Nashville Predators Sign Vernon Fiddler and Ville Koistinen

[VodkaFish]

Nashville, Tenn. - Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed center Vernon Fiddler (VUHR-nuhn FIHD-luhr) and free-agent defenseman Ville Koistinen (VIHL-ee KOY-stihn-ehn) to one-year contracts.

Fiddler, 26 (5/9/80), established NHL career-highs this past season in games played (40), goals (8), assists (4) and points (12) after having notched six points (4g-2a) in 36 previous career NHL games. The versatile pivot, who also appeared in 11 American Hockey League games this season with the Milwaukee Admirals (1g-5a), registered a career-high in average time on ice (13:49) and made his NHL playoff debut on April 27 at San Jose. The 5-11, 204-pound Edmonton native scored a goal in three straight games from December 21-27, 2005 and posted the first two-goal game of his NHL career on January 4 at St. Louis.

Originally signed as a free agent by Nashville on May 6, 2002, Fiddler has notched 18 points (12g-6a) and 79 penalty minutes in 76 career NHL games.

Koistinen, 23 (6/17/82), led Finnish Elite League defensemen in scoring (8g-26a-34pts in 56 games) and assists this past season with Ilves Tampere. The undrafted free agent also led his club in assists (34). A 5-11, 187-pound Oulu, Finland native, Koistinen has played parts of the past six seasons with Ilves Tampere's Finnish Elite League team.

"Janne Kekalainen, our scout in Finland, has watched Koistinen's progression over the past few seasons with Ilves Tampere and identified him as a player for us to keep our eyes on," said Paul Fenton, the Predators' director of player personnel. "Ville has continued to progress as a strong puck-mover and an offensive defenseman in the Finnish Elite League and we feel that this is a player who is ready to contribute to our organization."