Colin Wilson and Nolan Yonkman Recalled from Milwaukee

The firestorm set off by Dan Ellis' tweet this morning about Colin Wilson and Nolan Yonkman being recalled has come to fruition.

Wilson was called up to replace Marcel Goc who will be unable to go tonight. Yonkman's recall is more puzzling. Rationally, you could conclude that the Preds wanted to have an extra D-man on hand as the Tri-state area is going to be shut down due to a blizzard in the middle of the Pred's three games in four days.

Irrationally, you could come up with every rumor in the world about trading a defenseman with the Olympic roster freeze starting on Friday.

Here is the official release from the Predators...


PREDATORS RECALL FORWARD COLIN WILSON AND DEFENSEMAN NOLAN YONKMAN FROM MILWAUKEE
- Cody Franson put on injured reserve. -

Nashville, Tenn. (February 9, 2010) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Colin Wilson and defenseman Nolan Yonkman from Milwaukee (AHL), and placed defenseman Cody Franson on injured reserve.

Wilson, 20 (10/20/89), started his rookie professional season with the Predators, posting a goal and an assist while averaging 13:57 of ice time in 10 games from Oct. 12-31. Assigned to Milwaukee on Nov. 22, 2009, the Greenwich, Conn., native has 29 points (12g-17a) in 35 games at the AHL level, including 24 points (9g-15a) in his last 17 outings. Nashville’s first choice (seventh overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft was also recently named Reebok AHL Rookie of the Month for January.

Yonkman, 28 (4/1/81), has been exclusively with the Admirals since the start of the 2006-07 campaign, serving as captain for the past two seasons. He last dressed for an NHL game on April 18, 2006 with Washington (at Tampa Bay), and has eight points (1g-7a) and 90 penalty minutes in 50 career NHL contests, all which came with the Capitals between 2002-06. The Punnichy, Sask., native paces Milwaukee with 112 penalty minutes, in addition to posting nine points (2g-7a), in 52 games this season.

The Predators start a four-game tour of the Atlantic Division tonight when they face-off against the New York Islanders, and continue the trip tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden when they clash with the New York Rangers. Both games are slated for a 6 p.m. CT opening face-off, and will be televised on FOX Sports Tennessee. Nashville’s next home games come after the Feb. 15-28 Olympic Break – it will play 10 games at the Sommet Center during March, tying a franchise record for most home games in a month. Tickets to these games, and all regular season contests are now on sale and can be purchased by logging onto nashvillepredators.com. Tickets are also available by calling (615) 770-PUCK and at all Ticketmaster locations.

Addition: From @NHLPredsInsider: Wilson up for Goc and Yonkman as a precaution. Hamhuis' wife expecting second child anytime now! - This should quell a few immediate rumors.


More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass