Youngsters lifting Preds in playoff chase

NASHVILLE, TN -- When the injury bug struck the Predators for the umpteenth time this season, GM David Poile and Coach Barry Trotz called upon two rookies to fill in. They didn't really know what to expect but the rewards thus far have been about all you could have asked from them.
Stepping to the forefront are defenseman Jonathon Blum and center Blake Geoffrion. They have not only been inserted into the lineup in the midst of a playoff race but they haven't shown many signs of being rookies in their first three-to-four weeks with the team.





Blum, a first-round pick in 2007 was initially a one-game call-up but has impressed the coaching staff enough to stick around and log key minutes. "It's been an unbelievable experience," Blum said. "It's been everything I could have imagined. The guys here are great, they're good teammates. The competition level here is so high, especially at this time of year when everyone's battling for playoffs."
The Long Beach, California native is averaging almost 18 minutes of ice-time through 14 games (more than both Shane O'Brien and Cody Franson), proving Trotz's trust in the 22-year-old blueliner.

"Jon Blum looks like he's one helluva player," Trotz said back on Feb. 24 after Blum's second game. "He's definitely in our top three; lots of poise, makes smart plays, good decisions. He spent his time in the American Hockey League and he's making a case for being here."

After being an early cut in training camp, there were some that wondered whether Blum would ever live up to his potential. However, he succeeded in Milwaukee most of the year and is making the most of his opportunity in the NHL, including scoring the game-winning goal on Saturday against rival Detroit.

"To be in these types of games," Blum said, "intense atmosphere games, when every game means something and you're playing against the best in the world… it's something you can't beat."

Even with Blum's instant success, many felt the Preds would grab a defenseman before the trade deadline. Trotz explained the decision to stand pat:

"We looked at something at the trade deadline for a veteran (defenseman). It looked like Frankie Bouillon was making good progress, so we backed off that. At that time we still had (Alexander) Sulzer, we brought up Blum and felt he was ready, then felt Bouillon would be back in a week or two. That hasn't been the case, so that has sort of thrown a wrench into our plans."

Geoffrion, a second-round pick in 2006 and last year's Hobey Baker Award winner at the college level with the University of Wisconsin, was called up just days after Blum, making his debut on Feb. 26 in Dallas. He has primarily played a fourth-line role, averaging a shade above eight minutes a night. Trotz admitted that there have been some growing pains early.

"Young guys, when they get up here, they figure they made their goal and made the NHL. That's just the first step," Trotz said last week in relation to Geoffrion's first few weeks. "He's a typical young guy. It's not that he doesn't know how to play, it's the intensity and speed he has to play with; some games that will fall off -- but that will come."

With that being said, the hard-working Geoffrion scored his first goal in just his third game. Two nights later, he netted the game-winner in Vancouver. This past weekend, after scoring a big goal at home against Detroit, he notched a hat trick in Buffalo to help lift the Preds to a much-needed victory.

Geoffrion or 'Boomer', as everyone calls him, has become an instant fan favorite in Music City. The 23-year-old was the first ever Tennessee draftee, growing up just south of Nashville in Brentwood.

He is also the first fourth-generation professional athlete, following in the footsteps of Howie Morenz (great grandfather), 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion (grandfather) and Dan Geoffrion (father).

With Milwaukee in the AHL this season, Geoffrion compiled 37 points in 45 games. In early February, he was named the league's Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks -- the first time that has been done in 16 years.

Blum and Geoffrion aren't the only rookies in Nashville. Goaltender Anders Lindback and winger Matt Halischuk, both 22 years old, are rookies playing minor roles. That's not to mention the other three Preds that are already 23 or younger (Franson, Nick Spaling and Colin Wilson).

"Our team is a lot different than it was last year," Trotz said. "We've got a lot of first-year players. We've gone to be being the youngest team in the league just in a matter of a couple months here."

Compared to other teams in the playoff mix, the Preds are relying on their youth to play a big role down the stretch.

"Especially with all the players we have out," Wilson said, "the young players have to step up in order for us to do well. There's so many of us. All of us are pretty excited to be in this (playoff race)."

"It's definitely going to help us as an organization later on," Geoffrion said, "with the experience we're getting. They've relied on us to help out this team. It's a great opportunity for us to take advantage of it."

As Geoffrion noted, all of this experience for the youth is going to pay dividends down the road. Whether the Predators make it to the postseason or not, Poile, Trotz and company know they are in good hands for many years to come with this crop of youngsters.

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Mooche said:

I wouldn't mind having this team in Winnipeg.

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Gibson39 said:

Too bad there not moving.

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