The Nashville Predators started off their Restricted Free Agent signings with a bang on Monday.
*yawn*
Milwaukee Admirals right winger Andreas Thuresson has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Nashville that will pay him $575,000 on the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.
Considering the 22-year old Swede looks to play most of the season in Wisconsin, it’s actually a substantial raise for him. He earned the raise by tallying 33 points in 50 AHL games last season, an improvement over his 29 points in 74 games the year before. Additionally, he led the Admirals in scoring during the playoffs, posting nine points in seven post season games. According to capgeek.com, Thuresson made $60,000 at the AHL level last season.
Thuresson made a minimal impact offensively while with the big club last year. His three points in 22 games isn’t anything overly impressive but he did log some important minutes when asked to do so and held his own. If he makes the Predators out of camp, he’ll almost certainly skate on the third or fourth line.
Predators fans are eagerly awaiting the signing of 2009-10 leading scorer Patric Hornqvist. Once that happens, little supporting role-type signings like this one will be a lot easier to stomach.