adjusts to the pro ranks.

Colton Sissons Likely Out For Season

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  • After sustaining a leg injury a few days ago against the Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators’ forward Colton Sissons’ season may have already ended. According to general manager Barry Trotz (and publicized by Nick Kieser of 102.5 The Game), the second-year front office leader said a decision regarding Sissons’ status is coming relatively soon. Kieser quoted Trotz saying, “I would probably say he’s close to not being back for the rest of the season.“

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Poll: Which College Signing Will Make The Biggest Impact In 2024-25?

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A contract signing frenzy has broken out across the NHL as the NCAA season draws to a close. Teams are in a mad dash to lock up their star prospects, or sign impactful free agents who slipped through the cracks of the draft. The range of outcomes for these fresh pro recruits will stretch across the hockey world. Some will finish their seasons on amateur try-out contracts in the minor leagues, while others have earned a proud AHL shot, and even more find themselves suddenly thrust into the NHL lineup. The group of signees is headlined by prospects with years of anticipation behind them, joining teams with important games left on the docket. Those big additions lead to the natural next question – which college signing will make the biggest impact through the remainder of the year?

University of Minnesota star Jimmy Snuggerud may be an easy top guess. The 20-year-old right-wing has joined a St. Louis Blues team in the midst of a nine-game win-streak that’s propelled them into a confident playoff spot. St. Louis’ success has come in no small part thanks to rookie Zachary Bolduc, who has 16 goals and 31 points in 65 games this season. He’s been backed by other thriving young forwards, like Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours. The Blues have leaned into their youth movement by promoting top AHL scorer Dalibor Dvorsky to the top flight, after he potted 20 goals and 43 points in 57 minor league games. Now, St. Louis also adds the snappy shot of Snuggerud after he managed a dazzling 24 goals and 51 points in 40 games of his junior season. Snuggerud doesn’t shy away from physicality and plays a cool, calm, and collected game that should blend well with a Blues offense that’s firing on all cylinders since the calendar turned over.

But St. Louis’ Central Division rivals have a pair of new faces who could find their way to a big splash. The Chicago Blackhawks may be well outside of postseason contention, but they’ve received their own injection of young potential by signing Snuggerud’s UMN teammates, centerman Oliver Moore and defenseman Sam Rinzel. Both players filled top-end roles for the Gophers this season, to dazzling results. Rinzel took home the Big Ten’s ’Defenseman of the Year’ honors this year, after recording 10 goals and 32 points in 40 games of his sophomore season. Moore just narrowly outscored him, potting 12 goals and 33 points in 38 games of his own. The pair have already made their NHL debuts – and while neither scored, they were both instantly noticeable amid a Blackhawks offense that’s slowed down as of late. Chicago is looking towards the future as the season draws to a close, and strong performances out of Moore or Rinzel could go a long way towards cementing their top-of-the-lineup role through next season. It seems Rinzel’s spot may already be locked up – after he recorded over 20 minutes of ice time and four shots on net in his debut.

There’s even more to watch from Gopher alums in the Central Division – with Matthew Wood inking a deal with the Nashville Predators after completing his junior year at UMN. Wood ranked second on the Gophers in scoring behind Snuggerud, with 17 goals and 39 points in 39 games this season. It was an impressive performance for the fresh-transfer – but perhaps even more impressive, it was Wood’s first time not leading his team in scoring since he made his junior hockey debut in the 2020-21 season. He’s a fierce shooter, with the heft and skating to push his way into space, even against top competition. He could quickly find a role on a Predators team that lost Mark Jankowski at the Trade Deadline – and one that’s in desperate need of a booming top prospect to spark hopes.

While the Gophers look to take control of the Central Division, the Metropolitan Division could soon be controlled by Eagles. Boston College stars Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault have inked their first pro deals, signing with the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers respectively. The duo are absolute top prospects who have spent the vast majority of the last four seasons playing on the same line. Leonard is a beefy sniper capable of driving down the boards with speed and getting the puck on net quick. Perreault is a bit more nimble – and uses a strong drive to overwhelm opponents on the forecheck and quick hands to beat them in his paths to the net. Both have done nothing but sparkle with their individual efforts, and seem fully capable of translating at least some of their upside to the NHL right away. Leonard will join the best team in the league, while Perreault will join a squad currently in tight contention for the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card. Both roles should lead to major roles that could lead the top names to quick scoring.

Plenty of other signings across the hockey world could pay off sooner rather than later. Even if they don’t, the chance to watch top prospects finally donning their NHL jerseys is hard no to be excited over. Who do you think will make the biggest impact? Vote below:

For mobile users, click here to vote.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.

Hiroki Gojsic And Kalan Lind Assigned To Milwaukee

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  • The Predators announced that they’ve reassigned wingers Hiroki Gojsic and Kalan Lind to AHL Milwaukee. Gojsic was a late third-round pick in June and has already signed his entry-level deal.  The 18-year-old had 20 goals and 17 assists in 61 games this season with WHL Kelowna but with the Rockets missing the playoffs, he’s eligible to be sent to the minors.  As for Lind, he wrapped up his major junior career with WHL Red Deer, tallying 12 goals and 15 assists in 37 games with the Rebels.  A 2023 second-round selection, Lind has also already signed his entry-level deal and since he’s 20, he’ll be turning pro full-time next season, an option that won’t be available to Gojsic.

Colton Sissons Sustains Injury, Potentially Opening Door For Matthew Wood

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Nashville Predators’ forward Colton Sissons sustained what appeared to be a serious leg injury in last night’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and the injury could result in a lengthy absence, per Alex Daughtery of the Nashville Tennessean.

With less than five minutes left in the first period, Sissons was hit by Vegas forward Brett Howden and landed hard on his left leg. He needed to be helped off the ice and was unable to put weight on his leg. If leaving the arena in crutches wasn’t a big enough indicator, post-game comments made by teammates and coaches led to speculation surrounding the serious nature of the injury. As an example, defenseman Nick Blankenburg asked for everyone to keep Sissons “in their prayers,” while Head coach Andrew Brunette added that Sissons is a “heart and soul guy” and that the team was a little “shocked” by the injury, per team reporter Brooks Bratten.

The 31-year-old Sissons has spent his entire career in Nashville and has experienced the highs and lows of the franchise along the way. This includes the team’s run to the Stanley Cup finals during the 2016-17 season (where Sissons posted 12 points in 22 games), as well as the struggles of this season, where the team has already been eliminated from post-season contention. On the year, Sissons has posted 21 points and a minus-12 in 72 games.

While Sissons’ injury may result in the end of his season, Predators reporter Nick Kieser wonders if his misfortune could result in an early opportunity for recently signed Matthew Wood. The 20-year-old, the 15th overall selection in the 2023 draft, was signed to a three-year, entry-level deal that was announced just yesterday by GM Barry Trotz. Wood played at the University of Minnesota and just wrapped up his junior season that saw him record 17 goals and 39 points in 39 games. Wood was already set to report to the Predators in the coming days, but with Sissons on the shelf, he may see his first NHL action sooner than anticipated.

Colton Sissons Exits Game With Lower-Body Injury

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  • Lastly, the Nashville Predators lost a bottom-six forward partway through tonight’s loss against the Vegas Golden Knights. Nashville shared that forward Colton Sissons wouldn’t return to tonight’s action due to a lower-body injury. Further information should come out tomorrow regarding Sissons’ status moving forward. He’s only missed one of Nashville’s 73 games this season.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Predators Sign Matthew Wood

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Another top college prospect has decided that the time is right to turn pro.  The Predators announced that they have signed forward Matthew Wood to a three-year, entry-level contract.  Financial terms of the deal, which begins this season, were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old was the 15th overall selection back in 2023, following a very impressive freshman season at the University of Connecticut.  That year, he had 11 goals and 23 assists in 35 games before averaging nearly two points per game for Canada at the World Under-18s, further boosting his stock heading into the draft.

But things didn’t go as well for Wood last season.  His point total dropped to 28 in 34 games although 16 of those were goals.  Nevertheless, he opted to enter the transfer portal after the season, joining the University of Minnesota.

Wood played for Canada at the World Juniors last year but didn’t make the squad this season.  However, he had a strong year for the Golden Gophers, setting new benchmarks in goals (17) and points (39) in 39 contests, good for a share of second place in team scoring while earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention team.

Wood will now get his first taste of NHL action as he’ll report to the Predators in the coming days.  Because he’s burning the first year of his contract this season, he will not be eligible to report to AHL Milwaukee when Nashville’s season comes to an end.  The Preds have ten games left this season so Wood should have a chance to get at least a few games in with the big club, giving him a chance to make a good first impression toward a possible full-time spot next season.

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