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July 1, 2008
Nashville, Tenn. - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired former Miami hockey standout Ryan Jones and a second-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Marek Zidlicky.
"Ryan Jones is a big and powerful young forward that adds size and skill to our organization," Poile said.
Jones, 24, spent the past four seasons at Miami University and did not miss a single game in his collegiate career, accumulating 147 points (90g-57a) in 161 games. As a senior and the captain of the Redhawks in 2007-08, the 6-2, 215-pound right wing was named to the West All-America First Team and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's most outstanding player after tallying 31 goals and 49 points in 42 games. Originally a fourth-round pick of the Wild (111st overall) in 2004, the Chatham, Ont., native played four regular season and four playoff games with Houston (AHL) after the completion of his collegiate career. He scored the game-winning goal at 6:57 of the second overtime in Game 2 of Houston's first round playoff series, his first goal as a professional.
Miami head coach Enrico Blasi believes Jones' ability to contribute in a number of areas makes him stand out from the crowd.
"He's a player who will go into the areas no one else really wants to go into. He's a big power forward. Good goal scorer; led us in scoring last year," Blasi said. "He skates well and can contribute in all aspects of the game. Has a knack for getting into those areas to score those ugly goals. He's willing to bang and crash in the corners and in front of the net."
With 12 forwards already under contract for next season, Jones will likely enter training camp competing for one of the final forward roster spots.
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"He's one of those guys who will do anything a coach says," Blasi said of Jones. "I wouldn't be surprised if he goes there to training camp, plays the role the coaches tell him to play and ends up on the NHL roster either out of camp or if they decide to send him to the AHL, works hard there and finds himself back up in the NHL within a month or two."
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