Predators Bulk Up Roster With String Of Free Agency Signings

/in /by

The Nashville Predators have made a string of free agency signings, bulking up their roster after re-signing Filip Forsberg to a max contract.

These signings including re-signing Cole Smith, as well as signing Mark Jankowski to a one-year deal, defenseman Roland McKeown to a two-year deal and adding goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

List of Nashville Predators’ recent signings:

Jimmy Huntington (forward) – Accepted qualifying offer

  • Scored 13 goals, 22 assists and 35 points during the 2021-22 campaign, which he spent split between Milwaukee and Syracuse.

Devin Cooley (goaltender) – Accepted qualifying offer

  • Spent a majority of his first full professional season with Milwaukee in 2021-22. He suited up in 24 AHL games, going 9-10-4 with a 3.06 goals-against average.

Jordan Gross (defenseman) – Two-year, $750,000/$775,000

  • Spent 2021-22 with the Colorado Eagles where he earned a spot on the AHL’s First All-Star Team and won the Eddie Shore Award for most outstanding defenseman. He recorded 65 points (10 goals, 55 assists) in 61 games.

Kevin Gravel (defenseman) – Two-year, $750,000/$775,000

  • Played in an AHL career-high 59 games for the Stockton Heat in 2021-22. He recorded 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists). He picked up three assists in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games, helping the Heat reach the Western Conference Final.

Roland McKeown (defenseman) – Two-year, $750,000/$775,000

  • McKeown hit the 20-point mark for the fourth consecutive AHL season in 2021-22, tallying three goals and 20 points in 61 games for the Colorado Eagles. He made eight assists in nine Calder Cup Playoff games for Colorado, which reached the Pacific Division Finals.

Kiefer Sherwood (defenseman) – One-year, $750,000

  • He played in 11 NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, tallying two points (1 goal, 1 assist). He spent the bulk of last season in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, being named to the Second All-Star Team after leading his team and finishing fifth in the league in points with a career-high 75 (36 goals-, 39 assists); his 36 goals were also a career high and were the third-most in the AHL.

Mark Jankowski (forward) – One-year, $750,000

  • He spent 2021-22 in the Buffalo Sabres’ organization, suiting up in 19 NHL and 32 AHL games. With the Sabres, Jankowski tallied five points (2 goals, 3 assists.) At the AHL level, Jankowski had 10 goals and 27 points while adding seven points in 10 Calder Cup Playoff appearances for Rochester.

Cole Smith (forward) – One-year, $750,000

  • He skated in eight NHL games for the Predators in 2021-22, dishing out 21 hits while averaging 8:50 of ice time. He spent the majority of last season with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he appeared in 59 games and posted 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists), the fourth-most on his team.

Kevin Lankinen (goaltender) – One-year, $1.5 million

  • Lankinen appeared in 32 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season, starting 29 of them, and recorded an 8-15-6 record with a 3.50 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. During his rookie campaign, Lankinen posted a .909 save percentage and ranked among the league’s leaders in saves with 1,095 (third); shots against with 1,204 (third); and games played with 37 (seventh). Lankinen finished 13th in Calder Trophy voting in 2020-21 and was the fourth-highest placing goalie.
Steven Boero
Latest posts by Steven Boero (see all)