The Nashville Predators have re-signed restricted free agent forward Rocco Grimaldi to a one-year contract worth $1 million for the next season. Both parties went to arbitration on Sunday with the two sides reportedly $350,000 apart on a new contract.
An independent arbitrator has awarded Rocco Grimaldi a one-year, one-way, $1 million contract with the #Preds >> https://t.co/QKsn3o7Oqo
— Nashville Predators PR (@PredsPR) August 7, 2019
Rocco Grimaldi Re-Signs With Nashville
Grimaldi has played with the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators over his five-year NHL career. He has put up 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 career points in 90 career games. Florida originally drafted him in the second round, 33rd overall of the 2011 NHL Draft.
Last season he scored five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 53 games. He also added 10 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 57.6 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 6.8.
The Anaheim, Calif. native was one of the Predators’ better players in the post-season. He scored three goals in five games. Nashville was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in six games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
He was also a standout player in the NCAA with the University of North Dakota. Grimaldi helped his college team win the 2012 NCAA men’s Division I national championship.
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What This Means for the Future
The 26-year-old fought for a roster spot on the team and proved to be a key member of the bottom-six forwards. Grimaldi is willing to fight for pucks and do the little things to make his team better.
General manager David Poile was so pleased with Grimaldi that he told him to buy a place in the Music City. He’ll continue to play a key part as a depth option for the Predators, who are tipped to be one of the Western Conference favourites.
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27: Rocco Grimaldi #23 of the Nashville Predators plays against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on October 27, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
