As a followup to Jordin Tootoo entering the NHL Substance Abuse Program, the Nashville Predators have announced that they’ve signed Milwaukee Admirals forward Chris Mueller to an NHL contract, and it looks like we’ll see him skate against the Dallas Stars tomorrow night:
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Chris Mueller to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000 on the NHL level and $55,000 on the AHL level. With forwards Steve Sullivan and Martin Erat placed on Injured Reserve, Mueller is expected to make his NHL debut tomorrow night vs. Dallas.
Mueller, 24 (3/6/86), is ranked second on the Admirals in both goals (12) and points (20) in his second season with the club. Since turning pro in 2008, the West Seneca, N.Y., native has amassed 63 points (30g-33a) in 161 AHL games with Milwaukee, Lake Erie and Grand Rapids and 11 points (7g-4a) in eight ECHL contests with Cincinnati and Johnstown. The 5-10, 180-pound right wing posted 104 points (42g-62a) and 141 penalty minutes in 166 games (missing just four contests total) with Michigan State University from 2004-08, serving as an alternate captain during his junior and senior seasons. He helped the Spartans win the 2007 NCAA National Championship, ranking fifth in points (3g-2a) during the NCAA Tournament and being named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team.
This strange Preds season just keeps getting weirder, doesn’t it?
Here are Mueller’s AHL stats so far in 2010-11:
Ryan Miller, OtF’s man in Milwaukee, had this to say on Chris Mueller:
Mueller is a blue collar, versatile winger/center that isn’t out of place on the ice in any aspect of his game. Power play, penalty kill, crunch time, he can play it all. He’s having his best season offensively, and is really the only offensive player lately that has merited discussion of a call-up. He will fit right in no matter where Trotz puts him. He’s an all-around good player, but not excellent or flawed in any one aspect of his game.