According to the NHL’s media website, the Nashville Predators have their opening night roster for the 2013-14 season.
The 13 forwards on the active roster (as well as Viktor Stalberg who’s on injured reserve) are below.
| # | FORWARD |
| 57 | Gabriel Bourque |
| 16 | Rich Clune |
| 7 | Matt Cullen |
| 12 | Mike Fisher |
| 9 | Filip Forsberg |
| 28 | Paul Gaustad |
| 26 | Matt Hendricks |
| 27 | Patric Hornqvist |
| 11 | David Legwand |
| 24 | Eric Nystrom |
| 15 | Craig Smith |
| 13 | Nick Spaling |
| 25 | Viktor Stalberg (IR) |
| 33 | Colin Wilson |
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The Preds are opting to carry seven defensemen to start the year with both Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis making the cut. Below is the full list of blueliners.
| # | DEFENSEMAN |
| 64 | Victor Bartley |
| 42 | Mattias Ekholm |
| 4 | Ryan Ellis |
| 3 | Seth Jones |
| 59 | Roman Josi |
| 8 | Kevin Klein |
| 6 | Shea Weber |
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Finally, no surprises between the pipes as both Pekka Rinne and Carter Hutton make up the goaltending depth chart in Music City.
| # | GOALTENDER |
| 30 | Carter Hutton |
| 35 | Pekka Rinne |
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It is notable that, despite the limit of 23, there are only 22 active players on the Nashville roster. Because he’s on the IR, winger Stalberg does not count against them and, therefore, they could have kept Taylor Beck with the big club if they wanted. This suggests that there may be someone on waivers (Buffalo’s Luke Adam?) that they may try to claim tomorrow. Or maybe they’re leaving some flexibility on the roster in case someone they like appears on the waiver wire Sunday. Or perhaps free agent invite Simon Moser did make the team after all but they’re still working on a contract.
Either way, we’ll know soon enough. All NHL teams must submit their 23-man rosters by Monday at 4:00 p.m. Central.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Fuqua (used with permission)