Teemu Laakso recalled by Nashville

With Ryan Suter on injured reserve and the team headed out of town for back-to-back games this weekend (one of the toughest sets in the league this season, by the way), the Nashville Predators have recalled defenseman Teemu Laakso from Milwaukee to serve as the 7th D just in case injury strikes again. This, from Admirals Roundtable in Milwaukee:

While Laakso has had a nice start to the season, playing some solid D and contributing offensively to the tune of four assists in five games (that ties him for 3rd on the team in points), raise your hand if you are surprised that it's not Aaron Johnson getting the call?

I'm raising my hand.

Johnson hadn't played very well in his first four games, but he did play his best game Friday night in Grand Rapids.  Still, I thought his NHL experience would trump the underwhelming early season play.

Teemu has quietly jumped the line before, such as last season when won a job coming out of training camp ahead of Cody Franson. With Suter's injury talked about as being short-term, however, it doesn't appear that he's in for a long stint this time with Nashville.

An excerpt from the team's press release follows...

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Teemu Laakso (TEE-moo LAK-soh) from Milwaukee (AHL).

Laakso, 23 (8/27/87), has posted a team-high four assists in five games for the Admirals in 2010-11, including one helper in Milwaukee's 3-2 victory at Grand Rapids last night. The Tuusula, Finland native began the 2009-10 campaign with the Predators, playing his first seven NHL games Oct. 3-17, 2009 before being assigned to the American Hockey League for the remainder of the season on Oct. 20. Nashville's second choice, 78th overall (third round), in 2005 Entry Draft also has 26 points (6g-20a) in 93 AHL games since coming to North America for the 2008-09 season.