Jordin Tootoo Signed to Two Year $2.5 Million Contract

In a move trying to keep the core of the team intact, the Nashville Predators re-signed Jordin Tootoo to a new contract that will keep him in Nashville through the 2001-2012 season.

Key players that remain unsigned for next season that are unrestricted free agents include Pekka Rinne, Dan Hamhuis, Dan Ellis, and Francis Bouillon. Cody Franson and Patric Hornqvist will be restricted free agents if not signed by July 1.

Here is the full release from the Predators...

PREDATORS SIGN FORWARD JORDIN TOOTOO TO A TWO-YEAR, $2.5 MILLION CONTRACT

Nashville, Tenn. (February 5, 2010) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Jordin Tootoo to a two-year, $2.5 million contract. The deal will pay him $1.15 million in 2010-11 and $1.35 million in 2011-12.

“We look forward to watching Jordin’s continued development over the next two seasons,” Poile said. “Since we drafted Jordin in 2001, we have not only seen him develop into a more complete player on the ice, but also an impactful member of the community on a year-round basis.”

Tootoo, 27 (2/2/83), has appeared in 330 career games, all with Nashville, registering 71 points (28g-43a) and 550 penalty minutes – a franchise record. In 2009-10, the Rankin Inlet, Nunavut native has 10 points (2g-8a) in 26 games, the highest point-per-game average (.38) of his six-season NHL career. The 5-9, 198-pound right wing put together a career-high four-game point/assist streak from Nov. 23-28 – tied for the longest assist streak by a Predator this season – and his eight helpers are just four off his career high attained a season ago.

Nashville’s sixth choice, 98th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2003 vs. Anaheim, becoming the first player of Inuit decent to play in the National Hockey League.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass