Predators Sign Sergei Kostitsyn to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed newly acquired right wing Sergei Kostitsyn to a one-year contract worth $550,000. He was acquired by the Predators on June 29 from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goalie Dan Ellis and forward Dustin Boyd. In 47 games last season with the Canadiens, Kostitsyn had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. He also appeared in 16 games with Hamilton of the AHL, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points. He also added two goals and three assists in four games with Belarus at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This is a very affordable signing for the Predators, and I'm very impressed that they were able to sign Kostitsyn for so little and that he didn't hold out for more money or threaten to go to the KHL. He is a very shifty winger who has some offensive upside, but has questionable work ethics and a poor attitude. Depending on how he plays next season and if he clashes at all with the Predators' management will be big factors if Kostitsyn gets a longer contract or a raise next summer.