Nashville Predators sign Chris Mueller, who should make NHL debut Tuesday vs. Dallas

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 27, 2010 4:49 PM EST in Nashville Predators News

As a followup to Jordin Tootoo entering the NHL Substance Abuse Program, the Nashville Predators have announced that they've signed Milwaukee Admirals forward Chris Mueller to an NHL contract, and it looks like we'll see him skate against the Dallas Stars tomorrow night:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Chris Mueller to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000 on the NHL level and $55,000 on the AHL level. With forwards Steve Sullivan and Martin Erat placed on Injured Reserve, Mueller is expected to make his NHL debut tomorrow night vs. Dallas.

Mueller, 24 (3/6/86), is ranked second on the Admirals in both goals (12) and points (20) in his second season with the club. Since turning pro in 2008, the West Seneca, N.Y., native has amassed 63 points (30g-33a) in 161 AHL games with Milwaukee, Lake Erie and Grand Rapids and 11 points (7g-4a) in eight ECHL contests with Cincinnati and Johnstown. The 5-10, 180-pound right wing posted 104 points (42g-62a) and 141 penalty minutes in 166 games (missing just four contests total) with Michigan State University from 2004-08, serving as an alternate captain during his junior and senior seasons. He helped the Spartans win the 2007 NCAA National Championship, ranking fifth in points (3g-2a) during the NCAA Tournament and being named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team.

This strange Preds season just keeps getting weirder, doesn't it?

Here are Mueller's AHL stats so far in 2010-11:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Chris Mueller (AHL)	33	12	8	20	7	20	0	0	0		68

Ryan Miller, OtF's man in Milwaukee, had this to say on Chris Mueller:

Mueller is a blue collar, versatile winger/center that isn't out of place on the ice in any aspect of his game. Power play, penalty kill, crunch time, he can play it all. He's having his best season offensively, and is really the only offensive player lately that has merited discussion of a call-up. He will fit right in no matter where Trotz puts him. He's an all-around good player, but not excellent or flawed in any one aspect of his game.

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Good signing

You know it’s gotta be difficult to realize your dream of becoming an NHL player the way this break has occurred, but from what I know of Mueller, I believe he has the right temperament for this promotion.

Mueller has really flown under the radar after going undrafted out of college. Bounced around the ECHL and AHL for a couple years before catching on with the Ads last year and filling a utility role for Lane Lambert. Was originally coached by Ads assistant Ian Herbers in Wheeling (ECHL) among his many stops, but finally found a home last year.

Attended his first NHL training camp this past fall as a AHL tryout and held his own, but has really exploded offensively this year in Milwaukee earning his way up the lineup and having been one of the hottest scorers for the Admirals the past two months.

I think Mueller’s skill set actually fits in well with this team. He is a hard working two-way forward that has found an offensive touch. He’ll likely start on the fourth line, but will allow that line to become a third scoring line again with Dumont and Spaling maybe as his linemates. I could actually see Mueller bumping Spaling down to Milwaukee later this season if we are able to get healthy again and allow Spals an opportunity to develop offensively in the AHL for a recall later in the year.

Overall, I like Mueller’s game and believe he’ll quickly become a favorite of Trotz just as he’s a favorite of Lambert…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...
Follow me on Twitter: @SLakePreds

by Seth Lake on Dec 27, 2010 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Mueller was coached by Herbers in...

Johnstown, not Wheeling of the ECHL as I wrote above. Sorry for any confusion…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...
Follow me on Twitter: @SLakePreds

by Seth Lake on Dec 27, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Muellers trek

Mueller has only played about 7 games in the ECHL. This training camp was not his first. He actually participated in Colorado’s training camp two years ago. I may not be 100% on my facts but pretty sure.

by TooManyMenOnTheIce on Dec 27, 2010 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

Upon further review...

I’m pretty sure I did read this years camp was his first, but Mueller did attend Colorado’s training camp in 2008-09 during his first year with the organization.

Mueller then played three games in his rookie year for Herbers in Johnstown before finishing the year with Lake Erie. The next season he attended camp with Milwaukee on a tryout and started in Cincinnati where he played five games before finally sticking with the Ads. Mueller has been a goal per game player at the ECHL level.

I’m excited to see what he can do tomorrow, but have to temper my expectations knowing that he has not practiced with the team yet…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...
Follow me on Twitter: @SLakePreds

by Seth Lake on Dec 27, 2010 11:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Welcome to Nashville, Mueller!

by cisar on Dec 27, 2010 5:52 PM EST reply actions

MuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeLerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 27, 2010 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

I will do it once.

by cisar on Dec 28, 2010 1:37 AM EST up reply actions

Make it after the new year....I won't be back in Nville til then!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 28, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

It will have to be tonight. It will only make sense tonight. Or rather, it will only make no sense tonight.

by cisar on Dec 28, 2010 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Excellent...

We were hoping/waiting for this. We’re losing too many key players this year and this guy is the kind of player we need to fill in, with the exception of a pure goal scorer.

by DonBorvio on Dec 27, 2010 7:29 PM EST reply actions

Good news! This kids time is NOW.

I have been following the Ads closely and this kid makes the score sheet most nights. Good signing! Best of luck to you, Chris Mueller!

Things will get better Preds fans!

by preds4ever on Dec 27, 2010 8:36 PM EST reply actions

Congrats to Mueller!

Since I am a big Mueller fan from Milwaukee I was very happy to hear the Preds are giving him a well deserved shot in the NHL. Can’t say enough good things about him. I’m not so sure about him staying over Spaling though. They are very similiar players. Spaling may not be scoring now but he did in Milwaukee. I think if he had more ice time he would be scoring more. If sending him down will help him we’d be happy to have him back, but I think he deserves to stay where he is.

As for Mueller he has been on a line here with Klasen. Would love to see the 2 of them play together on a line there. You now have our top 2 scorers. Good for Preds, bad for Ads!

I also think Mueller will be a favorite of Trotz. He has done whatever Lane Lambert has asked of him while here and I’m sure it will be the same there.

by ScottieS on Dec 27, 2010 9:20 PM EST reply actions

Great to get an all around player signed who can kill penalties and score!

Great news.

I could actually see Mueller bumping ‘Legwand’ down to Milwaukee later this season if we are able to get healthy again and allow ‘Legs’ an opportunity to develop offensively in the AHL for a recall later in the year.

LOL, couldn’t resist :)

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 27, 2010 10:12 PM EST reply actions