Don't Miss
Home / Franchise Notes / Predators have trimmed roster to 33….

Predators have trimmed roster to 33….

The Nashville Predators have made the following cuts:

FORWARDS
Taylor Beck (assigned to Milwaukee)
Ryan Flynn (assigned to Milwaukee)
Jani Lajunen (assigned to Milwaukee)
Michael Latta (assigned to Milwaukee)
Juuso Puustinen (assigned to Milwaukee)
Josh Shalla (assigned to Milwaukee)
Robert Slaney (assigned to Milwaukee)
Joel Champagne (released from ATO)
Mark Van Guilder (released from PTO)

DEFENSEMEN
Taylor Aronson (assigned to Milwaukee)
Victor Bartley (assigned to Milwaukee)
Charles-Olivier Roussel (assigned to Milwaukee)
Jeff Foss (released ATO)
Scott Ford (released PTO)
Scott Valentine (released ATO)

GOALTENDERS
Atte Engren (assigned to Milwaukee)
Chet Pickard (assigned to Milwaukee)

This leaves Jeremy Smith, considered to be the starting goaltender in Milwaukee, in Nashville for the time being. Presumably to get extra work with goaltending coach Mitch Korn and, obviously, to give both Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback some relief when necessary.

Some surprises after the first round of cuts are all four rookie defensive prospects remain on the big roster. Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Teemu Laakso and the injured Roman Josi will all stay in Music City for the time being. Former Washington Capitals defenseman Tyler Sloan and former New York Islanders blueliner Jack Hillen also stick around, making the competition for those final three defensive spots a dead heat between five different players (and the injured Josi).

Expect  more cuts after Wednesday’s pre-season tilt with the Washington Capitals.

The Milwaukee Admirals start their training camp on Monday.