NASVHILLE (TICKER) - Maybe you can go home again, after all.
Chad Blouin--who grew up in Tennessee--was named general manager of the Nashville Predators early Sunday afternoon. He becomes Nashville's first general manager since the club joined the highly-anticipated Old Time Hockey League this spring.
Predators' chairman Craig Liepold made the announcement during a conference call to discuss the team's future in the OTHL. "Our first order of business is appointing leadership in the front office," he said. "We've found our man, and it's with great pleasure we announce Chad Blouin as our new general manager."
"This is an incredible opportunity and honor for me," said Blouin from his home in Montreal. "I'm anxious to get started and prepare this team for their rise to the top."
Confidence is one thing he has, despite the team's not having played a single game yet. "I have great faith that with our coaches and our players, we'll put together one of the best and most exciting teams in this league," he said. "We've got a young core and a lot of quality prospects--we'll be making noise for quite some time."
His first task in his new role will be evaluating the team's roster, and identifying their strengths and weaknesses. With league offices instituting a three-day roster freeze, he'll have plenty of time to get a grasp on the team's needs.