Nashville Predators Make Room for Jonathon Blum, Deal Alexander Sulzer To Panthers

With the trade deadline only a few short days away, many Predators fans, as well as the hockey pundits of the world, were mentioning that the Preds could use another defenseman.

With the team experiencing so many injuries this season, the club could use all the depth it can get.

The train of thought would be that Nashville general manager David Poile would be in search of such a commodity.

In fact, Poile did make a deal invovling a defenseman yesterday, but it was to trade away one, not acquire one.

For most of the season as a Predator, Alexander Sulzer filled in very admirably on the Preds blueline, playing in 31 games and contributing four points and delivering 24 hits in a limited role.

In the wake of recent call-up Jonathon Blum's play, Sulzer, a UFA at season's end, was deemed expendable.

The Florida Panthers acquired the 6-1, 205-pound defenseman from Kaufbeuren, Germany for a seventh-round conditional draft pick in 2012. Rumors continue that the Florida Panthers are in the market to move defenseman Bryan McCabe.

Sulzer and his puck-moving capabilities could help fill the void for the short-term should McCabe be traded.

Blum, a native of Long Beach, Calif.—has played very well since his Feb. 22 recall from Milwaukee (AHL) and should get every opportunity to stay with the Predators for the remainder of the season.

In only two games, Blum has four hits and four blocked shots. Playing with Kevin Klein, Blum was one of the better defenseman vs. Chicago.

With articles featured on NHL.com and CBSsports.com, Mike MacDonald is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the Nashville Predators and the NHL.