Nash Daily: Predators Prepping for World Juniors, Landeskog Update

Both of the Nashville Predators 2023 first-round picks — Matthew Wood and Tanner Molendyk — are skating Monday during Hockey Canada’s World Juniors selection camp.

Wood participated in Sunday’s activities while Molendyk sat out due to a maintenance day. Both are expected to make the final roster for the World Juniors.

The two groups for Canada's #WorldJuniors camp today. pic.twitter.com/RvKqT3KznR

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 11, 2023

The selection camp, which consists of several practices and a pair of games against U SPORTS all-star, runs through Wednesday, Dec. 13, at which point Hockey Canada will narrow down its roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Nashville Hockey Now

The Predators won the second game in their back-to-back over the weekend, rebounding for a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens after suffering a 4-0 defeat a day earlier to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nashville Hockey Now will have a plus/minus story from the games later today.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Austin Watson was fined $2,022.57 — the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement — for unsportsmanlike conduct over the weekend for his errant slapshot that hit Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon Thursday night. Fortunately for Nashville, Lauzon did not miss any time with an injury.

Although he played in Nashville’s back-to-back over the weekend, Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie has been a healthy scratch in three of the last six games, and he and GM Barry Trotz appear to be still at odds over the 32-year-old’s playing time, and things have gotten messy publicly.

Central Division standings

1. Winnipeg Jets — 16-8-2, 34 points
2. Colorado Avalanche — 16-9-2, 34 points
3. Dallas Stars — 15-8-3, 33 points
4. Nashville Predators — 15-13-0, 30 points
5. Arizona Coyotes — 13-11-2, 28 points
6. St. Louis Blues — 13-13-1, 27 points
7. Minnesota Wild — 10-12-4, 24 points
8. Chicago Blackhawks — 9-17-1, 19 points

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

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Report: Gabriel Landeskog Hopes To Begin Light Skating Soon (Colorado Hockey Now)

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No Word on Larkin Status as Red Wings Depart for Road Trip (Detroit Hockey Now)

Report: Team Asks Flyers About Trading for Seeler And Walker (Philly Hockey Now)

Penguins Sign Jesse Puljujarvi to Free Agent Tryout (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Sharks Locker Room: Eklund Injury Update, Quinn & Burroughs on Importance of Ferraro (San Jose Hockey Now)

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