4TH GENERATION NHLer: Full Geoffrion Family Tree Press Release: Geoffrion & Halischuck Recalled (Feb. 25) Geoffrion Earns Consecutive AHL Player of the Week Awards (Feb. 7) Geoffrion Training Camp Interview (Sept. 14) Preds Sign Geoffrion (June 15) Geoffrion Contract Signing Press Conference Geoffrion Wins 2010 Hobey Baker Award (April 9)

Coach Trotz has hinted at a Blake Geoffrion recall for a while. During Training Camp, Trotz regularly commented on Geoffrion's two-way game, size, and ability to get to the front of the net -- and noted those were things he wanted to see out of the team in '10-11. Throughout the season, Trotz has continually included Geoffrion's name on the shortlist for potential recalls. The last two days, Trotz expressed a desire to add another center to the active roster -- and made a point to mention the reports of Geoffrion's steady play in Milwaukee.

Preds GM David Poile also foreshadowed Geoffrion's recall earlier this month when commenting on Geoffrion earning AHL Player of the Week honors: "His play since after Christmas has really improved and obviously it’s being recognized by the AHL Player of the Week this week and his five-point game this past weekend. ... He’s going to certainly get his opportunity here in Nashville – I can’t tell you when and we don’t want to set a timeline – but it will happen."

After conversations with the coaches in Nashville and Milwaukee, Poile and Trotz felt that time was now.

"Blake Geoffrion is certainly playing his best hockey, his most consistent hockey," Poile said. "I think (Milwaukee Head Coach) Lane (Lambert) has really prepared Blake to come in and have success right away. They've done a really good job in Milwaukee of not only winning hockey games, but -- equally if not more important to the Predators -- consistently developing pro hockey players."

Beyond the immediate on-ice boost Geoffrion gives the Preds, his recall is also a major coup for the local youth hockey community.

"I think it's a great statement for hockey in Middle Tennessee that you can live in Tennessee, grow up here, and play hockey and one day you can play in the National Hockey League," Poile said. "This has to be a tremendous boost to any young child now playing minor hockey or parents of children who are thinking of putting their kids into minor hockey. Blake Geoffrion is going to make his NHL debut. For a kid it is now, who is going to the next one from Nashville to play in the National Hockey League."