Nick Blankenburg was recalled by Nashville from the American Hockey League just days after Thanksgiving but he’s become a fixture in the Predators defense corps The undrafted 26-year-old defenseman has been so impressive he’s been named the Predators nominee for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey Blankenburg more than meets the qualifications Nothing has ever come easy in his hockey career but after what he’s done with the Preds over the past 59 games he may not be headed anywhere other than the NHL anytime soon And Blankenburg knows just who to thank for his success all glory to God,” Blankenburg said prior to Nashville’s game in Utah on Thursday I wouldn't be here without Him and just the strength that He's given me over the years to just keep on pushing I wouldn't be here without my family and just my core you have to have good core people around you and I’m just so thankful for family and for friends and for the people that have just helped me live out this dream After making his way through the high school ranks in Michigan all Blankenburg wanted was a shot with a junior team He got that chance with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the 2017-18 campaign he walked onto the team at the University of Michigan All he did there was make a name for himself with the Wolverines including a senior season that saw the 5-foot-9 defenseman produce 14 goals and 29 points in just 38 games while serving as team captain “I think 16-year-old-me just wanted to find a junior team and try and play college hockey I was able to just be a walk-on player at Michigan and just kind of fought for an opportunity there [I’ve had] that attitude of just betting on myself to be able to sign an NHL contract and to play NHL games has just been a dream come true.” That showing with Michigan was good enough for the Blue Jackets to sign him right out of school but over the course of three seasons in the Columbus organization Blankenburg dealt with a number of injuries that kept him from ever playing a full season at the NHL level after the Blue Jackets decided to go in a different direction the Predators called and inked him to a two-year contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level - a two-way deal in 2024-25 and one-way in 2025-26 Blankenburg almost made the team out of trading camp and was one of the last players to be assigned to Milwaukee (AHL) prior to opening night and I feel like every game you almost have to pinch yourself,” Blankenburg said “I’m just so thankful to be able to live out this dream and obviously there's been a lot of ups and downs throughout the years but I think that just has built my character up to I think the most important thing is who I am becoming throughout that journey Blankenburg has become not only a regular in the Nashville lineup but a top-pairing defenseman alongside Brady Skjei with the Predators’ blueline depleted with injuries to Roman Josi including a memorable overtime goal in December he’s even quarterbacked Nashville’s top power-play unit scoring a goal on the man advantage Thursday night in Utah Not only has he learned to deal with whatever comes in the best League in the world but he’s also in a better spot than he’s ever been And that’s worthy of Masterton consideration it's just that constant surrender of just kind of letting go of the things I can’t control,” Blankenburg said “I think a lot of that is just my identity and who I am outside of hockey I think my faith plays the most important role for me [Predators Sport Psychologist Vickie Woosley] had us write down one word that we wanted to write for the year just surrendering the outcome every single night whether if I play good or I play bad or win or lose or kind of no matter what happens That’s just given me the peace to go out there and just enjoy it and really just make the most out of it." Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg has been nominated for the 2025 Masterton Trophy He was selected by the Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to "the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance and dedication to hockey." The winner is selected among a poll of all PHWA chapters at the end of the season Blankenburg, 26, has played in 56 games for the Predators this season after starting the season with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals He's scored three goals and added 12 assists while playing 19:26 minutes per game Here is the full bio of Blankenburg submitted along with his nomination: "Nothing has been given to Nick Blankenburg A look at the stops he’s made show he’s traversed North America and played in some locales and leagues not known for producing NHLers Blankenburg walked on at the University of Michigan eventually earning a scholarship for his senior year when he also served as captain of the Wolverines Blankenburg spent three seasons with Columbus He signed with Nashville in the offseason and has been a regular in the lineup since being recalled in late November after starting in the AHL." Last season, the PHWA's Nashville chapter nominated Michael McCarron for the Masterton Trophy The award went to former Predators goaltender Connor Ingram Former forward Steve Sullivan won the Masterton in 2009 the only Predators player to win the award BLANKENBURG COOKS: Any foodies in the room? A guide to the best (and worst) cooks on the Nashville Predators Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds. defenseman Nick Blankenburg has shown nothing but dedication The undrafted free agent has 16 points in 57 games this season Ever since his arrival to Nashville Predators Blankenburg recorded his 12th assist on the power play in a 7-6 OT victory against the Islanders and followed that up in a thrilling game against Utah Hockey Club where he notched just his second career power play goal He has been nothing but special this season and has been one of the rising stars in Smashville The determination for the game makes Blankenburg a prime candidate for a Bill Masternon Memorial Trophy nomination The Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association chose Blankenburg as Nashville's representative for the trophy His story is truly inspiration and one to remember Good ole Saint Nick 👏Nick Blankenburg has been nominated by the Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy! pic.twitter.com/bhV3iksHVR Michigan native started out with the Romeo High School hockey team Blankenburg recorded 161 points in 88 games he captained the team to their first state championship He put up 67 points—35 goals and 32 assists—that season he was not a defenseman at this point in time and was instead of forward He didn't transition into a defenseman until he signed with the University of Michigan Blanks began his professional hockey career with the University of Michigan in 2018. Two seasons prior to starting with the Wolverines, he competed at the Victory Honda 18U team in Michigan. Not only was he recording impressive numbers—10 goals and 18 assists in 32 games—but he also was the rink's Zamboni driver the college freshmen scored 2 goals and 8 assists and a +11 +/- in 34 games Blanks showed improvement on the blue line increasing his points by five with an additional game It wasn't until his junior year of college that we began to see a shift in his game Michigan awarded Blanks with team captaincy in his senior year He finished his Wolverine career with a dominant 29 point In the closing weeks of his final semester of college Blanks signed a one-year entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets It only took him three periods to record his first NHL point—a secondary assist off a tip-in goal He scored his first NHL goal five games later on the power play He also recorded his third and final point of the season earlier that game He signed a two-year extension worth $825k AAV with the Blue Jackets that offseason he played an average of 19 minutes a night and finished the year with 14 points in 36 games he only managed to score a lone goal in 12 games with a +1 +/- signing a two-year extension with the club He played 13 games with the Admirals in the AHL before being called up in late November He instantly made an impact with the Predators Blankenburg played top minutes with left-landed defenseman Brady Skjei He averaged nearly 20 minutes a night whilst playing physical hockey There have been sometimes where we have seen Blankenburg get rocked against the boards but he manages to get himself right back up He is extremely resilient and doesn't let anything get in his way Blankenburg pushed through and tried to find a positive out of it Blanks pushed through rags to get to the riches Even when he was pursuing education at the University of Michigan he didn't disappoint and managed to disregard his negatives to focus on the positives He is the true definition of what a Bill Masterton candidate should look like © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"6j","src":"6k","url":"6l"},{"type":"6i","value":"6m"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6p","url":"6q"},{"type":"6o","value":"6r"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Good ole Saint Nick 👏Nick Blankenburg has been nominated by the Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy! pic.twitter.com/bhV3iksHVR Blanks began his professional hockey career with the University of Michigan in 2018. Two seasons prior to starting with the Wolverines, he competed at the Victory Honda 18U team in Michigan. Not only was he recording impressive numbers—10 goals and 18 assists in 32 games—but he also was the rink's Zamboni driver Nick Blankenburg has been a core piece for the Predators this season His drive and passion for the game is something Nashville appreciates Meridian’s Daniel Blankenburg first picked up a golf club at the age of 2 and has played competitively in tournaments since he was 8 years old it has always been about golf,” Blankenburg said “I did the PGA Junior League and a couple of national championships in 2018 and 2019.”  Blankenburg is the defending 1A state champion and is now hoping to go back-to-back his senior year He is hoping to lead the Trojans to a team state title this year as well “I really want to help our teammates get better and win a team state championship,” Blankenburg said I want to make myself better and help them reach their potential.” Blankenburg believes he will be competing with a very talented roster because his father is the head coach and several of his teammates are experienced at the varsity level Blankenburg will be headlining the experienced roster with his high work ethic Once the spring golf season ends and Blankenburg graduates he will continue his golfing career at Western Washington University “It is a great group of guys and I am ready to get after it and be part of that program,” Blankenburg said Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext Email newstips@cascadiadaily.com or Call/Text 360-922-3092  My NewsSign Out Sign InCreate your free profileSections news Alerts This number is an estimate and is based on several different factors including information on the number of votes cast early as well as information provided to our vote reporters on Election Day from county election officials The figure can change as NBC News gathers new information Source: National Election Pool (NEP) 2024) - Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz announced today that the team has recalled defensemen Adam Wilsby and Nick Blankenburg from Milwaukee (AHL) the Predators have placed forward Michael McCarron on injured reserve (upper body) was on Nashville’s active roster during its recent five-game road trip 188-pound blueliner has recorded five points (1g-4a) and a +5 rating in 13 games for the Admirals this season has skated in 13 games for the Admirals this season 177-pound blueliner has points in two of his last three games (2a) and scored two of his goals on Oct Blankenburg has appeared in 55 career NHL games – all with Columbus – recording 18 points (6g-12a) from 2021-24 Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg went from relative afterthought to overtime hero at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday Blankenburg, who signed a two-year deal on July 3 and wasn't on the Predators roster until three weeks ago, scored 1:03 into overtime to give the Predators a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings ending a seven-game overtime losing streak "I've had some good chances over the last little bit," Blankenburg said after the win "Just very thankful for the opportunity to go out there in overtime and score." Overtime has been a nightmare for the Predators this season but a play by Filip Forsberg to hold the puck while Blankenburg streaked into the zone made the difference "I thought (Forsberg) was going to give it to me on the hash (marks) but somehow I was able to find that little area (behind goalie Darcy Kuemper) and thankfully the puck came to me helped Nashville avoid disaster after blowing a two-goal lead Zach L'Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault gave the Predators a 2-0 lead but the Kings tied the game on goals by Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere in the third period After being on the ice for Laferriere's tying goal with a little more than seven minutes left Blankenburg said he channeled a quote from the popular Apple TV+ show "Ted Lasso" to preserve his confidence Andrew Brunette on decision to put Nick Blankenburg on ice in overtimeHeroics aside Blankenburg's presence on the ice during 3-on-3 is a bit of a surprise he had only 12 seconds of ice time during overtime this season with Roman Josi and Brady Skjei having received the lion's share of 3-on-3 minutes among defensemen Brunette said he liked Blankenburg's mobility to give the team a chance in overtime "We've been trying a lot of different things (in overtime) and it hasn't gone our way We're gaining more and more confidence in him and he's given rise to every challenge we've given him." 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds — small for a defenseman — signed as an undrafted free agent with the Blue Jackets in April 2022 things I probably didn't see (at Columbus) but that I saw in camp," Brunette said The Predators take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday (7 p.m FanDuel Sports Network) before a three-day holiday break BARRON TRADE: What the Nashville Predators gained in trade for defenseman Justin Barron Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds 2024) – Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz announced today that the team has assigned defenseman Nick Blankenburg to Milwaukee (AHL) Nashville’s training camp roster is now down to 24 players, excluding those designated as non-roster – 13 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders. An updated roster is available here The Predators moved to 2-2-0 in the preseason following Wednesday’s 6-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh A total of 12 different Nashville skaters recorded a point in the win led by two each from Roman Josi (2a) and Jonathan Marchessault (2a) Nashville closes out the preseason with two more games starting tomorrow at Bridgestone Arena against Carolina (4 p.m For the second time in less than a week, a Nashville Predators defenseman was the victim of a dangerous hit to the head by an opponent In the first period of the Predators' 4-0 shutout loss at the New York Rangers on Sunday forward Matt Rempe caught defenseman Nick Blankenburg in the head with an elbow as the two were skating along the end boards Blankenburg went down immediately and left the game temporarily After the hit, Predators defenseman Andreas Englund retaliated bloodying Rempe's face with some punches and drawing an instigator penalty in the process Blankenburg finished with one shot and one hit in 17:37 minutes but the hit he took from Rempe was dangerous and unnecessary it's one the Predators will hope the league will review for possible suspension He's also been ejected from four games for dangerous hits Though Rempe was not ejected from Sunday's game his penchant for elbowing and injuring opposing defensemen may lead to a call from the league NYQUIST TRADED: Nashville Predators trade forward Gustav Nyquist to Minnesota Wild for second-round pick The Predators finish their three-game road trip at Boston on Tuesday (6 p.m 2024) – Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz announced today that the team has agreed to terms with the following players: recorded three points (1g-2a) in 14 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023-24 spent the majority of the past season (42 GP) with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Originally selected by Chicago in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2012 Draft Hinostroza has skated in 374 career NHL games posted five points (2g-3a) in a career-high 40 games for the Minnesota Wild in 2023-24 He also played in 30 games for the AHL’s Iowa Wild last season notching 23 points (11g-12a) and finishing fourth on his team in power-play goals (4) has played in 267 career AHL games with Iowa tallying 160 points (70g-90a) across parts of seven seasons played in 12 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season scoring one goal and adding 21 hits and 15 blocked shots also had 13 points (3g-10a) in 24 games at the AHL level with Cleveland in 2023-24 He captained the University of Michigan as a senior in 2021-22 and skated for the United States at the 2022 World Championship .896 save percentage and one shutout in 31 games for the AHL’s Texas Stars in 2023-24 also played in one NHL game for the Dallas Stars last season Murray is 2-2-0 with a 2.53 goals-against average in four career NHL starts with Dallas; he is 37-26-7 with a .907 save percentage and five shutouts in 71 career AHL contests with Texas NASHVILLE -- Nick Blankenburg scored 1:03 into overtime help the Nashville Predators recover for a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday He found the rebound of Filip Forsberg’s shot below the goal line shifted it to his backhand and stuffed it into an open net for his first goal with the Predators after signing as a free agent on July 1 “I feel like I’ve had some good chances over the last little bit so I’ve just continued to trust in my game,” Blankenburg said “Just very thankful for the opportunity to go out in OT Forsberg had two assists for the Predators (10-17-7), who have won two of their past three games. Justus Annunen made 22 saves “I think we just play a lot tighter as a team,” Predators captain Roman Josi said “I think if you watch the first two periods Like our forwards were doing a great job of coming back I think the game is a little bit easier for everyone when we’re more connected like that.” Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings (19-9-5) who are 3-1-2 through the first six of a seven-game road trip that ends at the Washington Capitals on Sunday “It’s a hard game,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said Zachary L'Heureux gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 14:16 of the first period, finishing off a no-look, backhanded pass from Gustav Nyquist at the top of the crease “We had good triangle support,” L’Heureux said. “It started with [Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly] I thought we were just supporting all over And then obviously an unreal play by [Nyquist] saw me there and happy I got it in the net.” Jonathan Marchessault pushed it to 2-0 at 14:00 of the second. Josi, who missed the past four games with a lower-body injury, deked around Kings defenseman Kyle Burroughs in the left circle and sent a centering pass to Marchessault for a tap-in at the top of the crease obviously,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said it just changes a little bit of the dynamic of our group.” Byfield scored for the Kings to cut it to 2-1 at 9:24 of the third with a snap shot from the slot off a pass from Warren Foegele along the left-side boards big guys who skate and are physical,” Byfield said of the Predators LAK@NSH: Laferriere buries it in tight to even the score Laferriere tied it 2-2 at 13:23 of the third period on a rebound off Joel Edmundson’s shot from the point with Kuemper on the bench for an extra attacker during a delayed penalty we knew we were still in it,” Edmundson said Whenever you’re down a couple of goals heading into the third period NOTES: Josi finished with one assist and two shots on goal in 26:25 of ice time in his return … Marchessault has scored in three consecutive games and has eight points (five goals three assists) during a six-game point streak Soucy speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Kreider speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Schneider speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Robertson speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Carrick speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Othmann speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Edstrom speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Jones speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Fox speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Miller speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Brodzinski speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Berard speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Rempe speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Perreault speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Cuylle speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Parssinen speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day de Haan speaks to the media during the team's 2025 Exit Day Trocheck speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Vaakanainen speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day Quick speaks to the media during the team’s 2025 Exit Day More than a year had passed since Nick Blankenburg’s last overtime shift at the NHL level The defenseman recorded his first-career overtime winner as the Nashville Predators defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a 3-2 final in the extra session at Bridgestone Arena The result gives the Preds points in all three contests of their current homestand with victories in three of their last five overall Zach L’Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault also found the back of the net in the win and Justus Annunen made 22 saves in his first home start as a member of the Predators as Nashville reversed their overtime fortunes to secure the victory “I feel like I've had some good chances over the last little bit,” Blankenburg said just very thankful for the opportunity to go out in OT and just happy I was able to score.” it's nice to be on the other side,” Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said “Feels like all year we're on the wrong side of these types of games especially when they were overtime… It was a big win L’Heureux gave the Preds a 1-0 lead late in the opening period when he took a beautiful behind-the-back feed from Gustav Nyquist in front and deposited the puck past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper for his fourth of the season a bang-bang play saw Marchessault whistled for hooking immediately prior to him scoring what would have been his 10th of the season Preds Captain Roman Josi - who returned to the lineup after missing four games due to injury - drove to the net off a nifty toe-drag around a defender and found Marchessault on the doorstep for an easy tap-in and a 2-0 Nashville advantage goals from Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere in the third period saw the Predators surrender their two-goal lead to require overtime picked up a Filip Forsberg rebound and tucked it neatly into the cage to start the bedlam inside Bridgestone Arena ‘Ted Lasso,’ to try and be a goldfish and [have a] 10-second memory?” Blankenburg smiled “Definitely trying to put that into practice I just think the team was really resilient We’ve been playing good lately and may not be getting the results but it's almost like one of those stories where it's like A lot of credit to the guys in just continuing to battle back and obviously get the job done in OT.” “It’s really special to get your first OT goal,” Josi said [Blankenburg has] been playing so well for us the Predators have one more matchup to go on their four-game homestand before the Christmas break and the chance to head into the holiday hiatus feeling festive is something they’re very much looking forward to “It's good for the confidence of everybody,” L’Heureux said “I think we've been on kind of a hotter streak lately; we're playing better and we want to close out this homestand on the right side.” Josi returned to the Nashville lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury Forward Juuso Parssinen and defenseman Justin Barron were scratched on Saturday Roman Josi (22-58—80 in 75 GP) recorded his 80th regular-season point in 2024 and became the first European defensemen to record multiple 80-point calendar years (also 95 points in 2022) The Preds will conclude their four-game homestand on Monday night when they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to town for the final outing before the NHL’s Christmas break Dec Jonathan Quick reaches back in near-360 motion to block Nick Blankenburg's shot with his stick in his 800th career game keeping the Predators off the board in the 3rd period Take a look at the first ever live draft lottery Senators and Maple Leafs clash in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Stars conclude back-and-forth series in do-or-die Game 7 Gm7: Lowry lifts the Jets to victory in double overtime Watch every overtime goal from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Top 10 Goals from Week 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Maple Leafs as Round 2 action begins tonight on ESPN Wild and Golden Knights battle in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Gm7: Perfetti ties it in waning seconds with his second goal Gm7: Jets and Blues exchange handshakes at center ice Gm7: Binnington makes a game-saving stop in overtime Gm7: Faksa restores two-goal lead late in the 2nd Gm7: Kyrou nets one-handed shot for opening goal Gm 7: Johnston reacts to scoring the game-winner in Game 7 Gm7: Stars and Avalanche shake hands at center ice following Stars' victory Gm7: Rantanen notches first postseason career hat trick for 4-point game Gm7: Johnston rips it home from a tough angle to the put the Stars on top on the power play Gm7: MacKinnon doubles the lead early in the 3rd Gm7: Manson rings one off the post and in for a short-handed goal to open scoring Gm7: Blackwood flashes the leather on Rantanen in the 1st Canadiens and Capitals clash in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Gm6: Hellebuyck makes a great save amongst a scramble Gm6: Toropchenko buries it to put the Blues up by 4 Gm6: Perfetti sneaks it past Binnington for the PPG to even the score at 1 Gm6: Broberg blasts home a one-timer to put the Blues on the board NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- — Nick Blankenburg scored at 8:09 of the third to lead the Nashville Predators to a 7-5 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night San Jose scored four goals on eight shots against Saros in the first period to take a 4-1 lead Svechkov and Barron scored 53 seconds apart in the second to make it 4-2 Marchessault's goal at 28 seconds of the third cut the deficit to one Blankenburg completed the comeback by beating Georgiev from the right faceoff dot Predators: Rallied to defeat one of the few teams below them in the standings to win four straight for the first time this season AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL Pro Hockey Rumors November 27, 2024 at 10:16 am CDT | by Leave a Comment 10:16 a.m.: Center Michael McCarron has landed on injured reserve to open up a necessary roster spot for Blankenburg’s and Wilsby’s recalls, per Kieser He’s sat out the last two games with an upper-body injury and will be out again tonight against the Flyers but he’s eligible to return Friday against the Lightning Either could make their Preds debut after Jeremy Lauzon left Monday’s loss to the Devils with an injury and did not return so a corresponding transaction must be pending is in his first season in the Predators organization The former University of Michigan captain spent parts of three seasons with the Blue Jackets en route to becoming a Group VI unrestricted free agent last summer The diminutive 5’9″ right-shot defender passed through waivers on his way to AHL Milwaukee at the tail end of the preseason responded to the demotion with eight points (3 G Blankenburg saw AHL ice for the first time last season suiting up 24 times for the Blue Jackets affiliate in Cleveland He played a career-high 36 games for Columbus in 2022-23 amid upper-body and ankle injuries recording four goals and 10 assists for 14 points with a -16 rating He’s flashed legitimate offensive upside at the NHL level and has handled fringe top-four minutes he also plays a far more physical game than one might imagine has already been recalled twice this month and been rostered for three games but has not made his NHL debut The Swedish lefty has a goal and five points with a +5 rating in 13 games for Milwaukee in what’s now his third season in North America so the latter can only remain on Nashville’s roster for up to 10 games or 30 days before he needs to pass through them again to return to the minors Log in Register Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League Register and how much the defensive corps has changed over the course of the season is one place to start There is a long list of reasons why the Nashville Predators are one of the most underperforming teams in recent memory The Predators have six games left and are looking to at least move ahead of their worst point finish in franchise history which was their first season as an NHL franchise in 1998-99 when they had 63 points and suffered 47 losses It's hard to find one single strengths this team has this season but one I will say is the defense has dug deep at times despite all of the changes up from when the team only used nine the season before you start six defensemen each game and sometimes have one extra meaning the Predators have rotated in eight extra defensemen this season The changes started before the injuries plagued the team Dante Fabbro was inexplicably waived in early November and claimed by the Blue Jackets and then Alexandre Carrier was traded just over a month later in a swap with the Canadiens for Justin Barron Barron has since gained a regular role in Nashville's starting lineup with mixed results He's only 23-years-old and signed through 2025-26 so he'll get his shot most likely to impress the powers that be that he's the answer to help turn things around quickly next season Jeremy Lauzon has been out since December 31 All three are important pieces to the Predators that has forced the team to field a defense that is struggling to keep up against most NHL opponents Luke Schenn was also dealt at the trade deadline leaving the Predators with a current defensive corps of Brady Skjei No disrespect to any of these guys because they have played hard grueling minutes and have been thrown into elevated roles they weren't expecting with the massive exception of Skjei who is just simply not lived up to the seven-year contract Trotz gave him last offseason the Predators have a lot of options and friendly roster competition to sort through in the offseason at the defense position Wilsby should be close to a mortal lock to be a day 1 starter of 2025-26 Josi will be back as the top pairing guy and it's on the organization to find him a viable top pairing partner who is better off being second pairing as a left shot defenseman Barron is working hard to fulfill that role and he does flash a commendable shot that could complement being on a line with Josi But both are not strong on their defensive side and so pairing them together on the top pairing spells likely disaster on the other end but definitely not idea if Trotz has any plans to bounce back into playoff contention in 2025-26 I really have the utmost respect for how Blankenburg has carried himself this season With so much negativity and underperformance from many players on the Predators Blankenburg's name shouldn't come up in that discussion Blankenburg has already set a personal best for NHL games played in a season at 54 games and has matched his season high in points with 14 Another crazy stat that will blow your mind and is a testament to how much Blankenburg has actually rose to the occasion in an elevated role is his plus/minus rating The Predators are an abyss when it comes to team goal differential even though their Expected Goal Differential is actually +10 but Blankenburg is the only regular skater of over 30-plus games to be in the positive in plus/minus Excluding Wilsby with only 23 games played and sitting at a +3 plus/minus the next closest regular skater for the Predators is Luke Evangelista at -4 Blankenburg hasn't been a problem and if anything has been an unexpected bright spot on a team full of dark spots and he should have a decent chance to make the starting lineup in 2025-26 out of training camp Blankenburg is currently one of just two pure right shot defensemen in the Predators starting lineup as the season draws to a close Spencer Stastney was supposed to be the next young prospect to take over in the NHL for the Predators from their defensemen but he wasn't able to start the season playing games due to personal reasons He has since chipped in 22 games on the NHL level and is signed for one more year with Nashville Like the other previously mentioned defensive prospects like Barron and Blankenburg Stastney will be in training camp as well looking to win a starting role for the season opener of 2025-26 Even if Trotz does go out and sign an offseason free agent defenseman for the right side we're still going to see a lot of roster competition from the prospect core of the organization It will make for an entertaining training camp to watch for the fans but also a challenging one for the higher ups to choose who is right for the NHL roster in 2025-26 My early estimation is that the Predators will add a right shot defenseman from the outside then stick with Josi and Skjei as their top two defenseman on the left side Wilsby and even Molendyk will battle for the other left side role then you'll have Blankenburg and Barron in the mix to fill out the defense on the right side 2025-26 estimated defensive starting lineup: Josi-??? A lot of youth in the Predators defensive corps for 2025-26 with where we sit right now Six more games left of auditioning for guys like Barron Stastney and Englund to show the organization they're important pieces of the upcoming retool of this franchise ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"6u","src":"6v","url":"6w"},{"type":"6t","value":"6x"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"70","url":"71"},{"type":"6z","value":"72"},"All Rights Reserved \n\nGraduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a Mass Communications degree The last six games for the Nashville Predators pretty much has their fate sealed as the third-worst team in the NHL standings Auditioning for 2025-26 is the theme to close things out The Milwaukee Admirals won against the visiting Rockford Icehogs 5-2 on Saturday The Admirals will play the Iowa Wild on Wednesday 2024 while the Icehogs will will face Manitoba on Saturday — Nick Blankenburg scored at 1:03 of overtime to help the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Zachary L'Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault also scored and Justus Annunen made 22 saves for Nashville Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere scored and Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves for the Kings Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg (37) celebrates his game winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings at the end of overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg (37) scores the game winning goal past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in overtime of an NHL hockey game Saturday Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a shot on goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kyle Burroughs (7) pushes Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday Nashville Predators players celebrate the team’s 3-2 overtime win in an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates the puck past Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kyle Burroughs (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday Zachary L’Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault also scored Blankenburg converted the rebound of a shot by Filip Forsberg for his first goal as a member of the Predators improved to 2-1-0 in three games with the Predators L’Heureux scored the game’s first goal with 5:44 remaining in the first Roman Josi drove down the left side and beat Kings defenseman Kyle Burroughs with a toe drag before finding Marchessault in front for his third goal in as many games Josi returned to the Nashville lineup after missing the last four games due to a lower-body injury Kings: Playing the sixth game of a seven-game trip the Kings found a way to tie the game after falling behind by two goals Predators: Nashville is 2-7 this season in games that have gone to overtime Marchessault had an apparent goal at 8:31 of the second negated by a hooking penalty he doubled Nashville’s lead at 14:00 of the second He has five goals and three assists in a six-game points streak The Kings went 0 for 1 on the power play Saturday Los Angeles has not scored a man-advantage goal in six games The Kings visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday in the finale of their seven-game trip while the Predators host the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday as 17 names were placed on waivers on Thursday One of the notable players put on the wire is forward Alex Jonsson-Fjällby. The 26-year-old was placed on waivers by the Winnipeg Jets something that also happened last February Jonsson-Fjällby spent the remainder of the year with Winnipeg’s American Hockey League affiliate scoring 12 goals and 30 points in 41 games with the Moose the former Michigan Wolverine appeared in just 12 games with the Blue Jackets It was a sharp decrease from the 36 games he appeared in 2022-23 Blankenburg scored six goals and 12 assists for 18 points Here is the full list of players that were put on waivers on Thursday: Ben McCartneyWinnipeg Jets: Axel Jonsson-Fjällby Waivers today:CGY: Tinordi, Hunt, DuehrWPG: Jonsson-Fjallby, Lundmark, Shaw, ToninatoTOR: AbruzzeseNSH: BlankenburgFLA: Asplund, Megna, Dalpe, BjornfotSEA: FleuryUTA: Koch, McCartney, Agozzinohttps://t.co/gjOvqdamBY Another familiar name on waivers on Thursday is Jarred Tinordi. The veteran defender signed a one-year contract with the Flames last month after spending the last two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks Tinordi has scored four goals and 30 points with a career plus/minus of -63 It takes hundreds of thousands of calories to fuel the Nashville Predators over the course of an 82-game season professional chefs and restaurant ordering take care of most of that So which players on the Predators really know their way around the kitchen Here's a guide to the best and worst cooks in the Predators' locker room "(Nick Blankenburg) is maybe the new front-runner," forward Ryan O'Reilly said "I heard he makes a killer chicken pot pie." Taking the prize for top chef of the Predators is Nick Blankenburg who was nominated four times among players polled The 26-year-old defenseman in his first season with the Predators has wowed teammates with a chicken pot pie recipe that has kept them coming back for more what's the secret to Blankenburg's signature dish I just looked it up online," Blankenburg said Honorable mentions: Luke Schenn, who was traded to Pittsburgh in March and now plays for the Winnipeg Jets was nominated twice because he takes his cooking very seriously "I am always helping my wife with the cooking." One player nominated Brady Skjei because "he looks like he could cook." And which Predators player is the worst cook?The worst cook in the room was a near unanimous decision he's got to be the worst," one player said Rookie forward Zach L'Heureux was named as the team's worst cook at least five times You might chalk it up to veterans in the room trying to keep an outspoken rookie in his place but apparently L'Heureux's culinary efforts have not earned him any stripes yet saying that many of his former AHL Milwaukee Admirals teammates can vouch for him "I'm actually a good cook," L'Heureux said Dishonorable mentions: Goalie Juuse Saros was nominated by several as the worst because "he never cooks anything." Marchessault said "Any one of the young guys who lives alone Is Luke Evangelista a good cook or a bad cook A controversy emergesForward Luke Evangelista's name came up multiple times as the team's worst cook — and also the best I've seen a couple of his cooking videos," one player said But two others added that he's made significant progress since his rookie year CONFIDENT LUKE: How Nashville Predators' Luke Evangelista has regained his rookie-year confidence Who has the best restaurant recommendations?During a busy hockey season having a foodie on hand who knows all the best spots is crucial the Predators lost their best guy at the trade deadline in March you'd always trust his recommendations," Brady Skjei said who has played 1,066 NHL games for nine teams has an extensive list for recommendations on the road Trading him left a hole on the blueline and in the team's restaurant hookups we've kind of hit a roadblock there," Skjei added Roman Josi and Steven Stamkos are the best at recommending good spots on the road The Nashville Predators beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday Nick Blankenburg scored 1:03 in overtime to end a seven-game overtime losing streak for the Predators Gustav Nyquist and Roman Josi assisted on goals by Zach L'Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault to build a 2-0 lead for the Predators going into the third period the Kings' Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere scored back to back goals to tie the game 2-2 before Blankenburg ended the game in overtime Justus Annunen finished with 22 saves and earned his second win for the Predators Darcy Kuemper finished with 24 saves in the loss Nashville hosts the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday their last game before a three-day holiday break Los Angeles (19-10-4) travels to Washington to play the Capitals on Sunday Moments after Marchessault was denied a goal returning to the ice after missing four games with an injury then sent a pass to Marchessault who was crashing the net Jonathan Marchessault goal denied on hooking call with Tanner JeannotThe Predators thought they'd built a 2-0 lead midway through the second period when Jonathan Marchessault scored off a Kings turnover But the referee immediately waved the goal off and called Marchessault for hooking it appeared Marchessault hooked his stick into Kings forward Tanner Jeannot in order to gain leverage Marchessault slammed the penalty box door in frustration but the Predators's penalty kill did its job keeping the Kings scoreless on the power play this matinee game wasn't offering much for the fans at Bridgestone Arena Gustav Nyquist gathered a loose puck below the Kings net and sent a blind backhand pass to the slot L'Heureux had the easy tip in thanks to the great vision from Nyquist Odds according to BetMGM on Saturday Nashville Predators 2024-25 scheduleAll times Central; Games on FanDuel Sports Network South unless otherwise noted We occasionally recommend interesting products and services If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently St. Louis Blues forward Zachary Bolduc has been fined $2,248.26 for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenceman Nick Blankenburg during Sunday's game The penalty is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement St. Louis’ Zack Bolduc has been fined $2,248.26, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking against Nashville’s Nick Blankenburg The incident occurred in the third period of St. Louis' 4-1 victory when Bolduc delivered multiple cross-checks to Blankenburg's backside while he was on the ice after falling while attempting to deliver a open-ice hit on Blues centre Robert Thomas Blankenburg missed with the majority of his hit but still caught enough of Thomas to warrant a tripping penalty.  Bolduc was handed a major penalty and a game misconduct but will not draw a suspension from the league “Much appreciated,” Thomas told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding Bolduc coming to his defence one shot on goal and two hits in the Blues' victory the 22-year-old centre has 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 62 games St. Louis will be back in action on Tuesday at home against the Montreal Canadiens NEW YORK -- St. Louis Blues forward Zack Bolduc has been fined $2,248.26, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg during NHL Game No the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today The incident occurred at 13:32 of the third period Bolduc was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund Even while the Nashville Predators' playoff hopes are dead one of their most heated rivalries still has plenty of life In the Predators' 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday two misconducts and one game misconduct penalty It equaled the most penalty minutes by both teams in a Predators game this season The tension began in the first period when Zach L'Heureux and Nathan Walker tussled after Walker dumped L'Heureux near the side wall L'Heureux landed a few punches before being dumped to the ice by Walker Blues defenseman Alexey Toropchenko laid a heavy hit from behind on Jonathan Marchessault Marchessault charged after the first Blues player he found eventually launching himself at Philip Broberg the Predators wound up with a power play to start the second period − Filip Forsberg scored during the man advantage to give Nashville their only tally of the night FORSBERG: How Filip Forsberg responded to Andrew Brunette calling out Nashville Predators' leaders with the Blues holding comfortably to a 3-1 lead Louis net led to Michael McCarron and Walker mixing it up who was already in hot water with the officials was given an immediate 10-minute misconduct But the worst of it happened at the 13:33 mark of the third just seconds after McCarron and Walker were ejected Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg attempted an open ice check Blues forward Zack Bolduc delivered several hard cross-checks to Blankenburg's back but Bolduc was given a five-minute major penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct The Predators were unable to capitalize on the five-minute major and the Blues walked away with an easy 4-1 win − but with the way everything unfolded the two teams are set up for an intriguing rematch this week The Blues travel to Bridgestone Arena for the fourth and final game between the two teams on Thursday (7 p.m McCarron and Marchessault for the Predators and Bolduc and Walker for the Blues − will be back on the ice it wouldn't be the first time the Predators have had a heated rematch with a Central Division rival this season On Jan. 18, the Predators and Minnesota Wild played a much anticipated game to settle the Wild's beef with L'Heureux who just three weeks earlier committed a slew-foot on Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin L'Heureux fought with Yakov Trenin in the first two minutes soon joined by bouts between Marcus Foligno and Luke Schenn and then Ryan Hartman and Mark Jankowski The league banned Rempe for eight games last December following an illegal hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen Rempe may once again be in trouble after delivering a high elbow to Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg on Sunday The hit which came less than five minutes into the game though Rempe was only assessed a two-minute minor for elbowing Predators defenseman Andreas Englund immediately dropped the gloves with Rempe Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette defended Rempe's hit after the game saying that the forward's size inevitably leads to this type of impact on opponents "Remps is just such a big man," Laviolette said, per New York Post's Mollie Walker New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) fights Nashville Predators defenseman Andreas Englund (8) Rempe has already been suspended twice in his short NHL career and could face supplemental discipline, given his history. He was previously banned for four games last season after elbowing Jonas Siegenthaler of the New Jersey Devils then received December's eight-game ban “I’ve got to be a lot smarter,” Rempe said following his latest suspension “I don’t have to make every hit The Rangers ultimately secured a 4-0 victory on Sunday New York moved up to a 30-26-4 record and two points short (64) of the second wild-card spot currently occupied by the Detroit Red Wings (66) Today’s Paper2024 Elections|North Carolina Fourth Congressional District Election Resultshttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-north-carolina-us-house-4.htmlShare full articleAdvertisement 308,064 +71.8% 71.8% Eric BlankenburgE BlankenburgBlankenburg Republican Rep 112,084 +26.1% 26.1% Guy MeilleurG MeilleurMeilleur Libertarian Lib 8,632 +2.0% 2.0% Total reported 428,780 *Incumbent Source: Election results and race calls are from The Associated Press E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… The Blues' Alexey Toropchenko speaks with the media on Saturday Blues forward Zack Bolduc was fined $2,248.26 on Monday morning for his cross-checks on Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg during the third period of Sunday’s 4-1 Blues win Bolduc was assessed a cross-checking major and a game misconduct for his response on Blankenburg who tried to deliver an open-ice hit on Robert Thomas late in the third period but still clipped him enough to earn a tripping penalty Bolduc cross-checked him in the lower back multiple times while he was on the ice The fine was announced by the Department of Player Safety and was the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement Bolduc's transgression did not rise to the level of suspension as each of the last 14 cross-checking suspensions stemmed from a cross-check to the head or neck of an opposing player Bolduc’s cross-checks resembled those of Robert Bortuzzo during a 2017 cross-checking incident with then-Islanders forward Brock Nelson After Nelson ran into Magnus Paajarvi away from the puck Bortuzzo retaliated with cross-checks to Nelson’s back while he was down on the ice Bortuzzo was also the last cross-checking suspension that didn’t include contact with the head or neck Bortuzzo was suspended four games for cross-checking Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson in the back while he was on the ice following an initial Bortuzzo cross-check Sunday’s damage could have been greater had Thomas not avoided Blankenburg’s leg at the last moment Thomas’ leg dipped to evade a possible knee-on-knee collision “I didn’t know which way he was going to try and hit me I was just able to get out of the way at the last second.” While Bolduc is known more for his offensive flair – eight goals in his last 14 games – he’s consistently shown physicality during his first full season in the NHL he had a hit on Spencer Stastney in the corner that drew the attention of a pair of Predators “We’re sticking together,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said We all came in and stuck together when they slashed Binner in the hand … I think it’s all because of how committed we are to taking care of each other.” Blues forward Nathan Walker got in his fifth fight of the season on Sunday squaring off with Zachary L’Heureux in the first period It was the Blues’ sixth fight in the last five games Brayden Schenn fought Jacob Trouba for his hit on Jordan Kyrou Jake Neighbours fought Michael McCarron for his hit on Pavel Buchnevich Tyler Tucker (at Nashville on Tuesday) and Neighbours (vs Chicago on Saturday) answered the bell for hits of their own “Guys are bought in,” Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said Teams like to try things and see what they can get away with It limits that happening quite a bit as teams see it “The guys are playing for each other and playing as a team and you see it when stuff gets a little chippy only three NHL teams allowed fewer goals per game than the Bininngton-Hofer Blues since the 4 Nations break Before the Blues beat the Blackhawks 4-1 on Saturday afternoon Maroon told former Blues broadcaster Darren Pang in a warmup bench interview that he would be retiring after the season Email notifications are only sent once a day Both veterans will be back in the lineup against Montreal as Dalibor Dvorsky and Matthew Kessel will draw back out Dvorsky finished with 10:40 of ice time on 16 shifts Parayko was on the ice for morning skate before the Blues hosted the Canadiens on Tuesday a positive step in his recovery from a knee injury … The Blues improved to 13-2-2 since the break and handed the Canadiens just their second regulation loss since the break Louis is now just two points behind Minnesota for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference though the Wild have one game in han… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device The hit which came in the first period at Madison Square Garden left Blankenburg shaken and led to an immediate fight between Rempe and Andreas Englund.  Replays showed Blankenburg’s head snapping back into the glass, adding to concerns about the hit’s severity and a possible suspension handed out by the NHL Department of Player Safety.  Many fans took to social media to call for a lengthy suspension with some even suggesting that Rempe should be removed from the league "He needs to be expelled from this league," one user posted on X.  "Permanently suspend this animal!" another account wrote A more measured fan accounted for Rempe's size when discussing the hit and how the Rangers enforcer approaches the game of hockey It doesn’t look like he’s trying to do be dirty but he just doesn’t have good body control," the user wrote. "At his height his elbow and shoulders are always at head height for other players when in a skating posture." Another fan noted Rempe's history with dubious hits and suspensions.  He can’t stay away from a dangerous hit suspend him through the rest of the season + playoffs (if they make it).” Rempe’s history of dangerous play fueled the outrage. The young enforcer was suspended for four games last season for an elbow on New Jersey Devils' Jonas Siegenthaler He already served an eight-game ban earlier this season when he completed an illegal check on Dallas Stars' Miro Heiskanen.  New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) is led to the penalty box after a fight Speaking on that latest ban, the longest on-ice suspension issued by the NHL in the last six seasons "I’ve got to be a lot smarter. I'm a marked man right now," Rempe said after learning about his latest suspension "I've got to keep it clean." Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette defended Rempe after the game "Remps is just such a big man," Laviolette said, per Mollie Walker of the New York Post. "He was forechecking Some fans echoed Laviolette's sentiments. One posted about Rempe's style by arguing that the officials always call penalties on Rempe "for just being tall and playing the game." but Rempe’s latest incident has overshadowed the victory With the NHL Department of Player Safety likely to review the play another suspension could be looming for the Rangers’ enforcer Another account had a blunt take "The constant penalties they call on Rempe is ridiculous." New York's victory moved the Rangers (64 points) just two points short of reaching the Detroit Red Wings (66) in the standings for the second spot in the Eastern Conference's wild-card race