By Jason Karnosky
The 2024-25 season has been eventful for the Admirals, and their National Hockey League affiliate, the Nashville Predators.
All year long Nashville has leaned extensively on its reserves from Milwaukee. While the Predators organization believes the road to Nashville starts in Milwaukee, that road is acting more like an interstate highway this season.
As of March 10 the Predators have dressed 35 different players. Many of those skaters started the season wearing Admirals sweaters. And yet through it all, Milwaukee (30-18-4-5) powers on, leading the Central Division and performing as one of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) top squads.
“To go on a run like we have been on as of late when you have the roster challenges that we are dealing with, that’s outstanding,” Admirals coach Karl Taylor said. “We are really proud of the guys that have played up there and moved on. It’s awesome for them and their careers, but then we’ve had to deal with what is here.”
Forwards who have played for both squads this season include Zach L’Heureux, Fedor Svechkov, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Joakim Kemmell, Jake Lucchini, Kieffer Bellows, and Vinnie Hinostroza. Nashville needed even more help with its blue line. Nick Blankenburg, Adam Wilsby, Marc Del Gaizo, Kevin Gravel, and Spencer Stastney have played for both Milwaukee and Nashville in 2024-25.
“We’ve had a lot of opportunities for guys to go up, play, and get into their first NHL games,” Admirals general manager Scott Nichol said. “That is a credit to our organization and our coaches here in Milwaukee as they get our prospects prepared. When they’ve gone up, they’ve done well.”
L’Heureux, Svechkov, Kemell, and Wiesblatt each made their NHL debuts this season, sparking some energy into the Predators.
Zach L’Heureux had four impressive games with Milwaukee, where he scored three goals, before moving up to Nashville in late October. The 21-year-old has four goals and 13 points in 45 games with the Predators.
L’Heureux picked up his first point in his third game with Nashville (a 4-3 win over Columbus on October 26), and later scored his first NHL goal in a 5-3 victory over Vancouver on November 17.
“Unreal,” L’Heureux told reporters about his first NHL goal. “It’s been close to a month now since I’ve been here and it hasn’t come, so (I’m) happy to get it out of the way and keep going.”
Beyond just scoring L’Heureux has racked up 52 minutes in penalties and been involved in three fights. Taylor loved coaching L’Heureux in Milwaukee, helping the Montreal, Quebec native prepare for life in the NHL.
“Zach is a really good player, he’s come a long way, and you’ve got to remember that he is just 21,” Taylor said. “He’s a handful some days, but I’ll gladly accept that handful, even if I had to pull reigns to keep him in check. There is a fine line with players like that, and he crossed it a few times, but he’s an individual I’d have on my team any day of the week.”
After a dazzling start in Milwaukee, producing 12 points in 13 AHL games, Fedor Svechkov stands at six goals and 10 points in 33 games with the Predators, including a three-game goal streak in late January.
“This is Svech(kov)’s second time around and you can see he’s become more comfortable up there at the NHL level,” Nichol said. “He’s been making more plays, and his pace is better. When he came back down to Milwaukee after his first call up, you could see there was a difference in his play.”
The 21-year-old, Tolyatti, Russia native’s first NHL goal came in a 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota on November 30.
“I was so excited,” Svechkov told reporters of his first NHL tally. “(The) last couple games I had a couple scoring chances and I feel like I can score and do more on the ice. I hope it’s going to come, more goals and more points.”
Even though he’s only 20 years old, Predators fans have been eagerly awaiting Joakim Kemell’s debut in Nashville. That came on February 7.
“I’m really excited for Kemie,” said current Predators defenseman Marc Del Gaizo of Kemell. “He’s one of my best friends, and he earned the chance to go up there.”
Former first round draft pick Ozzy Wiesblatt took a longer path to get to the NHL. However, it was worth the wait for the 22-year-old, who made his NHL debut in a 3-0 Nashville win over Vancouver on January 4. Wiesblatt has 14 goals and 33 points in 50 games with Milwaukee.
“Last spring with the loan from San Jose, we kind of peaked under the hood a little with Ozzie and got to see what he was all about—his character, his compete, and his goal scoring,” Nichol said. “He wanted an opportunity to play, he got that here, and he’s shown us what he can do. I’m super happy for him that he got that chance to play (in Nashville).”
Prior to joining the Predators organization, Hinostroza had 374 games of NHL experience. The 30-year-old was on fire in Milwaukee prior to an extended call up, leading the AHL in scoring with 33 points in 26 games. Hinostroza dressed in 13 games with the Predators, before moving on to the Minnesota Wild via waivers.
The impact from the Milwaukee pipeline is even more prominent on defense. After signing with the Predators this summer, Nick Blankenburg gave his career new life. He now has three goals and nine points in 41 games with Nashville, after posting another nine points in 13 games with Milwaukee.
“Nick Blankenburg has done really well,” Nichol said. “He came here looking for an opportunity and he made the most of it. We have a pretty good track record with those types of guys. Players like Colin Blackwell, Rocco Grimaldi, and Jarred Tinordi have all joined our team in Milwaukee and made their way back to the NHL.”
Blankenburg also carries a plus-11 rating and is a stalwart on the Predators blue line. His first Nashville goal was an overtime winner in a 3-2 decision against Los Angeles on December 21.
While a little less heralded, Admirals fans knew what a special talent Adam Wilsby is. Since his November 27 call up, Wilsby has five points with Nashville, and carries a plus-three rating. Now in his third year as a professional, Wilsby had another five points in 13 games with Milwaukee prior to his call up.
Marc Del Gaizo has been itching for a chance to show off his talents in the NHL. Now with 27 games with the Predators this season, he has five points. The fourth-year pro had eight goals and 12 points in 30 games with Milwaukee.
“All around it has been a great experience to get up there, and to get some time in the NHL,” said Del Gaizo—another player who recently scored his first NHL goal. “The year has definitely been a challenge for the whole organization with all of the movement.”
Spencer Stastney made a big impact with Nashville late in 2023-24, and then returned to Milwaukee for a memorable postseason run. The local Mequon product has dressed for 11 games with Nashville this season. To date Stastney has played in another 23 games with Milwaukee and has 13 points.
Even Milwaukee’s captain Kevin Gravel got into the act with Nashville. The veteran blue liner has played in six games for the Predators so far and has one assist. The recently turned 33-year-old has 18 points in 47 games as an Admiral.
“We know the value of what Gravy brings to our team, and that’s why we extended his contract last year,” Nichol said. “If you have three games in three nights, Kevin is going to play the exact same way in those three games. He’s long and lanky, and skates really well. I think we do a good job here of not pigeonholing players and saying that you are only here to help mentor the young guys.”
While neither of Milwaukee’s goaltenders, Matt Murray or Magnus Chrona has been in any games in Nashville this season, Murray spent a little time here and there supporting the Predators.
Overall, Nashville knows exactly what they are getting from every call up from Milwaukee. Admirals prospects are well prepared and carry a winning pedigree—as back-to-back berths in the AHL’s Conference Finals in 2023 and 2024 attest. Taylor’s players are well coached, and ready to play in the NHL when called upon.
“We’ve always had really good teams and a really good culture here in Milwaukee,” Del Gaizo said. “That is what they are looking for in Nashville, guys that are winners and good culture guys. Everyone that has gone up, they’ve all been deserving of their opportunity.”
While many of Milwaukee’s prospects helped Nashville stay relevant this season, the challenge for Milwaukee is to keep on winning and developing players with an ever-changing roster.
“Mark Friedman is the 40th player that we’ve had play for us this year, so our current team in Milwaukee is a little bit of misfit toys,” Nichol said. “We’ve been kind of scouring all around the world for some of these guys, but they’ve all fit in really well in Milwaukee. They’ve been holding down the fort and have really helped us.”
