As soon as training camp opened, Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz said “There’s so much seperation between them (Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback) and the three other guys.”
So when Chet Pickard and Atte Engren were sent down to Milwaukee a few days ago, it became evident that goaltender Jeremy Smith had, indeed, done enough to win the starting job with the Admirals.
Tonight, he was officially assigned to the club that he’ll try and backstop to a Calder Cup Championship in 2011-12.
The press release is below. You’ll notice that Smith’s departure leaves just Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback in Preds camp.
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NASHVILLE PREDATORS ASSIGN JEREMY SMITH TO MILWAUKEE
-Training Camp roster now at 31 –
Nashville, Tenn. (September 28, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has assigned goaltender Jeremy Smith to Milwaukee (AHL).
Smith, 22 (4/13/89), appeared in three preseason games with the Predators, posting a 1-0-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage.
The transactions leave Nashville’s Training Camp roster at 31 players – 18 forwards, 11 defensemen and two goaltenders. Players by position currently participating in camp are as follows:
FORWARDS (18): Niclas Bergfors, Gabriel Bourque, Martin Erat, Mike Fisher, Blake Geoffrion, Matt Halischuk, Patric Hornqvist, Sergei Kostitsyn, David Legwand, Chris Mueller, Cal O’Reilly, Craig Smith, Jerred Smithson, Nick Spaling, Zack Stortini, Jordin Tootoo, Colin Wilson and Kyle Wilson
DEFENSEMEN (11): Teemu Laakso, Jonathon Blum, Francis Bouillon, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Jack Hillen, Roman Josi, Kevin Klein, Tyler Sloan, Ryan Suter, Shea Weber
GOALTENDERS (2): Anders Lindback and Pekka Rinne
The Predators now jet to Winnipeg for the first of back-to-back contests on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., before wrapping up the preseason with the annual Preds Fest Game on Saturday when the Carolina Hurricanes come to town (7 p.m., 102.5 The Game).
Season tickets for the 2011-12 Nashville Predators season in Smashville are on sale now and start at just $19 per game. Great interest-free payment plans are currently available for Full Season, Half Season and Flex 12 packages. For information on all our season ticket packages, visit nashvillepredators.com/
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PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Fuqua // special to section303.com (used with permission)