Nash Daily: Kemell’s Breakout Game, Arvidsson On Trade Block?

Nashville Predators 2022 first-round pick Joakim Kemell has really come into his own since joining the Milwaukee Admirals after his season with JYP in the Finnish Liiga ended.

The 19-year-old forward scored six goals and 13 points in 14 games to close out the regular season and his two-goal performance in Sunday’s Game 5 win over the Texas Stars helped the Admirals advance to the Western Conference Final for the third time in club history. Kemell has five goals and six points in eight preseason games.

KING KEMS 👑 pic.twitter.com/xhfJKAbnpw

— x – Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) May 22, 2023

4-0 thanks to the KING 👑 pic.twitter.com/dqDsk01JvT

— x – Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) May 22, 2023

The Admirals will face the Coachella Valley Firebirds with a shot at the Calder Cup Final on the line. The Firebirds had the second-most wins (48) and points (103) during the AHL regular season. Game 1 is Thursday at 9 p.m. CT.

Here’s more Predators news plus the top stories from around the NHL in today’s daily:

Nashville Hockey Now

Another top Predators prospect, Zachary L’Heureux, came up just short of winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as his Halifax Mooseheads fell 5-4 to the Quebec Remparts in Game 6 of the QMJHL championship. L’Heureux scored one of Halifax’s four goals in the game and he totaled 11 goals and 26 points in 20 postseason games.

Zachary L'Heureux gives the Mooseheads the lead! #QPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/bkR0Psk4fg

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 21, 2023

Team USA routed France 9-0 in the IIHF World Championships on Sunday and former Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi scored his fourth goal of the tournament. He’s tied for the third-most points (8) and fourth-most goals and he shares the USA scoring lead with teammate T.J. Tynan.

Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz suggested one offseason mulligan for every NHL team and his choice for the Predators was taking on Ryan McDonagh’s contract. He questions if the Preds will find it difficult to get out from McDonagh’s $6.75 million-per-year deal with a full no-trade clause down the road.

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

Colorado Hockey Now: After leading the Remparts to a QMJHL championship, is Patrick Roy eyeing a return to the NHL coaching ranks?

Florida Hockey Now: After two Matthew Tkachuk overtime game winners, the Panthers head home with a 2-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. Read more here on Florida’s Cinderella postseason run.

L.A. Hockey Now: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Kings could be looking to shed some salary and he mentioned former Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson could be on the trade block.

Vegas Hockey Now: Two games and two wins for the Golden Knights over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. Read more about how Vegas took control of the series.

Follow Michael Gallagher on Twitter: @MGsports_