The Nashville Predators have announced the next wave of cuts from training camp, whittling down the roster to 28 players.
The biggest name of the group is forward Kevin Fiala, who was expected to challenge for one of the last spots on the roster. Fiala didn’t have the greatest of camps, and will now get top minutes down in Milwaukee. Miikka Salomaki was also a dark horse candidate to make the team, but his cut is not terribly surprising.
Yakov Trenin was also assigned to assigned to his junior team in the QMJHL.
There are still five players to go before the final roster is decided. Among those, Austin Watson, Colton Sissons, Anthony Bitetto, Viktor Arvidsson and Cody Bass will try for a spot on the big club.
The Predators play their next preseason game at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The full press release from the Preds:
Nashville, Tenn. (September 26, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has assigned goaltenders Marek Mazanec and Brandon Whitney; defensemen Conor Allen, Johan Alm, Trevor Murphy, Jonathan Diaby, Mikko Vainonen, Jaynen Rissling, Kristian Nakyva, Taylor Aronson, Jimmy Oligny and Garrett Noonan; and forwards Kevin Fiala, Miikka Salomaki, Joe Pendenza, Felix Girard, Pontus Aberg, Vladislav Kamenev, Max Reinhart, Max Gortz, Frederick Gaudreau and Eric Robinson to Milwaukee (AHL). The team also assigned 2015 second-round draft pick Yakov Trenin to his junior team (Gatineau, QMJHL).
Nashville’s training camp roster is now at 28 players – 17 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. An updated roster is attached.
The Nashville Predators play their final two preseason games this week against the Columbus Blue Jackets, first at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. CT), then Saturday in Columbus (6 p.m. CT).