Predators Bring Up Halischuk, Send Thuresson Back Down

The Nashville Predators swapped forwards with the Milwaukee Admirals today sending Andreas Thuresson to Milwaukee and bringing up Matt Halischuk.

Presumably, this is a move to bring in a bit more offense as Halischuk may have a slight edge in that department, including five points in his last eight games.

Here is the official release from the Predators...

NASHVILLE PREDATORS RECALL HALISCHUK, REASSIGN THURESSON

Nashville, Tenn. (January 16, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Matt Halischuk (mat HUH-lihs-chuhk) from Milwaukee (AHL) in addition to reassigning forward Andreas Thuresson (an-DRAY-uhs TUHR-eh-suhn) to the Admirals.

Halischuk, 22 (6/1/88), has 16 points (9g-7a) in 29 games for Milwaukee in 2010-11, and last night at Manitoba, helped set up the overtime game-winning goal just 29 seconds into the extra session of a 3-2 Admirals victory, giving him five points (3g-2a) and a +5 rating in the last eight games. Acquired from New Jersey on June 19, 2010, the Toronto, Ont., native has three points (1g-2a) in 21 NHL contests – all with the Devils – since 2008-09. New Jersey’s fourth choice, 117th overall (fourth round), in the 2007 Entry Draft, Halischuk was a line mate of current Predators forward Nick Spaling on the Kitchener Rangers’ 2008 Ontario Hockey League title-winning team.

Thuresson, 23 (11/18/87), appeared in three games in his first recall of 2010-11, going pointless while logging 10:08 per game.

The Predators will attempt to defeat the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks for the second time in less than 24 hours tonight at 6 p.m. CT at the United Center (FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.9 The Buzz), the first of a season-long six game road trip that also sees Nashville go to Phoenix, Colorado, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver before hitting the All-Star Break on Jan. 27. The Predators return to Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 1 vs. Calgary as they kick-off the season’s stretch run that will see them play 21 of their final 32 games on home ice. Nashville is tied for the second-most home wins in the NHL since the start of the 2005-06 season (142). Tickets are still available and may be purchased at the Bridgestone Arena box office, by calling (615) 770-PUCK (7825) or online via ticketmaster.com or nashvillepredators.com.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass