Nashville Predators sign Taylor Beck

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 25, 2010 7:54 PM EDT

The Nashville Predators have signed junior winger Taylor Beck to an entry-level contract. As with other prospects, the contract doesn't actually "kick in" until he starts his pro career. As a forward with legitimate NHL size who plays a physical game, Beck really came into his own last season, roughly doubling his offensive production with 39 goals and 54 assists in 61 games, best among all OHL right wingers. I believe he's still not eligible to go to Milwaukee as a 19-year-old (just like Ryan Ellis), so one more season of junior is likely this year.

Be sure to check out the interview I conducted with Taylor back in January, as he was playing some of his best hockey of the season for the OHL's Guelph Storm. Both he and teammate Michael Latta represented the Nashville organization well.

Follow after the jump for the team's press release, and a highlight video from a couple years ago...

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward and 2009 draft pick Taylor Beck to a three-year entry-level contract.

Beck, 19 (5/13/91), was the winner of the 2010 Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League's top scoring right wing after tying for fourth in the OHL in points (39g-54a-93pts) with the Guelph Storm in 2009-10. The 6-2, 205-pound forward also ranked ninth in the OHL in goals and 10^th in assists last season while tying for sixth among 2009-10 OHL skaters in power-play goals (16). The St. Catharines, Ontario native was named a 2009-10 OHL Second-Team All-Star and was Guelph's nominee for the 2009-10 Red Tilson Trophy given to the OHL's Most Outstanding Player.

Nashville's fourth choice, 70th overall (third round), in the 2009 Entry Draft, Beck is expected to report to Predators' training camp along with other rookies on September 13.

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Here's hoping

Team Canada picks Beck for the World Juniors, but I’d still much rather see him and Ryan Ellis in Milwaukee.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Aug 25, 2010 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

AHL age rule

You are correct about Beck not being eligible to suit up for Milwaukee in October. I’ll do my best to explain the age rules…

Part of a long-standing agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League states that CHL prospects cannot play in the AHL unless they turn 20 by December 31st of that season. Therefore, a 19 year old CHL player could play in the AHL if his 20th birthday comes early in the season. (Ryan Ellis missed the cutoff by three days.) The exception to this rule is if the player has completed four full seasons of junior hockey.

Essentially, the agreement protects the CHL from losing their best players to the minor leagues before they “graduate” from juniors.

College players and Europeans (drafted out of Europe) can play in the AHL if they turn 18 by September 15th. Europeans drafted out of the CHL fall under the NHL/CHL agreement.

CHL players over 18 can play as amateurs in the AHL after their CHL season is completed. It would not surprise me if Beck and Ellis finish this season in Milwaukee.

by milwaukeehockey on Aug 26, 2010 2:35 AM EDT reply actions