Shish Gone, Gamache Returns
Timofei Shishkanov was traded to the St Louis Blues by the Predators for Mike Sillinger, only a day or two after claiming Simon Gamache back off waivers from St Louis. Gamache has been reassigned to Milwaukee, while Shishkanov will likely get a shot in St Louis. Sillinger will help the Predators go deep into the playoffs if all goes as expected.
Shish had often expressed concern that his numbers and play weren't good enough for the Predators brass to see him in their long term plans, so in many respects this move is not shocking. Timofei was often mentioned in post game interviews by Coach Noel, though most media outlets chose not to use that material. A talented young man, with size and speed, he never seemed to quite recover from the injury that he suffered early in his career in Milwaukee. He never quite had the drive and the nose for the net he had his rookie season. Perhaps new surroundings and a fresh start will revitalize him to be the player I have always felt he could be.
Gamache is another story. Having started as a man on fire in St Louis, he allegedly found himself in Coach Mike Kinchen's doghouse. Knowing Simon, and his fiery disposition and drive to win, I can imagine that St Louis and the glumness that has surrounded that franchise this season were not a good fit. His return to Milwaukee is likely insurance from the Predators point of view. When he was reassigned, I fully expected another move to be made, but wasn't sure. I didn't want to post something that might be proven to be untrue this early in the blog's life and belittle my credibility. Guess I should have, it would have helped build it in retrospect.
Now comes the interesting part, who plays where. Scottie Upshall has played lights out, and has helped revitalize Darren Haydar's game. However, Gamache and Haydar had a magic on the ice together that nobody in Milwaukee is likely to forget any time soon. Do you go with a line of Upshall-Kris Beech-Darren Haydar, or put Gamache in Upshall's place. Or, do you go with Gamache-Greg Classen-Haydar, and then Upshall-Beech-Libor Pivko for two very deadly lines?
Reminder, the B2 Network is broadcasting both the Skills Competition tuesday and the AHL ALL Star Game Wednesday for free on the AHL website. Remember to watch it and support both Pekka Rinne and Libor Pivko as they make their All Star Debuts.
Shish had often expressed concern that his numbers and play weren't good enough for the Predators brass to see him in their long term plans, so in many respects this move is not shocking. Timofei was often mentioned in post game interviews by Coach Noel, though most media outlets chose not to use that material. A talented young man, with size and speed, he never seemed to quite recover from the injury that he suffered early in his career in Milwaukee. He never quite had the drive and the nose for the net he had his rookie season. Perhaps new surroundings and a fresh start will revitalize him to be the player I have always felt he could be.
Gamache is another story. Having started as a man on fire in St Louis, he allegedly found himself in Coach Mike Kinchen's doghouse. Knowing Simon, and his fiery disposition and drive to win, I can imagine that St Louis and the glumness that has surrounded that franchise this season were not a good fit. His return to Milwaukee is likely insurance from the Predators point of view. When he was reassigned, I fully expected another move to be made, but wasn't sure. I didn't want to post something that might be proven to be untrue this early in the blog's life and belittle my credibility. Guess I should have, it would have helped build it in retrospect.
Now comes the interesting part, who plays where. Scottie Upshall has played lights out, and has helped revitalize Darren Haydar's game. However, Gamache and Haydar had a magic on the ice together that nobody in Milwaukee is likely to forget any time soon. Do you go with a line of Upshall-Kris Beech-Darren Haydar, or put Gamache in Upshall's place. Or, do you go with Gamache-Greg Classen-Haydar, and then Upshall-Beech-Libor Pivko for two very deadly lines?
Reminder, the B2 Network is broadcasting both the Skills Competition tuesday and the AHL ALL Star Game Wednesday for free on the AHL website. Remember to watch it and support both Pekka Rinne and Libor Pivko as they make their All Star Debuts.
