Kostitsyn signs one-year deal with Predators
The Nashville Predators avoided a hearing over the legitimacy of Sergei Kostitsyn’s qualifying offer today by re-signing the 24-year old to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. Tim Wharnsby of CBC broke the news on Twitter.
Kostitsyn had previously also filed for salary arbitration.
Nashville’s leading goal scorer came to the Predators in a deal with Montreal for the rights to negotiate with goalie Dan Ellis and forward Dustin Boyd just before free agency period began a year ago.
Last summer, Kostitsyn was a restricted free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Predators worth $550 000.
The low-risk, high reward paid off for Nashville. Kostitsyn’s 23 goals were a team high. The Novopolotsk, Belarus native also tied for the team lead in points with 50 total.
It was clear that a raise was in order.
The signing of Kostitsyn brings to a close RFA-Gate. With goal scorers at a premium this free-agency season, a 23-goal scorer would have gone for more than the $2.5 million deal Kostitsyn signed. But Kostitsyn will need to prove that he is worth the money if he expects to get a longer-term deal at the end of next season.
At the end of the 2011-12 season, Kostitsyn will remain a restricted free agent.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Good news: we have kept practically every important member (minus Ward and Franson – I have no doubt that Jonathan Blum will pick-up for Cody in the scoring department) of last year’s team. But we need a little more than the same team for next season if we want to make a run for the Cup.
Sergei was so great the final 30-35 games of the regular season, but then disappeared in the playoffs. Hopefully he can put together a complete effort next season.