The Nashville Predators made a trade Monday with AHL affiliate Milwaukee: The Predators recalled forwards Egor Afanasyev and Mark Jankowski and the Admirals picked up forward Philip Tomasino in return.

Evidently, Tomasino hasn't earned that trust coach Andrew Brunette talked about 11 days ago, thus the assignment to Milwaukee and the Predators giving the Admirals' top scorers an NHL look.

Tomasino looked to be getting his game together just before the long All-Star break, scoring a goal in two of the team's last three games.

"The little things that plague him a little bit, the structures and details of our system, are glaring at times," Brunette said of Tomasino in early February. "So you don't feel completely comfortable and confident in games that are tight.

"He's gotten much better as the season has progressed, but for us to lean on him late in games, he needs to find another level. He has to earn that trust."

A first-round pick of the Predators' in 2019, Tomasino acknowledged that sentiment but remained steadfast that he felt he's played well when given the opportunity.

He has seven goals and 14 assists in 41 games this season.

"When I get the chance to play, I think I've proven I can play and belong here," Tomasino said Feb. 1. "Just gotta get the chance, and when I'm in there just do everything to help the team win. I think I've done a pretty good job of that all year, not only recently."

Afanasyev, 23, already has a career high in goals (21) and points (42). He is tied for fifth in the AHL in goals and tied for sixth in points. He's also been instrumental in the Admirals' 14-game winning streak, with eight goals and 12 assists.

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The Predators poached Afanasyev in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He has one goal in 17 career NHL games.

The 29-year-old Jankowski leads Milwaukee and is third in the AHL in assists (32) and points (47) and was named AHL Player of the Month for January after contributing seven goals and 11 assists.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Predators sent Philip Tomasino down, recalled Afanasyev, Jankowski