Nashville Predators: Grading the Predators offseason activity
By Jake Evans
Free Agent Frenzy
GM David Poile went to work in July, when the NHL free agent market opened. The Predators wasted no time, by acquiring former Pittsburgh Penguin, Nick Bonino. Shortly after, defenseman Alexei Emelin was signed, then forward Scott Hartnell. All will be valuable assets to Nashville this season. Bonino should be able to perfectly fit the void that Mike Fisher left. Similarly, Emelin is expected to fill Ryan Ellis’ skates, as he is said to miss the first few months of the season, while recovering from offseason knee surgery. Hartnell is returning to Nashville, the team that drafted him 6th overall in 2000. He is expected to fill a 3rd or 4th line hole.
The Predators did well with their free agent signings, as all necessary needs were addressed, without taking too much of a hit on the salary cap.
Bonino is signed to a 4 year, $16.4 million deal. Emelin is in his last season of a 4 year deal, and will be paid $4.1 million this season. Hartnell inked a 1 year, $1 million deal.