The old line about the road to Nashville going through Milwaukee will continue to ring true, as the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals have extended their affiliation through the 2013-2014 season, with an option for another year beyond that.

The press release from the Preds follows after the jump.

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Here's a quote from Milwaukee Admirals Head Coach Ian Herbers, talking about one of his players.

"He's been fantastic for us all year. If you look at overall, he's been our best forward from day one. He's been just good, steady, you can rely on him. He's just a good, solid player -- a very smart and detailed game, comes to battle and competes every night."

It's a ringing endorsement for a guy that isn't even on an NHL contract at the moment: Center Mark Van Guilder.

After the jump, an explanation of why he should be on your radar screen.

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The following press release just came from the Milwaukee Admirals:

The Milwaukee Admirals announced today that Stan Drulia has been hired as the team's new assistant coach. Drulia's appointment comes after Ian Herbers was elevated to be the team's head coach last week.

Drulia brings an impressive coaching and playing resume to the Milwaukee, having most recently served as the head coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. During his time in Wheeling, Drulia helped the Nailers to a combined 49-35-0-5 record. In 2010-11 they posted a 38-29-0-5 record which was good for second place in the ECHL's North Division and made it the third round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Last season Nailing saw 18 different players promoted to the American Hockey League.

"We are excited to have Stan join us here in Milwaukee," noted Herbers. "He has extensive head coaching experience at the ECHL level and brings different skills and perspective to the table that will certainly benefit our organization. Stan has a great work ethic and a very positive attitude and I'm really looking forward to working with him."

Prior to joining the Wheelers, the Elmira, NY native spent three seasons as the head coach for the Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League where he accumulated a notable 132-75-21 record. In his first year with the Icehawks Drulia guided the team to a 41-29-6 record and berth in the IHL Finals where they lost a 3-2 overtime decision in game seven. The following season he led Port Huron to a 44-21-11 mark and was selected as the IHL Coach of the Year.

Drulia also spent two seasons as the bench boss of the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL and in his only year as the head coach of the Orlando Seals of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League he guided the club to the league title, earning ACHL Coach of the Year honors in the process.

A two-time Turner Cup Champion as a player, Drulia completed a remarkable 13-year playing career in 2001. He played in 126 NHL contests with the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing with 42 points on 15 goals and 27 assists. Three times in his career he posted more than 100 points in a single season, including the 1993-94 campaign when he tallied 114 points (54g-60a) for Atlanta, and was named the IHL Playoff MVP as the Knights captured the Turner Cup. Drulia also won the Cup with the Herbers and the Detroit Vipers in 1996-97 and he earned his second N.R. "Bud" Poile award as IHL Playoff MVP in 1999, even though the Vipers lost in the Finals. Before turning pro Drulia cranked out an OHL record 479 points with three different teams, a record that still stands today.

The Milwaukee Admirals have made it official, naming Ian Herbers the new head coach of the team in the wake of Kirk Muller's departure to join the Carolina Hurricanes. The Ads just issued a press release, which follows after the jump:

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The Milwaukee Admirals are off to a 3-0 start in their American Hockey League campaign. While some of the success can be linked directly to some of the familiar players in the organization (Chris Mueller, Ryan Thang, Jeremy Smith), some of the new guys in the system have made immediate impacts.

One such player is Finnish forward Juuso Puustinen.

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Have you always wanted to come up north to see the Baby Preds play, but have never quite been able to pull the trip off?

The AHL released their schedule recently, and we can now make some recommendations on ways for you to get the most out of your hockey roadtrip to include some time with the Milwaukee Admirals.

A few thoughts about the schedule first.  Per the request of the NHL, to try to help prevent players from breaking down, the AHL has removed four games from their workload.  While the 3-games-in-3-days conditioning still remains, the AHL has also removed all 4-games-in-5-days stretches.  Add that to making the season a week longer, and you've got a recipe for an Admirals schedule where 32 of their 38 home games fall on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.  That's good for business, and that's good for travelers!

In addition, with the Admirals playing 18 road games against division rivals from nearby Chicago Rosemont (It's next to O'Hare), Rockford, and Peoria, you are within a comfortable drive to catch the Admirals on the road as well.

Frontier Airlines has direct flights from Nashville to Milwaukee.  And everyone flies into Chicago.  If you'd rather drive, Mapquest calls it about a 9 and a half hour ride from Nashville.

After the jump, some suggestions for you, as you check your frequent flier miles and plan your hockey roadtrip.

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There was a lot of buzz today at Development Camp over the qualifying offer situation from yesterday, and then David Poile's subsequent comments on that and other matters, but there was also a noticeable buzz on the ice, as the Predators continued their development camp today for day 3 of workouts.

Thoughts on today's action, as well as more pictures and video from the day at Centennial Sportsplex after the jump.

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The Predators have issued the following press release:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that Kirk Muller has been named the head coach of the team's primary developmental affiliate, the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals.

"Kirk Muller was everything we were looking for in our development coach," Poile said. "With his playing pedigree, experience as a captain and Stanley Cup winner, and his solid communication skills, we feel our young players and prospects are in great hands." 

 

Muller, 45 (2/8/66), has spent the past five seasons as an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens, helping them reach the playoffs in each of the past four campaigns, and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010. Known as an excellent communicator, motivator and an outstanding strategist, the Kingston, Ont., native is credited for transforming a Habs penalty killing unit that has finished in the top half of the League each season since his arrival, including a seventh-place ranking in 2010-11. The Canadiens did not give up a power-play goal in their seven 2011 postseason contests, going 21-for-21. During his second season behind the Montreal bench in 2007-08, the club posted its best record since the 1988-89 club the advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, going and Eastern Conference best 47-25-10 (105 points).

 

Prior to joining the Montreal staff on June 20, 2006, Muller spent one season as head coach of the Queen's University Golden Gaels (Canadian University) in his hometown of Kingston. He also served as an assistant coach on Canada's entries at the 2005 Lotto Cup Tournament, winning a gold medal, and the 2006 Under-18 World Championships.

 

Selected second overall by New Jersey in the 1984 Entry Draft, Muller retired after an illustrious 19-season career in 2003 (N.J., MTL, NYI, TOR, FLA, DAL) which saw him post 959 points (357g-602a) in 1,349 regular-season games (42nd all-time) and 69 points (33g-36a) in 127 playoff games. The nine-time 20-goal scorer and five-time 30-goal man played in six NHL All-Star Games (1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993), with his best season coming in 1992-93, when the left winger tied a career-high with 94 points (37g-57a) and pitched in 17 (10g-7a) more during the Canadiens run to the 1993 Stanley Cup. He also represented Canada at four World Championships (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989) and in the 1984 Olympics.

You've got to like this hire for Milwaukee, I'll be very interested to see what impact he can have on the young forwards there.