Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Nashville Predators Sign Zach Stortini and Kyle Wilson

The Nashville Predators announce the signing of free agents Zach Stortini and Kyle Wilson on Tuesday as fans continued to wait with baited breath for more prominent signings.

It will be a reunion of sorts for Stortini who previously played with several current Predators on the Milwaukee team that made it to the Calder Cup finals in 2006. Stortini is a rough and tumble center that could replace some of the grit lost with the departure of Shane O'Brien and the retirement of Wade Belak.

Wilson was a four year college player at Colgate that the Predators hope will mature and provide the same scoring touch in the NHL that he has shown at the AHL level where he scored at least 24 goals and 53 points in four seasons with the Hershey Bears. He played 32 games with Columbus last season, scoring four goals and picking up seven assists in spot duty.

Make the jump for the full releases from the Predators...

NASHVILLE PREDATORS SIGN FORWARD ZACK STORTINI 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 5, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Zack Stortini to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the AHL level.

Stortini, 25 (9/11/85), split the 2010-11 season between the Edmonton Oilers (32gp, 0g-4a-4pts, 76 PIM) and the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons (29gp, 1g-2a-3pts, 53 PIM) after spending three full seasons with the Oilers from 2007-10. The Eliot Lake, Ont., native has suited up for 256 career NHL contests since 2006-07 – all with Edmonton – amassing 41 points (14g-27a) and 718 penalty minutes including a career-high 13 points (4g-9a) in a personal-best 77 games with Edmonton in 2009-10.

The 6-4, 215-pound center has a Calder Cup title to his credit, winning the 2007 AHL championship with Hamilton. He also helped Nashville’s primary development affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, reach the 2006 Calder Cup Finals on a team that included five current Predators (Kevin Klein, Jordin Tootoo, Shea Weber, Pekka Rinne and Cal O’Reilly). Drafted 94th overall (fourth round) by the Oilers in the 2003 Entry Draft held at Bridgestone Arena, Stortini played his junior hockey with Sudbury (OHL) from 2001-05, serving as captain for three of those four seasons.


NASHVILLE PREDATORS SIGN FORWARD KYLE WILSON 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 5, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Kyle Wilson to a two-year contract. The first season (2011-12) is a two-way deal that will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. The second season will pay Wilson $550,000 on a one-way contract.

Wilson, 26 (5/12/84), spent the 2010-11 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, posting 11 points (4g-7a) in 32 NHL contests and 24 points (12g-12a) in 23 games with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. The Oakville, Ont., native played the majority of his first four professional seasons with the Hershey Bears from 2006-10, amassing 251 points (119g-132a) in 320 games and winning back-to-back Calder Cup titles in 2009 and 2010. The 6-0, 201-pound center saw his first NHL action with Washington in 2009-10, registering two assists in two games.

Drafted 272nd overall (ninth round) by Minnesota in the 2004 Entry Draft, Wilson played four years at Colgate University from 2002-06, compiling 101 points (46g-55a) in 139 games.

More Later...

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