Category: Player news

Preds, Wilson agree to Four-Year Deal

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Image Source: Kristen Jerkins Photography

Oh ye of little faith! Did you really think Poile would let Colin Wilson get away? Okay so I don’t blame you for biting your nails, but all is right in the world. The Predators and Colin Wilson have officially come to an agreement on contract terms.

Four years, huh? So, what does Mr. Wilson get for that length of time? Oh, just a pay raise to $15.75M. Here’s the rundown from the Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (July 27, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has signed restricted free agent Colin Wilson to a four-year, $15.75 million contract. Wilson will be paid $3.75 million in 2015-16, then $4 million in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 for an average annual value of $3.9375 million.

Wilson, 25 (10/20/89), set career highs in goals (20) and points (42), while tying a personal best in assists (22) in 2014-15. The Greenwich, Conn., native also led the team and set a career high in plus/minus rating (+19), and tied a career high and ranked third on the Predators in game-winning goals (5). During the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 6-1, 216-pounder set franchise records for goals (5) and power-play goals (4) in a playoff series during the Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Chicago. In 368 career NHL contests since 2009-10, Wilson has 178 points (77g-101a).

So there you have it. Arbitration has officially been avoided and the last of the RFAs has been signed and everything looks to be in place for October 8th. Are you excited? I’m excited. We’re all excited.

Smith & Preds Agree to 5-Year Deal

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Image Source: Kristen Jerkins Photography

Image Source: Kristen Jerkins Photography

After it was reported Saturday that he asked for $4.75M in his arbitration filing and the Nashville only offered him $3M, Craig Smith and the Predators have shaken hands and have agreed upon a five-year, $21.25M contract. In payout terms, that comes to $3.75M/$4M/$4.25M/$4.5M/$4.75M over the next five years. The Predators and Craig Smith met their arbitration date on the nose, as his was set for today exactly.

…And then there was one.

Colin Wilson is officially the last of the players extended qualifying offers that A.) has not yet accepted, B.) has not been traded, or C.) has not come to an agreement. He falls into the C.) category. Wilson’s arbitration date is next Tuesday, July 28th. The Predators and Mr. Wilson have until that date to negotiate a deal.

Mike Ribeiro & Wife Settle Lawsuit

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Late yesterday afternoon, Mike Ribeiro and his wife settled out-of-court with his former nanny that he was accused of sexually assaulting when she was a teenager. Though the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Ribeiro’s lawyer did make a statement to the Nashville Post regarding his client:

“This civil matter has been amicably resolved without incurring further time-consuming and potentially costly litigation,” Ribeiro’s attorney, Brian Lauten of Dallas’ Deans & Lyon, said in a statement to NashvillePost.com. “I am unable to discuss any of the elements of this confidential resolution. Mike looks forward to continuing to play hockey at a high level and looks forward to aggressively pursuing a Stanley Cup alongside his teammates. The Ribeiro family will not have any further comments on this matter.”

Shortly after Ribeiro’s lawyer’s statement, the Predators also released a remark of their own:

“The organization understands Mike Ribeiro has resolved his civil case. We are pleased that Mike and his family can focus on their future and we will have no further comment.”

So there you have it. Ribeiro has been exonerated from this lawsuit, but the question is, “Has this incident tarnished his reputation and possible future within the league?” Perhaps not with Nashville (organization), but possibly for other teams in case he seeks greener pastures elsewhere. Also, the fans that so quickly turned their pitch forks against him, are they willing to let this go or will they stubbornly hold onto pride?

You can read more details of this case over at OntheForcheck.com.

 

NSH trades Beck to TOR for Devane

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Say “so long” to Taylor Beck as he is officially headed to the Maple Leafs in exchange for forward forward Jamie Devane. Here’s a little info from the organization:

Devane, 24 (2/20/91), has spent the majority of his three-season professional career at the American Hockey League level, posting 15 points (6g-9a) and amassing 253 penalty minutes in 118 games with the Toronto Marlies. The Mississauga, Ont., native also appeared in his first two NHL contests with the Maple Leafs during the 2013-14 season.

Source: Torontoobserver.ca

Okay, so don’t let the knowledge that he’s spent a good portion of his career in the minors bother you. 2014-15 was the first season where Taylor Beck spent the majority of his time with the Predators and not in Milwaukee. Though Beck experienced his best season last year, whether or not he’d have a roster spot for the upcoming season was definitely up for debate. The Predators extended a qualifying offer to Beck, along with seven other players (Bourque accepted his, Hellberg was traded to the Rangers), but Beck and his agent opted for an arbitration hearing instead. Set for July 24th, the Predators avoided facing a possible hearing by successfully dealing Beck to Toronto.

Whether he pans out for the NHL right away or not, Devane will be a good replacement for someone else within the Admirals organization who is ready to make the switch to the big times. Enter, Austin Watson or Miikka Salomaki. Who knows? Maybe Devane will impress the judges enough to spend a little more time in the big leagues. Either way, Toronto will enjoy having Taylor Beck in their repertoire, there’s no doubt about that.

Also, for those interested (which I bet you are), here are the arbitration dates for Colin Wilson and Craig Smith:

  • Colin Wilson: July 28th
  • Craig Smith: July 20th

Preds ink Kamenev to ELC

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All has been relatively quiet on the home front as of late, but the Predators couldn’t keep quiet forever. Moments ago, the organization announced that it had signed 2014 Draft second rounder, Vladislav Kamenev to an entry-level contract. Here’s a little more info on the 18-year-old Russia native:

Kamenev, 18 (8/12/96), ranked third among Kontinental Hockey League junior players in goals (6) and tied for fourth in points (10) with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2014-15. The Orsk, Russia native also helped his homeland earn a silver medal at the 2015 World Junior Championship, tying for second on the team in assists (3) in the process.

In his draft year, the 6-3, 182-pound left wing helped Magnitogorsk win the 2014 Gagarin Cup Championship and captained Russia at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship, tying for sixth in tournament assists, and for seventh in points (2g-5a-7pts). Kamenev also ranked third in assists (6), and tied for fourth in points (7) at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, helping Russia to a silver medal, and suited up for all four of Russia’s games at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

Kamenev is currently in Nashville participating in the Predators development camp, so this is certainly a good Friday for him. Don’t forget, you can check out Kamenev and the rest of the potential future Preds tomorrow at the rookie game at the Ford Ice Center, 11AM.

Preds sign Conor Allen

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If you are subscribed to our email notifications, you must really like us because, combined with yesterday and today, you are seeing a lot of Lady Preds. Hey, but that’s the joy of NHL Free Agency!

Right after (like as soon as I hit publish) announcing they had re-signed Gabriel Bourque to his qualifying offer, the Predators released the announcement that they had nabbed someone else today.

Enter: 25-year-old Conor Allen, a defenseman that has spent his young career within the New York Rangers organization. Here’s a little background on Allen from the Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the club has signed free-agent defenseman Conor Allen to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 at the AHL level.

Allen, 25 (1/31/90), has spent the majority of the past two-plus seasons with the New York Rangers organization, playing seven NHL contests while recording 65 points (17g-48a) and 184 penalty minutes in 145 AHL games with the Hartford Wolfpack. In 2014-15, the 6-1, 210-pounder tied for 10th among all AHL blueliners in goals (11), and was one of just two AHL defensemen to register more than 30 points (11g-23a-34pts), 100 penalty minutes (113), and post a positive plus/minus rating (+1).

A native of Chicago, Allen played three seasons at the University of Massachusetts (2010-13), registering 39 points (14g-25a) and 110 penalty minutes in 99 games, and was named to the 2012 Hockey East All-Academic Team as a sophomore. Prior to entering the NCAA ranks, he spent a season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede (2009-10), and won a Robertson Cup with the NAHL’s St. Louis Bandits in 2008-09.

Yes, that’s Conor with one ‘N’. And don’t you dare forget it!

Bourque accepts Preds’ Qualifying Offer

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You like Bourque? We like Bourque. Well, he likes Nashville too, it seems because he has accepted his qualifying offer extended to him by the Predators. What’s that offer? A one-year, $866,250 deal, to be exact.

Gabriel Bourque was 3-10-13 last season, a wee bit off from his 9-17-26 record from the 2013-14 season. But hey, everyone is entitled to a few off seasons, right?

Bourque is just the first of eight RFAs that the Predators extended qualifying offers to on Monday to accept. That list includes the likes of Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, Calle Jarnkrok, Taylor Beck, Anthony Bitetto, and Taylor Aronson. Magnus Hellberg, the eighth RFA, was traded yesterday afternoon to the New York Rangers in return for a sixth-rounder in the 2016 Draft.

Preds acquire Max Reinhart

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The fax machine is definitely working today, am I right? In a trade with the Calgary Flames for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the Predators acquired 23-year-old Max Reinhart, a strapping young forward. Here’s a bit about the young man from the official Preds release:

Reinhart, 23 (2/4/92), has appeared in 23 career NHL games with the Flames over the past three seasons, posting a goal and four assists. Since scoring a pair of goals in his first professional contest with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Heat on April 15, 2012, the 6-1, 185-pound center has amassed 125 points (45g-80a) in 203 AHL contests. In 2013-14, his assist total ranked ninth in the AHL (42), while his point total tied for 11th (63).

Reinhart has agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Predators worth $575,000 on the NHL level and $80,000 on the AHL level.

Preds sign Center Cody Hodgson

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In more of a “didn’t see that coming” move, the Predators organization nabbed 25-year-old Cody Hodgson from the Buffalo Sabres on a one-year, $1M deal.

Hodgson is a young, rather broad center that could be of some good use to the Predators. Of course, that one-year, $1M deal is pretty nice, too.

Preds sign Defenseman Barret Jackman

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Afraid the Predators wouldn’t do anything after re-signing Mike Ribeiro? Well, you’d be wrong. Nashville snagged a heck of a deal with former St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman for a two-year, $4M contract.

34-year-old Barret Jackman is a hard-hitting blue liner that the Predators have been searching for and hey, he’s one of those players you are going to learn to love (because you despised him with St. Louis).

Also, we have been given hockey .gif gold once again. Hopefully, he will not curse the Predators like a one Olli Jokinen did.