Predators Sign Ryan Suter for Four Years

[VodkaFish]

Nashville, Tenn. – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Ryan Suter to a four-year, $14 million contract.

“Ryan has established himself as an integral part of our team and one of our core players moving forward,” Poile said. “He has shown the ability to play in all key situations, including both special teams units.”

Suter, 23 (1/21/85), established career highs in assists (24), points (31) and penalty minutes (71) in 2007-08, while leading all Nashville blueliners in goals (7) and finishing second in points. The 6-1, 196-pound native of Madison, Wis., has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time the past two seasons, and has only missed six games due to injury in that span.

Originally Nashville’s first choice, seventh overall (first round), in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft held in Nashville, Suter has appeared in all 11 of the Predators playoff games the past two years and ranked second on the team in average time on ice (21:12) in 2008. He also helped make history in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Detroit when he scored a game-tying goal that was followed by Jason Arnott’s game winner just nine seconds later. It marked the first time in NHL history that a team has gone from trailing a playoff game to leading it in less than 10 seconds.

A graduate of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Suter has played in six national tournaments for the United States, and helped capture a gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships, the nation’s first title in the tournament.

[Cat Smasher]

Good move, they had to keep this guy, next is Weber.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Not a big fight guy, but a good young two way player. I like it.

[staal4pm]

One of the best young defenseman out there. Not too far behind Phaneuf, IMO. Good signing for the Preds.

[thepolishkid88]

Weber and Suter are the future in Nashville, a very needed signing.

[chilly666]

good sign, at least we all know he isnt goin to philly for umberger.

[Isles4life]

Suter's a real good young blueliner. Him and weber give them quite a nucleus on the blueline in Nashville. Good move to get him at that price too, because the market for defensemen can drastically inflate salaries. I think he could be worth considerably more in a couple years.

[forsberg21]

very smart move. one of the leagues soon to be elites.

[HardHitt3n]

Originally Posted by chilly666

good sign, at least we all know he isnt goin to philly for umberger.

why not? he can still be traded..lol

[FrontLineAdmirals]

I only like this signing if we get rid of guys like sh-tlicky and zanon.

[rondo]

Ryan Suter is a good player who should be a real good player real soon. The guy was a top pick #7 I believe. It is time for him to take his game to another level. Nashville must think this to. He and Weber are cornerstones for the franchise.

[Snipes19]

Good move by Nashville to re-sign one of their top defenseman. They will have a solid blueline with Suter and Weber leading the way for many years to come if they keep them both in Nashville.

A part of me was actually thinking the Preds were going to pull off a big trade by shipping Suter to another team, but so much for that. Not saying that would have been a good move, I'm just saying.