Apr 11, 2006; St. Louis, MO, USA; Nashville Predators forward Paul Kariya (9) skates up ice against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, MO. Mandatory Credit:Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Copyright © Scott Rovak
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Sep 19, 2006/vol. 60, issue 03
Nashville pull
Predators attracting prime free agents as Music City emerges as hockey hot spot
BY JOHN GLENNON
In the old days of NHL free agency, players generally considered one variable – money – when it came to signing with a new team.
While that’s still usually the case, the league’s salary cap has evened out many offers, meaning players also are looking for what makes them feel warm and fuzzy in addition to rich and famous.
The short-term result has seen the small-market Nashville Predators become somewhat surprising players in free agency during the past two off-seasons.
The trend began last summer when left winger Paul Kariya stunned the hockey world by choosing to sign with Nashville, continued this past June when center Jason Arnott picked the Preds and resumed last month when right winger J-P Dumont selected Music City over a number of other suitors.
Dumont signed a two-year deal that will pay him $2 million this season and $2.5 million in 2007-08.
“We had some offers, but I talked to (former Predator) Joel Bouchard, who played there a few years ago and he told me good things about the town and organization,” Dumont said. “He told me (Nashville) would be the best pick by far and he didn’t even know who the other teams were.
“He said those guys really know how to treat everybody as a family. I wanted to go somewhere where I feel wanted and welcome.”
Dumont, who became a free agent when Buffalo chose to walk away from a salary arbitration award of $2.9 million, was one of the last significant players on the open market.
Carolina also made a notable late addition by signing defenseman David Tanabe to a one-year, $900,000 deal, after Boston walked away from Tanabe’s arbitration award of $1.275 million.
With training camp fast approaching, only a few notable free agents remained; winger Anson Carter being the most prominent.
In Nashville, management and coaches were excited over the arrival of Dumont, who has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons.
“I thought our forwards were (already) good and now in my mind they’re the best forwards we’ve ever had,” said Preds GM David Poile.
Nashville also was pleased with its growing reputation as a players’ choice destination. Arnott’s signing process, for instance, actually began when his agent asked Poile why the Predators hadn’t been inquiring about Arnott, explaining Arnott had Nashville on his wish list.
Dumont seemed equally enthusiastic about his move.
“His interest was as great, if not more, than ours from that standpoint,” Poile said. “It points out two things: We’re a very competitive team and the city of Nashville is a great place to play.”
