NASHVILLE PREDATORS SIGN CENTER JASON ARNOTT
- Veteran provides size, Stanley Cup experience as No. 1 center -
Nashville, Tenn. (July 2, 2006) – Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent center Jason Arnott to a five-year contract. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Jason Arnott provides the perfect fit for the Nashville Predators and we are thrilled to add a player of his caliber to our lineup," said Poile. "He has size, skill and experience and gives us the No. l center that we have been looking for to match up with the best in the league. He will be a terrific complement to our skilled forwards like Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan."
Arnott, 31 (10/11/74), posted career-highs in assists (44) and points (32g-44a-76pts) this past season with the Dallas Stars. The 6-4, 220-pound native of Collingwood, Ont. ranked second on the Stars in points, goals and game-winning goals (5) and ranked third on the club in power-play goals (11) and assists (44). The 2005-06 campaign was Arnott's second 30-goal season and his ninth 20-goal season, including his last seven NHL campaigns.
Entering his 14th NHL season, Arnott has appeared in 91 career Stanley Cup Playoff games and has been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, capturing the Cup as a member of the New Jersey Devils in 2000. During the 2000 playoffs, he tied for third in the NHL in playoff points (8g-12a-20pts) and led the Devils with seven points (4g-3a-7pts) vs. Dallas in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Drafted seventh overall by Edmonton in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Arnott has posted 276 goals and 368 assists (276g-368a-644pts) in 824 NHL games with Edmonton, New Jersey and Dallas. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1994 and finished second in the balloting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league's top rookie. He appeared in the NHL All-Star Game in 1997 as a member of the Oilers.