On the Forecheck
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Ask and ye shall receive?
by Forechecker on 01/08/09 at 10:22 AM ET
Comments (3)
OK, so yesterday I posted my screed calling for Mike Santorelli to get a shot with the Nashville Predators. Just 13 minutes later, I get an email from the Preds PR staff with a preview of tonight’s tilt with the Pittsburgh Penguins. And what, pray tell, was at the bottom of it?
MIKE SANTORELLI RECALLED, POISED TO MAKE NHL DEBUT
Mike Santorelli, who was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic on Tuesday, has been recalled from Milwaukee and is poised to make his NHL debut for the Predators tonight. Santorelli, 23 (12/14/85), currently leads the Admirals and is tied for second in the AHL with 41 points (13g-28a). A sixth-round choice (178th overall) of Nashville in 2004, Santorelli was selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for December after notching 23 points (8g-15a) in 14 games, and helping the team to a record-tying 12 wins in the month. In his two seasons with the Ads, he has never missed a game, playing 115 straight in that span.
Since the move hadn’t been made official yet, I waited for the confirmation (which just arrived) before sharing the news here on the Intertubes.
In terms of expected level of output, if we apply Gabe Desjardin’s concept of League Equivalencies (PDF) to Santorelli’s 29 points in 24 games at the AHL level this season, we might reasonably expect him to play at roughly a 0.5 points-per-game pace at with Nashville, assuming they give him some offensive talent to work with up front. That’s not mind-blowing, to be sure, but it’s a step above what David Legwand, Rich Peverley, and Radek Bonk are producing.
In addition to the Santorelli recall, another two of my “Five ways to fire up the Nashville offense” appear to be playing out; this morning’s update in the Tennessean indicates that Jordin Tootoo may be in the coach’s doghouse, and of course Ryan Jones was brought back to the Predators before Tuesday’s game with Colorado.
Just to review, the Five Ways were basically:
1. Send Antti Pihlstrom back to Milwaukee - presumably will happen once Sully comes off IR
2. Bench underperforming forwards, notably Tootoo - in progress
3. Bench one of the Gregs on defense and let both VK and KK play - still waiting on this one
4. Use Peverley or Santorelli on the 2nd line, putting Legwand in a checking role - watch for the line combinations tonight
5. Recall Ryan Jones - done
Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Tags: antti+pihlstrom, jordin+tootoo, mike+santorelli, ryan+jones,
Comments
figures that I would rip Legwand on one of your posts Checker, and now he gets a goal and a helper .....
Posted by yzerman19 from Nashville on 01/08/09 at 09:53 PM ET
3. Bench one of the Gregs on defense and let both VK and KK play - still waiting on this one
DeVries was a healthy scratch!
new coaching strategy: read forecheacker’s blog
Posted by kakemono on 01/09/09 at 09:14 AM ET
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I have been wanting legwand in a checking role for years. He is a stud on the PK and has the speed and skating ability to match up with the opposition’s top players while providing a reasonable threat to keep the opposition honest. We haven’t been able to afford him to use his time there because he is among our best offensive talents, sadly.
Posted by kakemono on 01/08/09 at 11:07 AM ET