Arbitrator awards Grimaldi $1M after breakout season with Predators

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced Tuesday that the team has signed forward Rocco Grimaldi to a one-year, $1 million contract. The terms of the contract were based on the award of an independent arbitrator who heard the case on August 4.

Grimaldi, 26 (2/8/93), established career highs in games played (53), goals (5), assists (8) and points (13) this season with the Predators, his first with the club. He skated in 33 more games than his previous career high of 20, set in 2015-16 with the Florida Panthers. The 5-foot-6, 180-pound right wing averaged 10:00 of ice time and added two multi-point games this season on Dec. 31 at Washington (1g-1a) and March 5 vs. Minnesota (2a). He also recorded a career-best four-game point streak from Dec. 31, 2018-Jan. 5, 2019 in which he tallied two goals and two assists. Grimaldi skated in five of Nashville’s Stanley Cup Playoff games and led the team in goals with three, his first career postseason points. Additionally, he appeared in 10 games for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, tallying four goals and 11 points.