The 23 year old was a fifth round draft pick of the  Calgary Flames in 2006 and played two years of Junior with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.

Puustinen spent last season playing with HPK of the Finnish Elite League. The 6-2, 187 pound forward ranked fourth in goals league-wide with 26.  (SM-Liiga), ranking fourth in the league in goals (26), and tied for 20th in points (38). A native of Kuopio, Finland, Puustinen also played two seasons with the Espoo Blues.

Like the signing of Laakso on Wednesday, this move by the Preds is a depth move geared towards stocking the cupboards in Milwaukee.

Photo credit: YLE.fi

Brentwood native Sebastian Lemm

For one Brentwood native, the Showcase was a good opportunity to get ice time before trying out for the USA Under-17 National team later in the summer.

Sebastian Lemm currently attends  Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota.  The prep school has produced some of the National Hockey League’s biggest stars including Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews.

When Lemm was 14 he contacted the coach about getting into the school. The 6’1, 170 pound forward had to go through a tryout and then get accepted into the school.

“Fortunately, I was able to get in,” Lemm said about going to Shattuck St. Mary’s, adding that playing conditions factored into his desire to leave home.

“A big part of me wanting to go there was getting ice every day. In the South, it is hard to get ice every day, and it has a good reputation in the hockey world,” he said.

But Lemm says knowing that players like Crosby and Zach Parise went to the same school was a draw.

Lemm plays all three forward positions and credits the Nashville Predators for his choice in sports. “The Predators had a huge influence on my hockey career. I watched them growing up and I asked my parents to let me play hockey.”

Lemm names Steve Sullivan as his favorite player because “he has a lot heart.”

Lemm recently turned 17 and will be a senior next year. He plans on finishing high school, but has hopes to play Junior rather than take the NCAA route.

Currently only one player in the NHL is from Tennessee. Predators forward Blake Geoffrion went to the University of Wisconsin and won the Hobey Baker Award for best Collegiate hockey player before heading to Milwaukee and then Nashville late in the season.

Despite the different paths they will likely take, Lemm says Geoffrion is a role model. “I look up to him a lot. I want to follow in his footsteps. That would be really nice. It would be a really good  experience to be drafted by the Preds and play for the Predators some day.”

Horachek, who has been with the team since the 2003-04 season, was in the running for the head coaching positions in both Minnesota and Dallas but was passed over.

“I don’t look at it as a negative and I’m not disappointed to the point that I think I’m upset. Yeah, we all want to be a head coach, that’s why we do this game as coaches. We want to get to the point where you are the head coach of a National Hockey League team. That’s obviously expected, but going through the process, getting the recognition, getting people calling you is a real positive situation,” Horachek said about the attention received from other clubs looking for a new coach.

Predators General Manager, David Poile, said that Horachek has been key to the Predators success. “Peter has brought great energy, passion and knowledge to our coaching staff for the last seven seasons. He has played a significant role in our overall success, including the development of so many homegrown players. He is very deserving of this promotion.”

Before becoming the Predators assistant coach, Horachek was the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals.

“If I’m not a head coach, I want to be here.” Horachek said as he explained that the Predators organization is family-like and is staffed with quality people. “I’m coming back to a staff that I’m very familiar with, that I’m very happy working with, he said.”

Just as Horachek was promoted from the AHL, Nashville’s newest Assistant Coach Lane Lambert also comes from Milwaukee. Horachek says the relationship between Lambert and the Predators coaching staff had already been established. “Lane isn’t going to miss a beat. He is going to fit right in. He’s a quality guy. He is also passionate. He knows his game. He’s been with us at camps–conditioning camps, development camps, training camps. He’s been there with us. We talk to him daily. We have a relationship and he won’t miss a beat,” he said.

Lambert was hired when Brent Peterson officially stepped down from on-ice duties with the team after the Predators were eliminated from the post-season by the Vancouver Canucks.

Photo credit: Nashville Predators

The 24 year old has spent most of last season in Milwaukee, but was called up to Nashville on three occasions, including during the Predators playoff run. Laakso did see action in one contest for the Predators on October 23rd. In three seasons, Laakso has played 8 games for the Predators.

In 152 games for Milwaukee, Laakso has recorded 14 goals and 38 assists for 52 points. During the 2010-11 campaign, Laakso picked up 8 goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 74 games.

Laakso isn’t expected to be on the opening night roster for the Predators, but if needed can fill a stay-at-home defenceman role in case of injury.

Photo credit: Getty Images

The showcase, run by Predators Manager of Hockey Operations Brandon Walker, is now in its 7th year. Wednesday will highlight camp games and awards will be handed out.

There are two programs, one for Juniors, players between the ages of 16-19 who are thinking about trying out for junior or making college selections. The other program consists of Development for skaters between the ages of 14-15. The younger players will be educated on creating the right path for them in hockey as well as learning the differences between AAA and Junior programs.

There are 220 players from 27 different states at this summer’s event. Former Predator Jim McKenzie is coaching the camp and NBC/Versus analysis Darren Eliot is coaching the goaltenders.

College teams and several OHL teams have representatives in attendance.

The event is open to the public.

Lambert had a 178-103-28 record in four seasons with the Admirals. Milwaukee made the playoffs each year that Lambert was at the helm. During his four seasons as head coach in the AHL, 25 players have played for both the Ads and the Predators, including 17 of the 33 players who wore a Predators jersey this past season.

“I’ve been in the organization for 5 years and today is an exciting day for me,” Lambert said about the promotion to Nashville. Before being promoted to head coach, Lambert was the assistant coach to Claude Noel during the 2006-07 season.

The Predators were in need of a new assistant coach after it was announced that Brent Peterson was relinquishing his on-ice duties as assistant coach but would stay on with the team in some capacity. Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease eight years ago.

“He’s been invaluable for our organization since day one,” Head Coach Barry Trotz said at the end of year press conference. “He’s been invaluable for the development of the players, for myself. He is a fantastic coach and a better man, and a good friend.”

Peterson played 11 seasons in the NHL for four clubs, the Red Wings, Canucks, Sabres and Whalers. He was drafted 11th overall in 1978.

Predators General Manager David Poile said hiring a new assistant from within the organization made sense. “Lane is one of the best young up-and-coming coaches in the sport today,” Poile said. “Similar to our philosophy on player development, we believe in promoting from within whenever possible. Lane has successfully coached and mentored more than half the players on our current roster, and many more who are coming through the pipeline, so he will fit seamlessly into Barry Trotz’s staff.”

The Admirals now must start their search for a head coach, which the organization says will start immediately.

While the Admirals look for their new head coach, Nashville might be looking for another assistant before too long. Assistant Coach Peter Horachek is in consideration for the head coach position with the Dallas Stars.  He was also considered for the job in Minnesota.

Thursday afternoon, the Predators also announced the re-signing of goaltending coach Mitch Korn. Working with the organization since 1998, it is no surprise his services were retained. Before joining Nashville, Korn spent seven seasons with the Buffalo Sabres working with Hart and Vezina winner Dominik Hasek.

photo credit: MilwaukeeAdmirals.com

In a press release from the OHL, Ellis expressed gratitude for being selected.

“It is always exciting to win personal awards but to receive one that recognizes your leadership is extra special for me,” Ellis said.

Ellis knew Renaud. “Being able to learn from Mickey in my first year helped a lot, he always made everyone feel part of the team.  This year I tried to do the same by making everyone feel comfortable and we were like a family in Windsor and I think it contributed to our success” he said.

The captain of the Windsor Spitfires was chosen by a selection committee who decided among the 20 OHL team captains.

Ellis, 20, played four seasons with the Spitfires. When the team was knocked out of Memorial Cup contention this season, Ellis joined Milwaukee for the end of their playoff run. In 7 games he recorded 1 goal and 1 assist.

The Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy is just one of three awards Ellis will be receiving on Wednesday night at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Ellis also won the Max Kaminsky Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman, and the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year.

photo credit: prohockeynews.com

Marcel Goc signed with Nashville late in the summer of 2009 heading into the 2009-10 season. After two years with the Predators, the Calw, Germany native talked about the difference one year makes.

“I came here two seasons ago. Last year, we went out in the first round against Chicago. Game five was the deciding game of that series,” Goc said, highlighting that the Predators had a 3-2 lead with under 20 seconds to play in regulation and allowed Patrick Kane to score short handed to send the match to overtime.

The Blackhawks went on to win the game and then beat the Predators in six games.

“I think we learned from that,” Goc said, adding, “the guys played really well in the playoffs this season.”

Battling shoulder injuries throughout the season, Goc had 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 51 games. His final game of the season was on February 17th when he suffered a season ending left-shoulder injury against the Vancouver Canucks. Back in October, Goc separated his right shoulder when he was boarded by Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals.

Goc says one of the things Nashville is good at is defying expectations.

“I don’t think many people took us to win the series against Anaheim. We proved everybody wrong. And all the games against Vancouver were really tight. Everybody did what they were supposed to do, and Peks played really good.”

Goc is one of several Nashville players who will be free agents come July 1st. Practically a steal for $775 000, Goc is money well spent, but the Predators have more centers than they can handle with Matthew Lombardi, Mike Fisher, David Legwand and Jerred Smithson, who can also play wing, already under contract. Restricted free agent Nick Spaling is key to the Predators penalty kill and will not be left without a qualifying offer July 1st. Even if Tennessee native Blake Geoffrion starts the season in Milwaukee, the Predators still have 7 centers under contract until the start of free agency season, including RFA Cal O’Reilly and Goc.

Despite the logjam at center, Goc would like to suit up for the Predators come fall.

“I like it here. If the opportunity comes up, I’m not hesitating,” Goc said about the possibility of signing a new contract with the team.

For career stats click here.

Photo credit: Getty Images

This past season, Bartley played in Sweden’s second division (with Rogle) and ranked second in points and assists for defensemen with 11 goals, 23 assists and 34 points in 52 games played.

Bartley is from Maple Ridge, British Columbia and played junior in the Western Hockey League with the Kamloops Blazers and the Regina Pats between 2004-2009. The 6’0 blueliner picked up 36 goals and 132 assists (as well as 466 penalty minutes) in 336 games.

In 2007, according to HockeysFuture.com, Bartley was the 13th best prospect in the WHL (number 2 was Predator Cody Franson). The prospect rating site had this to say about Bartley:

“A pivotal contributor to the strong backend in Kamloops this season, Bartley has maintained the same high level of intensity he brought to the ice during his draft year. With the Blazers among the top teams in the country this season, compared to last year when the club missed the playoffs for the first time in decades, Bartley is certain to get a better look from NHL scouts. He brings leadership and poise to the Blazers and has been a steadying influence for young prospects like Keaton Ellerby and Ryan Bender, who are both 2007 eligible.”

Before playing in Sweden, the undrafted defenseman played for the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2009-10.

With the strength of  the position of defense, the signing can’t be seen as anything more than a depth move on the part of the Predators organization.

Here are Bartley’s career stats:

Photo credit: HD.SE                                                                                                                                                                                                 Originally posted on Predlines

Ryan Ellis, the Predators 2010 first round draft pick and Memorial Cup winning defenseman, will play his first year of professional hockey, with all things being equal, in Milwaukee. Roman Josi is also a highly touted prospect who just finished his first full season with the Admirals. In 13 playoff contests, Josi scored one goal and recorded 6 assists for 7 points. Additionally, the Predators recently signed Mattias Ekholm, the Swedish Elite League’s rookie of the year.  Ekholm is also likely to play his first North American season next year.

Even if Bouillon cannot resume play because of a concussion that ended his season in January, with the strong defensive prospects waiting for their chance to play in the NHL, left out of the mix, then, is Shane O’Brien.

The unrestricted free agent had 2 goals, 7 assists and a team-leading 83 penalty minutes  appearing in 80  games for Nashville. O’Brien also appeared in all 12 playoff games for the Predators.

“I would love to come back here,” O’Brien said about the possibility of returning to Nashville. “There are great guys. Great city, the fans are awesome. Nashville is a great place to live. I think we can win here.”

After Nashville was eliminated from the post season, O’Brien tweeted “Smashville Thanks for a great year you guys were the best!” speaking past tense as though he had played his last game in a Predators uniform. While it might be a numbers game with the Port Hope, Ontario native being the odd-man out, O’Brien explains the situation differently.

“That’s the business side of the game. You can’t play this game forever. You have to take care of yourself and your family,”he said. O’Brien also commented on the length of his next deal, suggesting that he was looking for more than a one-year option.

“I’ve moved around quite a bit here now.  It would be nice to get a three or four-year deal somewhere where you could settle in,” O’Brien said, adding that it helps you as a hockey player when you get to know your teammates.

O’Brien, who started his career in Anaheim and has also played for Tampa Bay and the Canucks, said no contract discussions took place during the season.  “That stuff has a way of taking care of itself. We will see what Mr. Poile has to say and see what happens,” O’Brien said about the off season plans to find an NHL home come fall.

In a year that saw the Predators win their first ever playoff series, O’Brien calls the year a good one. “We accomplished a lot of things as a team, as an organization. We should be proud of a lot of stuff that went on this year. It is definitely something I will remember forever.”

While O’Brien talks as though he has already moved on, if given the opportunity the opposite would be the case.

“I would definitely come back here in a heartbeat — we have great guys and a great team,” he said.

Free agency period begins July 1st.

Photo credit: Getty Images                                                                                                                                                                                  Originally posted on Predlines