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The Nashville Predators announced their 23-man Opening Night roster today, along with the placement of center Jamie Lundmark on injured reserve. Despite being put on waivers yesterday, defenseman Alexander Sulzer is still on the team.
Follow after the jump for a look at the Sulzer situation, and an excerpt from the team's press release...
After all players cleared waivers this morning (per TSN's Bob McKenzie), the Preds opted to hang on to defenseman Alexander Sulzer rather than assign him immediately to Milwaukee. They now have a 30-day (or 10 game) window in which they can send him down to the Admirals before requiring another waiver, if they decide later on to do so. Presumably he's still here to serve as a 7th defenseman, particularly since Shane O'Brien has to get paperwork in place to begin work in the U.S. as he transitions from Vancouver. You never know when bureaucratic delays can turn messy, so it wouldn't make sense to send Sulzer down before (at the very least) O'Brien is on the ice in Nashville.When it comes to a potential recall to the NHL, Sulzer would have to clear waivers again on the way back up, in which case another team could grab him and split his salary 50/50 with the Preds. Aaron Johnson, on the other hand, would not have to clear recall waivers. If you're dying to know why, head for section 50.9(g) of the CBA, and try not to fall asleep while reading it.
Here's part of the team's presser:
Players by position currently on the active roster are as follows:
FORWARDS (14): Wade Belak, J.P. Dumont, Martin Erat, Marcel Goc, Patric Hornqvist, Sergei Kostitsyn, David Legwand, Matthew Lombardi, Cal O'Reilly, Jerred Smithson, Steve Sullivan, Jordin Tootoo, Joel Ward and Colin Wilson.
DEFENSEMEN (7): Francis Bouillon, Cody Franson, Kevin Klein, Shane O'Brien, Alexander Sulzer, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber.
GOALTENDERS (2): Anders Lindback and Pekka Rinne.
The Predators kick off the 2010-11 campaign this Saturday with Opening Night in Smashville when they take on the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. CT (102.9-FM The Buzz, FOX Sports Tennessee). Festivities begin at 4 p.m. on the Bridgestone Arena Plaza with the players and coaches walking the red carpet on the plaza. Live music, games, free ice cream provided by Purity and a special arrival by mascot GNASH will follow. The Predators new flagship radio station, 102.9 The Buzz, will also be broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena all day.
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