Nashville Predators announce rookie camp schedule & roster

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 24, 2011 11:56 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News

Live hockey action is just a few weeks away, now that the Nashville Predators have announced the details for their rookie camp, with prospect games scheduled against rookies from the Tampa and Florida organizations.

This, from the Preds (and follow after the jump for the camp roster):

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that a team of Nashville Predators prospects will open camp on Saturday, Sept. 10 with a on-ice practice at Centennial Sportsplex, and travel to Sunrise, Fla., for games against Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers prospects on Sept. 12 (5 p.m. CT vs. T.B.) and Sept. 13 (11 a.m. CT vs. FLA) at Saveology.com Iceplex.

This marks the fourth consecutive season Predators prospects have played a Southeast Division opponent during their camp. In 2008, they hosted the Atlanta Thrashers for two games at Bridgestone Arena, and in 2009 a team of rookies traveled to Duluth, Ga., for games at the Thrashers' practice facility. Last season, Florida and Nashville rookies played a two-game set in Sunrise.

Prospects expected to attend the camp include first rounders Chet Pickard (2008), Ryan Ellis (2009) and Austin Watson (2010), second rounders Roman Josi (2008) and Charles-Olivier Roussel (2009), as well as top prospects Craig Smith - one of Team USA's three best players at the 2011 World Championships - and Taylor Beck - who ranked among the Top 10 OHL scorers in each of the past two seasons.

The games and camp will precede the opening of 2011 Training Camp, which occurs Sept. 16, with testing and physicals. The Predators' first day on the ice will be Saturday, Sept. 17 at Centennial Sportsplex and they will play eight preseason contests from Sept. 19-Oct. 1, including three at home (Sept. 24 vs. Winnipeg, Sept. 28 vs. Washington and Oct. 1 vs. Carolina).

As to who will be there...

NO.	FORWARDS	HT	WT	SH	Place of Birth	Birthdate	2010-11 Team
60	Brent Andrews	6-2	200	L	Hunter River, P.E.I.	1/19/93	Halifax (QMJHL)
56	Taylor Beck	6-2	203	R	St. Catharines, Ont.	5/13/91	Guelph (OHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
57	Gabriel Bourque	5-10	192	L	Rimouski, Que.	9/23/90	Milwaukee (AHL)
73	Joel Champagne	6-4	214	L	LaSalle, Que.	1/24/90	Quebec (QMJHL)
61	David Elsner	6-0	184	R	Landshut, Germany	3/22/92	Landshut (Ger.-2)/Landshut Jr. (Ger.-Jr.)/ERC Ingolstadt (Ger.)
45	Ryan Flynn	6-3	210	R	St. Paul, Minn.	3/22/88	Milwaukee (AHL)
63	Jani Lajunen	6-1	190	L	Helsinki, Finland	6/16/90	Espoo (Finland)
55	Michael Latta	6-0	209	R	Kitchener, Ont.	5/25/91	Guelph (OHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
67	Robert Slaney	6-2	203	L	Upper Island Cove, Nfld	10/13/88	Reading (ECHL)/Toronto (AHL)
48	Josh Shalla	6-1	202	L	Whitby, Ont.	9/25/91	Saginaw (OHL)
15	Craig Smith	6-1	197	R	Madison, Wis.	9/5/89	U. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
72	Austin Watson	6-4	193	R	Ann Arbor, Mich.	1/13/92	Peterborough (OHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)

NO.	DEFENSE	HT	WT	SH	Place of Birth	Birthdate	2010-11 Team
75	Taylor Aronson	6-1	205	R	Placentia, Calif.	12/30/91	Portland (WHL)
64	Victor Bartley	6-0	203	L	Maple Ridge, B.C.	2/17/88	Rogle (Sweden-2)
42	Mattias Ekholm	6-4	204	L	Borlange, Sweden	5/24/90	Brynas (Sweden)
49	Ryan Ellis	5-10	179	R	Hamilton, Ont.	1/3/91	Windsor (OHL)/Milwaukee (AHL)
53	Jeffrey Foss	6-2	205	R	Fargo, N.D.	12/12/88	R.P.I. (ECAC)/Milwaukee (AHL)
54	Charles-Olivier Roussel	6-1	201	R	St. Eustache, Que.	9/13/91	Montreal (QMJHL)
83	Scott Valentine	6-2	201	L	Ottawa, Ont.	5/2/91	Oshawa (OHL)

NO.	GOALTENDER	HT	WT	C	Place of Birth	Birthdate	2010-11 Team
36	Atte Engren	6-1	186	L	Rauma, Finland	2/19/88	TPS Turku (Finland)/Milwaukee (AHL)
37	Chet Pickard	6-2	206	L	Moncton, N.B.	11/29/89	Milwaukee (AHL)/Cincinnati (ECHL)

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Comments

If anyone can get to the camp

I’d love some video of Engren. Thanks.

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Aug 24, 2011 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

So do you just have a thing for Finnish goalies?

by Melissa Vanderpool Wallace on Aug 24, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

No, all goalies

It’s a curse.

But Mitch Korn is a wizard with the LSGs.

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Aug 24, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Does Engren qualify as an LSG? He’s only 6’ 1".

by XVIII on Aug 24, 2011 12:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Supposedly plays like an LSG, though. (According to scouting reports. I haven’t seen much of him personally, which is why I want video.)

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Aug 24, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of Finns..

I think Jani Lajunen is going to be pretty solid for us, not sure where he’ll be this season but I think he’s one to look forward to

by DonBorvio on Aug 24, 2011 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

Lajunen has developed nicely in Finland and had a good showing at the World Championships. He’s a skilled forward with good two-way awareness. Jani should start the year in Milwaukee, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him and fellow Finn Juusi Puustinen crack the lineup at some point this season as call ups…

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

by Seth Lake on Aug 24, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Hellburg

Why is Hellburg not going to be a part of this? Is he playing overseas until he’s ready for Milwaukee, to be an actual prospect?

by SKSmith on Aug 24, 2011 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

Well, neither is Jeremy Smith. Who knows? Maybe other commitments, maybe the ones who need it “the most,” maybe to try get enough exposure to decide who’ll get the Milwaukee backup. (those are the 2 most considered in contention for that position.)

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Aug 24, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Though he is an "actual" prospect

Possibly on the “Lindback plan” (play in Sweden for a few years and then jump over everyone else straight to the NHL.)

"I'm a firm believer that in life, if you're happy then happy things will happen for you."--Bernie Parent
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Aug 24, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

He’s playing in the SEL this fall, no need to come over now.

Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of HockeyGearHQ, a site devoted to hockey equipment and accessories. Catch me on Twitter, or join OTF on Facebook!

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 24, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Hm

Are we going to see Austin and/or Ellis in Nashville this year, or will they be playing in Milwaukee?

by SKSmith on Aug 24, 2011 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

I would pretty much guarantee that you’ll see Ellis in Nashville at some point this season.

by Melissa Vanderpool Wallace on Aug 24, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I thing he and Smith will make it out of training camp, they looked more mature and ready over most of the other players in the rookie camp with maybe a couple others.

by DonBorvio on Aug 24, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Austin Watson

Watson has one more year of juniors left before he can be assigned to Milwaukee due to his birth date. He’ll be sent back to juniors this season and won’t see any time in Nashville this season barring a real breakout year. He should finish the year in Milwaukee.

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

by Seth Lake on Aug 24, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

he looked good in development camp, so i’m looking forward to seeing him as a pred in a couple of years.

by predwheels on Aug 24, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh it's so close...

…I can taste the hockey.

Gonna miss you Joel Ward...

Go Predmirals!

by Poiju on Aug 24, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

mmm galvanized rubber…

by DonBorvio on Aug 24, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Can't wait!!!

September is going to be a great month! hockey starts back and get to see my UConn huskies play Vandy in football (why do we even call it that again?) Also just got my tickets for the Jets game pre season…(Incert stupid football chant here followed by sucks sucks SUCKS)

by Shadow23 on Aug 24, 2011 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

We call it "football"

because it is a game played on foot. As opposed to “on horse”. Seriously.

by musamonster on Aug 24, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can hardly wait! I feel so lost without hockey season. Ellis will be great. I am also hearing alot of good things about Craig Smith.

"I had all my own teeth and I wanted to keep it that way." - Tom Glavine
All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.
Gordie Howe

by SinBinPred on Aug 24, 2011 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

roman josi

he’s not in either

by predwheels on Aug 24, 2011 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

Josi has graduated

Due to the depth at the position and his solid play last year, Josi will only participate in main training camp where he’ll be competing for a spot in the opening night lineup for the Predators.

They know what they have with Josi, this gives more evaluation time to guys like Ellis, Ekholm, Bartley, and others to make an impression.

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

by Seth Lake on Aug 24, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

i want to see more of ekholm.

by predwheels on Aug 24, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

number 15

i noticed smith was given a “real” number

by predwheels on Aug 24, 2011 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, his number from college (since Lombardi is gone). Good evidence though that’s going to get the fast track like Wilson.

by DonBorvio on Aug 24, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Not an insignificant point at all. All their body language suggests they think he can help right now.

by el pucko on Aug 24, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

No J00nas

but Champagne is on ice.

by Sam Page on Aug 24, 2011 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Particularly important camp for...

Taylor Aronson, Scott Valentine, and Josh Shalla

Aronson and Shalla each have one season of junior eligibility left, but both can start the season in Milwaukee if they show themselves to be ready in camp. If they don’t prove themselves ready for that next step though, they will be sent back to their junior programs where they will be committed to the CHL for the entire season.

Scott Valentine comes to camp without a contract. He earned an invitation to training camp with his performance over the summer and will be battling here for a spot in Milwaukee’s camp once the team splits. A former Anaheim draft pick, Valentine rejected the Ducks final offer to become a free agent. He could be a pretty decent find for a project defenseman. Big and tough, Valentine plays a stay-at-home style of defense and isn’t shy about dropping the gloves. His chances at cracking the Admirals roster get significantly better if Aronson is sent back to juniors…

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

by Seth Lake on Aug 24, 2011 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Sweet

Nashville is bringing Champagne to the party

by Stormyt on Aug 24, 2011 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

Florida fan checking in..

Can’t wait to get rookie camp going!

Just a reminder though.. you guys are going to have your work cut out for you.. Huberdeau, Gudbranson, Markstrom, Howden.. Just those names alone are scary to think of going up against.

by Rob PKane McMahon on Aug 25, 2011 10:08 PM EDT reply actions