Predators send Alm and Piskula down to Milwaukee, Fiala to Sweden

We were just asked about when the Predators were going to make the next wave of roster cuts, and we have an answer:

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/PredsNHL”>@PredsNHL</a> have sent Joe Piskula and Johan Alm to <a href=”https://twitter.com/mkeadmirals”>@mkeadmirals</a>, and Kevin Fiala back to HV-71 of the SHL. <a href=”http://t.co/KKMhhANOG4″>http://t.co/KKMhhANOG4</a></p>— KWilsonPreds (@KWilsonPreds) <a href=”https://twitter.com/KWilsonPreds/status/518134729653362688″>October 3, 2014</a></blockquote>

The defense is pretty much set, with Victor Bartley surviving the chopping block for now. With the roster at 25, two players still need to be trimmed. However, with Mike Fisher not playing for a while and Cullen/Stalberg still listed as injured, it’s very possible no these are the players that start the season in some capacity.

Kevin Fiala making the team was the longest of shots, and we were all expecting him to be sent back to his SHL club. However, I am a bit surprised they didn’t wait until the preseason was over. Oh well, give ’em hell, kid.

Per the Preds:

Nashville, Tenn. (October 3, 2014) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has assigned defensemen Johan Alm and Joe Piskula to the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals and sent 2014 first-round pick Kevin Fiala back to HV-71 of the Swedish Hockey League.

Nashville heads into its final 2014 preseason game at Columbus tomorrow night (6 p.m. CT, 102.5 The Game) with a roster consisting of 25 players – 16 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders (roster attached).

Forwards (16): Taylor Beck, Gabriel Bourque, Rich Clune, Matt Cullen (currently injured), Mike Fisher (currently injured), Filip Forsberg, Paul Gaustad, Calle Jarnkrok, Olli Jokinen, James Neal, Eric Nystrom, Mike Ribeiro, Derek Roy, Craig Smith, Viktor Stalberg (currently injured) and Colin Wilson.

Defensemen (7): Victor Bartley, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Seth Jones, Roman Josi, Anton Volchenkov and Shea Weber.

Goaltenders (2): Carter Hutton and Pekka Rinne.

The Nashville Predators begin the 2014-15 regular season on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CT (FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game) when they face-off against the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena, just the second time in the last seven seasons the Preds have started the season at home. Opening night festivities include a Preds Plaza Party presented by Lee Company, Predators players participating in the GOLDWALK and t-shirts courtesy of Bridgestone and Nissan for all fans in attendance. For every Thursday night home game, fans can participate in Jack in the Box Student Rush! After presenting a student ID at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, receive either an upper bowl ticket for $15 or a lower bowl ticket and a gold shirt for $35. Both upper and lower bowl tickets receive a coupon for a free Jack in the Box burrito. A limited number of tickets for Opening Night are still available, call 615-770-7800 for more information.

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