The Nashville Predators have recalled two defensemen from AHL Milwaukee – Nick Blankenburg and Adam Wilsby.
Blankenburg has been playing a solid game in the AHL this season for the Admirals and has NHL experience where he’s done fairly well in the past with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The depth signed by the Predators this past off-season is now coming into play with his recall.
Wilsby comes back to the NHL after not getting into a game for the Predators in his most recent callup. The 24-year-old has yet to play an NHL game, but he has played well in the AHL over the past 2+ seasons, warranting his recall once again.
The reason why both of these defensemen were called up ahead of the Predators’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers is because Jeremy Lauzon left Nashville’s previous game against the New Jersey Devils with an injury. The physical defenseman is considered day-to-day and may miss the Predators’ next game.
With the Predators recalling multiple defensemen, this could also mean that there’s a chance Lauzon misses a couple of games at least, but that is just me speculating before any more information comes out. Recalling both Blankenburg and Wilsby likely means that at least one of them are going to get into the lineup on Wednesday as Nashville is down to five regulars with Lauzon injured.
Blankenburg gives Nashville a right-shot option, while Wilsby gives them a left-shot option.
Blankenburg is smaller (5’9), but that hasn’t stopped him from being effective. He has three goals and eight points in 13 games for Milwaukee this season, but he has done well in different aspects in the NHL in the past two seasons as well. The 26-year-old had a 55.60 goals for percentage in 12 games last season and put up four goals and 14 points in 34 games in 2022-23, both for the Blue Jackets.
Related: Opinion: Tomasino, Fabbro, Askarov Moves Had to Be Done by Predators
Wilsby has one goal and five points through 13 games in the AHL this season and had eight goals and 21 points in 61 games last season. He already got the call this season, so he may be a slightly higher on the depth chart right now. It might depend on the team the Predators face as well since the Flyers play hard. Nashville and Andrew Brunette might want the 6’1 Wilsby in the lineup rather than Blankenburg.
We should know more about the situation with Lauzon and the two callups ahead of the final game before Thanksgiving.
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