Predators demote Derek Roy, Viktor Stalberg

NASHVILLE - The Predators' decision to place Derek Roy on waivers and assign Viktor Stalberg to Milwaukee in the American Hockey League on Sunday was one based on roster health.

"Early in the year we knew we had extra numbers and knew we had injuries," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "It was a time for everybody to come in and be evaluated through a process of games. I think we feel good about the lineup and the lines we have now."

Roy passed through waivers and was sent to Milwaukee on Monday.

Roy signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Predators as a free agent in the offseason and has one goal and nine assists in 26 games.

Roy, who had four consecutive seasons of 20-plus goals from 2006-10 in Buffalo, was placed on waivers for the first time in his career.

"It's a tough feeling and not a good spot to be in," Roy said. "I'm just going to try and work my way out of it and hopefully it's for the better."

Roy participated in Sunday's practice at Bridgestone Arena and said he planned to discuss his future with his agent.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Roy said.

Roy, 31, has been a healthy scratch for the past three games and eight of the last 12. He scored the lone goal in the shootout to give the Predators a 3-2 win against Boston at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 16.

The two-way center was among the veteran offseason signings that added roster depth at center.

Mike Ribeiro signed a one-year contract and has solidified a position centering the top scoring line with 29 points. Olli Jokinen, a career center, is playing wing in the Predators' lineup.

Roy became the odd man out because Calle Jarnkrok has established himself as a regular, Mike Fisher returned on Thanksgiving from an offseason ruptured Achilles tendon and Paul Gaustad was activated from injured reserve Saturday.

"We're fortunate in the sense that we're healthy, but it puts you down the road where you have to make moves," Laviolette said.

Stalberg has played five games this season. He missed the first three games of the season with a lower-body injury suffered during a training camp practice in September.

He was sent to Milwaukee on a conditioning assignment in October and suffered a knee injury during his final game there on Nov. 7. That placed him on injured reserve for six weeks.

Stalberg cleared waivers Dec. 18 and was recalled a day later when Gaustad was placed on injured reserve.

"It's an opportunity to go and play games," Laviolette said. "That's probably the biggest thing - these guys get to stay on the ice and play games."

Eric Stromgren writes for The (Nashville) Tennessean

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