General manager Barry Trotz was sitting by himself in the risers by the bench observing practice when the Nashville Predators finished Tuesday’s session on Rink B at Centennial Sportsplex.
Now Nashville has just two practices left in training camp. Except Tuesday’s session featured a new face on the ice in forward Samuel Fagemo. Nashville now has 27 players listed on their team with two more preseason games to play on Thursday and Friday.
A waiver claim that Nashville made on Monday near the end of training camp. He’s dawning No. 11 on his sweater, the last to do so was former forward Luke Kunin.
“You can see he can really shoot the puck and can skate. So, looking forward to get to know him a little bit better,” head coach Andrew Brunette said.
After a flight from LAX to BNA Fagemo was smiling when he recalled how his journey went in less than 24 hours.
“It’s been super busy for me. Yesterday I got the call that I’m going to Nashville at 11 o’clock in Los Angeles,” Fagemo said. “I was just getting back to my apartment in LA and then started packing my stuff and then I was right to the airport.”
After his first skate in a Predators uniform, Fagemo said he was happy to join the organization and thankful for the opportunity. The Predators are getting their fair share of Fagemo who was drafted 50th overall in 2019.
Here’s how it all looked out on the ice Tuesday as Brunette continues to look for chemistry.
Unofficial line rushes today:
Forsberg – ROR – Parssinen
Gurianov – Glass – Nyquist
Tomasino – Novak – Evangelista
Sherwood – Jankowski – McCarron
Trenin – Sissons – Smith
FagemoJosi – McDonagh
Fabbro – Carrier
Del Gaizo – Fabbro
Lauzon – Barrie
Schenn #Preds— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) October 3, 2023
Before he was waived by the Los Angeles Kings Fagemo’s goal was to take a spot on the roster, but the Kings opted to try and send him to the American Hockey League affiliate Ontario Reign.
“I think you have to be honest. The Kings had a good lineup and it’s tough to crack that one,” Fagemo said. “I kept working hard so I’m really happy and thankful to get trained by Nashville. It seems like a really nice team, nice guys and staff so I’m really excited.”
The Swedish forward said he didn’t know anyone on the team in Nashville. He’s only aware of fellow countrymen Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist.
Fagemo had a few chances to skate with Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly as he got himself caught up on a new drill. He continued to filter himself with the forwards on the ice.
He was sharp on his shots and beat Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen a few times on the reps he had going down the ice. Fagemo rang one off the right crossbar when facing Saros and kept shooting with power for the rest of practice.
Photo of Samuel Fagemo courtesy of Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
His skating is right there with his new teammates and was hanging back in lines for drills while getting acclimated to a new team and system.
When Fagemo was in Ontario he put up 23 goals last season, 13 on the powerplay, and even had a few cups of coffee in the NHL as well. In Los Angeles, he appeared in nine games scoring two goals and picking up an assist. For him, it’s about the opportunity in front of him and making the most of a new chapter ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Fagemo was also part of the Kings’ trip to Australia for the NHL Global series against the Arizona Coyotes a few weeks ago. When he was a member of the Kings Fagemo played in one contest against the Predators (Jan. 21, 2023) earlier this season as Nashville won 5-3.
Final cuts are due at 4 p.m. CT on Oct. 9 and if Fagemo were to be sent to the Milwaukee Admirals he would have to go through waivers once again.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
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