The team has activated Mike Commodore off IR, where he is likely to see time as the #7 defenseman while they find the best fit for him in the team’s D-corps, while Nick Holden has been sent down to Springfield of the AHL. With Commodore healthy, it was important to the head coach Scott Arniel that Holden get a chance to play: “I don’t like seeing a young guy sitting in the stands when he can be working on his development. Nick came in and was outstanding for us and played really well at a time where we needed help from being banged up on the back end. There’s a reason he was called up – I talked to Rob (Riley) and asked who was his best guy when we needed to make a call up, and I made sure Nick knew that. Now he we need him to go down there, keep working hard, and be the best guy for the next time we need someone.”
When coach Arniel was asked about Commodore, it sounds as if the big defenseman is ready to go, and we may see him in the lineup shortly: “Commie is close to being 100% and has earned the opportunity in that situation to go back in.” Commodore practiced today with the team and did not appear to be suffering any discomfort during or after practice.