During the AHL Board Of Governors meetings, the Admirals were presented with the Western Conference Fan Experience Excellence Award award for the 2008-09 season.  Jon Greenberg was on hand to accept the award.

Here are a couple of paragraphs from the official press release:

"This is a great honor for our organization," said Greenberg. "To be recognized for the hard work of our staff to provide a fantastic entertainment experience is a real validation of our mission to give our fans 40 different shows."

 

During the presentation, AHL Vice President of Licensing and Corporate Sales Sean Lavoine highlighted the Admirals concert series, Uncle Ben's Human Hockey Puck and other promotions as part of an experience that asks "What are they going to do next?"

Eric and I visited a few other venues during the regular season, and none of their shows could really lay a finger to the production that the Admirals plan and execute for every game -- from the pre-game, to the final horn.  A lot of the credit should go to Tim Van Wagoner, Mike Wojciechowski, Heather Wojciechowski, and the rest of the Admirals front office for their hard work and dedication to providing great entertainment for every ticketholder.  Their creativity and their attention to details are part of what makes the Admirals ship sail so smoothly.

This award was definitely earned and deserved.  What an honor to be recognized by the league!

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Down in Nashville, it's sounding more and more like Cody Franson and Teemu Laakso are going to be given every chance in the world to make the Preds squad this year. 

According to John Glennon from the Tennessean, Franson is training in Nashville, and has stopped by the  Development Camp.  And Laakso received this glowing review from Preds GM David Poile.

"He tested out great, says he feels great,’’ Poile said. ``We liked what he did down in Milwaukee and he could certainly be a candidate to play for our team. So you weigh that kind of thing against what’s out there.’’

At one point, it sounded like signing a veteran defenseman was on Poile's to-do list this summer...but that makes it seem like he thinks the Preds might be able to promote from within.  After the exit of Zanon, Koistinen, and DeVries, would it be a stretch to see the Sulzer, Franson, and Laakso all make the roster?

Preds 2nd round pick Zach Budish, who had some major rehabbing to do after an monsterous knee injury from playing football, was actually practicing on the ice and throwing his body around.  And the reports seem to say that he was impressive.

You can catch some video from yesterday's practice and some other thoughts at the On The Forecheck blog.