Report: Francis Bouillon could return Tuesday vs. San Jose

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 24, 2011 2:50 PM EDT in Nashville Predators News

Ryan Porth at Smashville 24/7 reports that The Cube may finally be ready for action, after Francis Bouillon provided a post-practice update this morning:

Today, Bouillon and coach Barry Trotz said he could make his season debut on Tuesday against San Jose.

"I think I'm ready to go," said Bouillon, who has been out since last January with a concussion. "I think I'm back in shape and I feel pretty solid. My confidence is there since I've been practicing for a long time. I should be ready to go tomorrow."

Bouillon's final hurdle to clear is getting medical clearance this afternoon from doctors.

Bouillon hasn't played since a January 16 game at Chicago, during which he was run into the glass and sustained a concussion which ended his season. One would have to think that he will start out on the 3rd pair, which leads to the question of which defenseman gets scratched tomorrow against the Sharks - Jack Hillen, or Teemu Laakso? Hillen was scratched for the two games with Mattias Ekholm played, so he may be the likelier candidate.

Regardless of its impact on the team's fortunes, however, it's certainly a welcome bit of news to see a guy who missed so much time due to a concussion get ready to suit up again.

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And it’s also his birthday! (Ryan Porth’s, that is. Not Franky’s…)

Twitter: @OTFMarc: (NHL)
@MarcTorrence: (everything else).

by Marc Torrence on Oct 24, 2011 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, this would be FANTASTIC!

Pleeeease please please let this happen.

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Oct 24, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

It would be great to have an experienced, physical player like Bouillon back there as we begin the Gauntlet Of Games this week. I’m afraid some d-men will get pushed around a bit too easily so we’ll need him against these tougher opponents.

by OddManRush on Oct 24, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

CUBE!!!

Can’t wait to see him back on the ice…hopefully with Hillen.

GO PREDS AND GO FRANKIE!!!!

by HardCorePredFan316 on Oct 24, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

I think Hillen is the better player, but it seems that fans ‘better players’ and coaches’ ‘better players’ most times differ. And I hope Cube’s concussion hasn’t made him hesitant.

"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles

by amyinsparta on Oct 24, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Laakso

Isn’t exactly lights out is he? To his credit though he doesn’t seem like the weak link to me either. I think he could turn out to be a stronger version of Klein at best… I would like to see him throw that big body around a little more. Maybe Frankie can lead him in that direction if they get paired.

Hillen is about what I expected and I think he got signed to be the pivot man, I expect him to take the scratches until we get some injuries.

by Marcus Newman on Oct 24, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on a small sample size, this early in the season, but...

I would rank the defensemen in the following order: Suter, Weber, Blum, Hillen, Klein, Laakso and Ekholm. Hillen does not have the size of Klein, but he also doesn’t commit all those defensive gaffes either. Considering he has only been given about 12 minutes per night and is playing with a total raw rookie, he has impressed, in my opinion.

I know the Preds don’t want Laakso to fail, to the point of allowing him to look terrible night after night, but sooner or later they will need to sit him. Given Blum and Klein are righties and Bullion and Hillen are lefties, how about Blum/Hillen and Klein/Bullion pairings?

by GoPreds00 on Oct 25, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

hillen has been a healthy scratch twice while klein’s at around 20 min a game and 4 on pk. how does that make hillen better? cube and klein did ok last year, so already tried.

by predwheels on Oct 25, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I have seen Hillen get pushed around a bit and do a lot of chasing in our zone. I feel like he is struggling to keep up. Laakso looks a little more like a rookie with the decision making and positioning but I’m willing to give him a chance to develop a bit. If I really saw a huge upside to Hillen I would probably think differently…

by Marcus Newman on Oct 25, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet!!!

What about Fish & Marty?

by grassman on Oct 24, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

From Dirk on another thread today:

Erat’s not even practicing yet, so I can’t imagine he’ll be back soon.

The issue with Fisher is shoulder strength, so that doesn’t sound like an "any day now" deal either, unless we can find him a can of Popeye’s spinach.

Looks like they will be filing back in slowly… I’m in take what we can get mode though so…Go Frankie Go!

by Marcus Newman on Oct 24, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought I saw a story where Trotz was hoping for Erat to join them on the western canadian road trip. The article led me to believe Marty was close.

by grassman on Oct 24, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Fish found that spinach, and now he’s strong to the finish. Or is that Finnish because of Rinne?

by DonBorvio on Oct 24, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Good news. Here’s hoping he can bring a little nasty to the table.

by Marcus Newman on Oct 24, 2011 3:11 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Looks like Fisher could be back tomorrow as well.

by Youarethegovt on Oct 24, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Fo realzes? Don’t be teasin’…

by Marcus Newman on Oct 24, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

From @Smashville24/7

Trotz also said “there’s a chance” Mike Fisher could make his season debut tomorrow. Fisher skated on a line w/ SK74 & Smith today.

by Youarethegovt on Oct 24, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be cool...

But “there’s a chance” doesn’t really tell us much. There was a “chance” that Erat was going to join the team on the road trip, remember.

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Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to hockey equipment and accessories.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 24, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it tells us a quite a bit. Don’t bet on Trotz’s chances!

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 24, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Saw another practice article

Fisher did the full practice today.
Here

We'll miss you Belak...

Go Predators!

by Poiju on Oct 24, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Cleared to play

Fisher tweeted that he’s finally cleared to play.

by rrs549 on Oct 24, 2011 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Exact quote for those curious.

Finally cleared to play! Been a long road to recovery! Can’t wait to get at it again! Thx for the support

by rrs549 on Oct 24, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Phew, I need to stop skimming headlines so fast

At first glance I though this said, "Francis Boullion could be traded to San Jose…

by JBoogie22 on Oct 24, 2011 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

DP

cant make a trade right now, the whole team is playing worse than the Admirals and we would be in serious sell low mode as a result.

by jeffery101y on Oct 24, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Great news!

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trotz dress 7 D-men and give the Cube 5-6 minutes of ice time. Scratch AuGrattan – another forward could easily make up for his 5 minutes.

by Griz-ATL on Oct 24, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

It’s rare for Trotz to go with 7 D, but I’d be down with that.

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by Dirk Hoag on Oct 24, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

good idea, so i doubt we’ll see it.

by predwheels on Oct 25, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Cube

Hope the cube gets to play tomorrow night. We need some physical presence back there!!!

by Preds&niners on Oct 24, 2011 4:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I hope Trotz tells McGrattan to go after Corey Perry….. and make it so bad he gets kicked out of the league

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 24, 2011 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Aw, come on, don’t wish bad things on someone who would do you a favor! :p}

"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles

by amyinsparta on Oct 24, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Pay backs are hell!!! The preds need run Perry like he ran Rinne last year.

by grassman on Oct 24, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

At least a friendly can opener. Don’t think it would bother him to much, as there are doubts he has a pair.

by 901predfan on Oct 24, 2011 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Against the Sharks, I could envision a McGratten scratch in favor of a 7th d man. Don’t know if it would be fair to throw big minutes at the Cube out of the gate.

by Predator Don on Oct 24, 2011 6:08 PM EDT reply actions