Martin Gelinas named Director of player development

Martin Gelinas has been made the official Director of Player Development for the Nashville Predators. Nice to see him sticking around with the Preds, in my opinion. He seems to be the perfect kind of guy for the job, since the job entails "assisting [players] with their maturation process into an NHL player by focusing on nutrition, off ice workouts and conditioning, practice habits, and game performance". Brandon Felder also mentioned that Jordin Tootoo's best season was when Gelinas was on the team, so who knows, could Toots become an offensive...weapon? Shocking, I know. How this job will work with him working from Calgary I do not understand. He should move to Nashville and focus his attention to the Predators. After the "jump" is the official press release and final thoughts.

"Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has named former Predator Martin Gelinas Director of Player Development.

Gelinas will be responsible for following and evaluating prospects drafted by Nashville. The Shawinigan, Quebec native will work with players on all levels throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, assisting them with their maturation process into an NHL player by focusing on nutrition, off-ice workouts and conditioning, practice habits and game performance.

"Martin made a big impact on people within the organization during his time here so this speaks volumes of his professionalism and character," Poile said. "We have always been a team that develops players through the draft which makes this an important position within our organization. We will depend on Martin and his experience, work ethic and professionalism to help develop our prospects into NHL players."

"During the last few years of my playing career, working with the younger players was something I really got a lot of enjoyment out of," Gelinas said. "It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m excited to be a part of the Predators organization again and have the chance to work with David Poile and his tremendous staff."
Gelinas, who appeared in 57 games (9g-11a-20pts) with Nashville in 2007-08, appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals four times in his 19-year career and captured the Stanley Cup with Edmonton in his first full NHL season (1989-90). Nashville’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy in 2007-08, he had his season cut short after suffering a knee injury on February 21, 2008. Gelinas became the most-experienced player (games played and age) to wear a Nashville sweater when he made his NHL debut on October 4, 2007.

The former winger posted 660 points (309g-351a) in 1,273 career games (1988-2007) with Edmonton, Quebec, Vancouver, Carolina, Calgary, Florida and Nashville. After capturing the Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1990, Gelinas returned to the Finals three times – in 1994 with Vancouver, 2002 with Carolina and 2004 with Calgary. His top offensive season came in 1996-97 with the Canucks when he registered 35 goals and 33 assists (35g-33a-68pts).

Originally the Los Angeles Kings’ first choice (seventh overall) in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, Gelinas was subsequently traded by L.A. to Edmonton in the package for Wayne Gretzky on Aug. 9, 1988.

Gelinas will join the Predators in Montreal for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and will then be in Nashville for the Predators Conditioning Camp from July 6-13. He will be based out of Calgary, Alberta."

Great move, and finally, a Preds related story! Nice to have a Preds filled week, with this, and later this week the draft.