Blues’ Robert Bortuzzo Suspended Four Games For Cross-Checking
4:24 PM — The Department of Player Safety announced they have suspended Bortuzzo four games for cross-checking Arvidsson, who is now listed as being out for four to six weeks because of the incident. Bortuzzo will sacrifice $67,073.16 in salary.
8:47 AM — Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson celebrated his 300th career NHL game with just 4:15 of ice time. While he managed to record an assist in that brief period, he left the game early in the first period with a lower body injury as a result of repeated cross-checks from St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo. Bortuzzo received a two-minute minor on the play, even though each of the two cross-checks likely deserved its own penalty. However, the league will make up for that on-ice error. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced last night that Bortuzzo will sit for a hearing. It has been scheduled for Sunday, ensuring that there is a decision before he could potentially face the Predators again on Monday night.
The play in question occurred just six minutes into Saturday night’s game (video). Arvidsson, standing in the St. Louis crease as the puck was loose in front of the net, initially receives a forceful check from behind from Bortuzzo, pushing him into the net. Bortuzzo actually turns and complains to the refs about how easily Arvidsson went down, even though the forward was completely blindsided by a hit from a much bigger, stronger player. Bortuzzo then turns back to Arvidsson and hits him with another cross check as he is trying to get up, one that is arguably harder and more dangerous and certainly more intentional. Arvidsson appears to feel this second check even more. For good measure, Blues goalie Jordan Binnington then shoves Arvidsson back into the goal again, although Binnington is not expected to receive any supplemental disclipline.
Few will be surprised to see Bortuzzo’s name linked to a player safety incident. The often-overly aggressive defender is a repeat offender, with his most recent suspension coming just last year after an elbow to the head of Washington Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny. He lost two preseason games and one regular season games for that incident and the league will likely want to dole out a harsher penalty for yet another infraction. Bortuzzo has made his career off of being the biggest and toughest player on the ice, but has been known to lose his cool and end up in the penalty box or in trouble with the league. This was clearly a case of Bortuzzo purposefully committing a dangerous penalty against an opponent with an intent to injure. As such, Player Safety may choose to send a message to a player who clearly has yet to learn his lesson. Expect a suspension of at least two games for the St. Louis blue liner this time around.
Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson Expected To Miss 4-6 Weeks
The Nashville Predators are already struggling in the standings and now took another hit, literally, as the team announced that forward Viktor Arvidsson is expected to miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury after being cross-checked by St. Louis’ Robert Bortuzzo during Saturday’s game.
The injury is devastating to team that has been struggling of late, having won just two games in their last 10 as the Predators have slipped to fifth place in the Central Division. Arvidsson has six goals and 15 points in 22 games this year and is an anchor on the wing on the team’s first line. Arvidsson, who was playing in his 300th career NHL game Saturday, is coming off a 34-goal season last year and has averaged more than 30 goals for three straight seasons.
Bortuzzo is believed to be in a hearing with the Department of Player Safety right now, although it is not an in-person hearing which could limit how many games he could be suspended by the league. However, there is plenty of sentiment that the book should be thrown at Bortuzzo, who not only checked Arvidsson into the net, but also followed that up with a second hit, a cross-check into his lower back while he was down (video here).
P.K. Subban, Viktor Arvidsson Activated From Injured Reserve
The Nashville Predators have lost four straight games and released their stranglehold on the Central Division, but are finally getting healthy again. The team today activated both P.K. Subban and Viktor Arvidsson from injured reserve, and expect to have them both in the lineup immediately. Subban and Arvidsson have both missed more than a month of game action. To make room, Yannick Weber has been moved to injured reserve.
It’s been a tough season for Subban, who has suited up just 18 times for the Predators and has been sidelined since November 13th with this most recent injury. The Norris winner has 12 points on the year and is one of the engines that drives the Nashville attack, something they’ve sorely missed over the last few weeks. The team now sits four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division lead, despite allowing the fewest goals in the entire league. Getting Subban back may lead to a few more risky plays, but has always made the Predators a much better team overall given his ability to push the play forward.
Arvidsson meanwhile has been out even longer, playing just a single game since October 30th. The diminutive forward has scored 13 points in 13 games this year and is the straw that stirs the drink at even-strength, recording all eight of his goals there. Still just 25 years old, Arvidsson looked like he was playing the best hockey of his career at the beginning of the year and could really push the Predators back into contention for the Presidents’ Trophy if he comes back to full strength quickly.
Predators Notes: Sissons, Burakovsky, Fabbro
The Nashville Predators have taken another hit up front, announcing today that forward Colton Sissons has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. While it’s unclear when Sissons suffered the injury, he was not in the lineup when the Predators faced the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. The team did not give any timeline for Sissons’ return, but any extended absence will hurt Nashville, who are also still without Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. Sissons has been a key contributor while those two have been sidelined, recording seven goals and nine assists in 35 games, tied for eighth on the team in scoring. Sissons also has a tremendous +17 rating and is an invaluable defensive presence among the forward corps. For the Predators’ sake, hopefully Sissons will return after the minimum ten days on the IR.
- With yet another starting forward out of commission, Predators GM David Poile may feel even more pressure to land some help via trade. Nashville was already expected to pursue scoring help before the trade deadline to help out their middling offense and was one of the teams speculated to have interest in Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky, who hit the trade block last week. The Capitals are reportedly looking to make a deal that would bring back a player that can help them immediately this season, of which the Predators have options. Pressed into regular action due to the rash of injuries, Miikka Salomaki and Frederick Gaudreau have both played well at times this season and could be of interest to Washington. The team could even be willing to dangle Calle Jarnkrok if they’re high on Burakovsky. The two teams would seemingly be a good fit for a deal, although there still could be lingering feelings from the last time the Capitals traded a young winger to the Predators (see Forsberg-for-Martin Erat).
- Speaking of reinforcements, Predators fans should be excited to see defensive prospect Dante Fabbro listed on the Team Canada roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup. The team’s first-round pick in 2016, Fabbro has been a productive member of the Boston University blue line for three seasons now and has even evolved into the Terriers’ captain. However, playing alongside pros at the Spengler Cup is the next step for Fabbro and could give the young defenseman the experience needed to step in to the Predators’ lineup later this season. Although Fabbro has another season of NCAA eligibility remaining, he is heavily expected to leave school when BU’s season is over. A strong showing in Switzerland could convince Poile and company that Fabbro is worth signing and playing immediately this year. The young puck-mover could be a nice depth addition for a Nashville team that is looking to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final this year.
Snapshots: Blues, Formenton, Predators
When things aren’t going well for an NHL franchise with big expectations, you can almost see the vultures—that is, other general managers—circling. That’s what appears to be happening in St. Louis, where the Blues find themselves constantly in the rumor mill these days. After another mention yesterday of the potential availability of Alex Pietrangelo (who underwent hand surgery today but didn’t see his recovery timeline change) the latest news comes as a little reprieve for Blues fans who don’t want to see their team blown up.
On NBCSN, hockey insider Darren Dreger explained that he doesn’t believe the Blues will move a big chunk of their young core though will listen on “just about anything else.” Dreger only mentions Jaden Schwartz as part of that core, and doesn’t address directly the rumors around Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko. There’s still plenty to like about the St. Louis depth chart, especially given the young group of forwards including Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Ivan Barbashev, Klim Kostin and Sammy Blais who all look like they will contribute in the NHL for a long time. If a big move does come, it won’t necessarily set the Blues back very far.
- Alex Formenton suffered an injury in yesterday’s exhibition game at the World Junior selection camp, and today was seen by TSN’s Bob McKenzie on crutches and wearing a knee brace. The team told McKenzie that it was just precautionary, but Formenton’s inclusion on the tournament roster is obviously in jeopardy. The Ottawa Senators prospect was expected to play a huge role and use his speed and experience to give Canada an edge against an excellent international field, but will have to show he’s healthy enough to compete before the team sends home his potential replacements.
- While Kyle Turris is expected to return for the Nashville Predators tonight, news isn’t nearly as good on his fellow injured forwards. GM David Poile told ESPN radio that Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson will still be out for another three weeks. Nashville lost their top seed in the Western Conference last night after the Calgary Flames came from behind to win against the Philadelphia Flyers, and are in a dog fight with the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche for the Central Division lead. Getting two of their top forwards back would be a huge boost for the club as they search for a little more consistency during the winter months.
Nashville Predators Place Filip Forsberg On IR; Out 4-6 Weeks
The Nashville Predators big name injury list continues. The team has placed winger Filip Forsberg on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and will be out for four to six weeks, according to The Athletic’s Adam Vingan. Already without Viktor Arvidsson, P.K. Subban and Kyle Turris, Forsberg is just another big loss for a team that has lost three of their last four games.
While he wasn’t forced from the game, Forsberg injured his hand during Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Arizona where the 24-year-old played a season-low 15:08 of ice time. He then missed practice Friday and he didn’t participate in Saturday morning’s optional skate. Forsberg’s injury means that 34.77 percent of the team’s cap hit is on injured reserve, according to Vingan.
Forsberg has been having a solid season so far this far this year, posting 14 goals in 26 games this season for the Predators, good enough for the team lead. Those 14 goals are way ahead of the pace he has had in previous years. He scored 26 goals a year ago and broke 30 goals the previous two years before that.
Viktor Arvidsson Out Six To Eight Weeks With Broken Thumb
The Nashville Predators only just got Viktor Arvidsson back off injured reserve before having to send him back with a new injury, and today they revealed how long he’ll be out for. Adam Vingan of The Athletic reports that Arvidsson will miss six to eight weeks with a broken thumb, meaning the talented forward could very well be out of the lineup for the rest of 2018.
Arvidsson is one of the heartbeats of the Predators offense, and was off to a great start this season with eight goals and 13 points in his first 13 games. That put him well on his way to another 30-goal season, and may have even gotten him over the 61-point mark he’s hit the last two seasons. Now, by missing two months in the middle of the season he will almost assuredly miss both of those milestones. The Predators will suffer because of it, especially given the fact that P.K. Subban has also been moved to injured reserve and will be out at least a week. The team still sits in first place in the Central Division, but is at risk of being caught by the Minnesota Wild or Winnipeg Jets, both currently within four points.
The 25-year old’s return will feel like a trade deadline acquisition for the Predators, who despite wanting to win the Central are focused on the postseason this year. The team is once again considered a favorite for the Stanley Cup, but will need all hands on deck to defeat some of the other powerhouses in the Western Conference. Subban and Arvidsson are key players who absolutely must be healthy by the time the playoffs roll around, meaning the team will surely play it slow with their recovery timelines.
Viktor Arvidsson Placed On Injured Reserve
The Nashville Predators were missing a key player from practice today, when Viktor Arvidsson was nowhere to be seen. Adam Vignan of The Athletic reports that Arvidsson has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. It’s unclear exactly when Arvidsson sustained the injury, but he was unable to play last Thursday night for the Predators or their most recent game this past weekend, meaning the IR stint is retroactive from Tuesday, October 30th. That means Arvidsson could potentially play for the Predators on Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche, but that would make this transaction largely irrelevant. More likely, the Predators forward will miss at least another game with the injury.
Nashville is off to a league leading 11-3-0 start this season, and have already worked their way through some injuries to key players. If Arvidsson misses any extended length of time the team would be weakened, but they’ve shown such a deep and dominant group so far that their’s little doubt they could continue to win. Perhaps this is the worst time to lose a key forward though, given they’re about to start a five-game road trip that will include stops in Colorado and Dallas, two teams trying to catch them in the Central Divison.
Arvidsson meanwhile will press the pause button on a season that looks like it had a chance to eclipse even his excellent recent history. After two straight seasons with 61 points, the 5’9″ forward was off to a point-per-game pace through 12 contests and had already scored eight goals. If he misses much time a career-high might be out of the question, though he’ll likely be inserted right back into the top group upon his return.
Several Nashville Predators Heading To IIHF World Championship
8:05pm: Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala will both also be journeying to Denmark to play for Switzerland, raising the total to seven Predators who will be in the tournament. The huge contingent of players just reiterates how talented the Nashville roster is, especially with others likely turning down offers.
4:15pm: After facing elimination at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets last night, several Nashville Predators players will be heading to the IIHF World Hockey Championship. We learned earlier today that Eeli Tolvanen would continue his whirlwind season with Team Finland, while Nick Bonino will join Team USA. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet also reports that Viktor Arvidsson, Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg will all join Sweden.
All four new additions will be huge for their respective countries, as the tournament heads towards the elimination rounds next week.
Bonino hasn’t represented the USA at the tournament since 2015 when he was still with the Vancouver Canucks. That year, he registered four points in 10 games en route to a bronze medal. He’ll join a team that just crushed Korea 13-1 to win their fifth-straight game to open the tournament. That’s a feat the team hasn’t accomplished since 1933, and one that bodes well for their chances in the medal round.
Ekholm and Forsberg have both appeared in the tournament on multiple occasions, but this will be Arvidsson’s first time around. The 25-year old winger last represented Sweden at a major international tournament in 2013, when he helped their World Junior squad to a silver medal. All three should increase Sweden’s odds of a medal tremendously, as three All-Star level talents from the NHL.
Predators Activate Arvidsson From Injured Reserve
With Filip Forsberg still sidelined with an upper-body injury, it was thankfully a short stint on the injured reserve for Viktor Arvidsson. The Nashville Predators activated their other superstar winger off the IR today following a retroactive placement that only kept him out of the lineup for two games, both of which were Preds’ wins.
Arvidsson, 24, is enjoying another strong campaign with 27 points through 42 games after his breakout 61-point 2016-17 season. Arvidsson signed a very reasonable (for Nashville) seven-year, $29.75MM contract extension this summer, meaning he’s now an important core forward for some time to come. With Forsberg and his team-leading 34 points out of the lineup and Ryan Johansen and Nick Bonino still struggling to find consistent offense, it’s important for the Central Division’s top team to get Arvidsson back and producing as fast as possible.
With Arvidsson healthy, it’s of course Frederick Gaudreau on his way back to the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Gaudreau has been the goat in Nashville this season, unable to hold onto a job through four NHL stints. After a brief glimpse of Gaudreau’s scoring talent showed itself in the playoffs last season, it seemed like he may be able to take on a full-time role in 2017-18. That hasn’t been the case, as Gaudreau has just three points in 20 NHL, despite having more than four times that many in as many AHL games.