The NHL’s annual holiday roster freeze is in effect as of midnight Monday (Dec. 19). That means no players available on waivers or loans or via trade through midnight Dec. 27. But you can recall your own players from the minors.

 

So, Nashville could save money on salaries by keeping Blum and Geoffrion (or any other player) in the minors until needed. As of now, the Preds have 20 players on the roster…that’s all you need to play. If one goes down Monday night, a recall can be made. But, nothing needs to be done until then.

 

Geoffrion and Blum look to be a ways away from contributing at the NHL level. Both need to tune up their respective games after what we’ve seen in the two since they’ve been assigned to Milwaukee.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were, or weren’t, recalled after today’s game.

 

Moving on…

 

Atte Engren will get the start in goal. Engren defeated Peoria at Carver Arena in the last meeting between the teams with 29 saves in a 3-2 win.

 

Scott Ford will play his 230^th game as an Admiral today. He ranks eighth all-time in Milwaukee’s AHL records in that category. Next up, Bryan Lundbohm at 234.

 

With 46 goals as an Admiral, Chris Mueller is four behind Scottie Upshall for 11^th on the Admirals AHL list.

 

With his two goals last night, Blum passed Janne Niskala, Kevin Klein and Dan Hamhuis on the Admirals AHL goals list among defensemen. Blum is now sixth all-time, behind leader Andrew Hutchinson (31 goals), Cody Franson and Sheldon Brookbank (24 each), Alex Sulzer (22) and Brad Tiley (21).