Today the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals announced that the organizations have extended their affiliation for four more years. This AHL/NHL relationship was established in 1998-99 in the Predators inaugural season.
“We’ve had a long standing relation with the Admirals,” Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz said.
“They’ve been a first class organization. The culture and tradition that we have there is exceptional and our players are taken care of first class, which is what you want in an NHL team for your players.”
UWM Panther Arena, home of the Milwaukee Admirals, bears a sign that says “The road to the NHL runs through Milwaukee” with a list of all of the Admirals who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League. The impressive list includes players like Kimmo Timonen, Pekka Rinne, David Legend, Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Filip Forsberg to name just a few.
“You look at the endless lists of Milwaukee Admirals alumni playing for the Nashville Predators over the years, it one of the best relationships in pro hockey,” Trotz said.
This season alone twelve players have been recalled to Nashville from Milwaukee.
“It is super exciting for both organizations,” Assistant GM and Milwaukee Admirals GM Scott Nichol said of the extension.
Nichol went on to point out that Milwaukee isn’t just developing players for the NHL but also coaches and hockey staff.
“It’s not just a development league for the players. That’s for the coaches, for the equipment guys, the medical guys that we’ve moved on, the strength and conditioning coaches we’ve moved on.”
Both organizations credit communication with the successful partnership over the last twenty-six seasons.
“We have a good communication with Scott and the coaches, and I think that’s been key over the years,” Barry Trotz said. “Even in my time as a coach in Nashville years ago, there was always great communication.”
The renewed partnership comes at a critical time as the Predators have collected a number of top round draft picks over the next three years while the Admirals have played their way to the AHL Western Conference Finals the last two seasons. This weekend Milwaukee locked up their playoff appearance for this season as well.
