Predators Sign Rocco Grimaldi to Two-Year Contract

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced Monday that the team has signed forward Rocco Grimaldi to a two-year, $4 million contract that will see him earn $2 million in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Grimaldi, 27 (2/8/93), is in the midst of the best statistical season of his NHL career, having already established careers highs in goals (10), assists (20), points (30) and games played (58). His 30 points are the seventh-most on the Predators and the fifth-most among team forwards this season, his second with the franchise. He’s posted five multi-point outings in 2019-20, including a career-best three-point (3a) performance on Oct. 29 versus Chicago, as well as two separate three-game point streaks.

Compher Sibling Rivalry Breeds Skill and Mutual Respect

He’s a forward for the Colorado Avalanche. She’s a forward for Boston University. Together, they share a strong passion for hockey and deep respect for one another.

J.T. Compher has no shortage of praise when it comes to his sister’s hockey skills. The highest compliment? He doesn’t have to play against Jesse.

That said, J.T., now in his third full NHL season, is grateful the days of their one-on-one games at the family home in Illinois are a thing of the past.

“Jesse was young enough where I didn’t stick her in the net too many times,” started the 24-year-old, a 35th overall draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, whose rights were traded to Colorado in 2015. “She got serious about hockey when I was at the (U.S.) national program [2011-2013] and at the University of Michigan [2013-16]. When I watch her, I don’t know if I could name just one thing about her game that stands out the most… that’s a good thing. First off, she’s a very competitive player and person. Every time I watch her play, whether she has legs or doesn’t have legs, I know she’s working and she’s competing.

OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week: Cole Perfetti

TORONTO, ONT – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that draft eligible Saginaw Spirit forward Cole Perfetti is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with 10 points in three games including four goals and six assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.

Perfetti becomes the first Spirit player to claim the honour this season, stringing together three straight first star performances as the Spirit maintained their standing atop the West Division with a pair of victories. His five assists in Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday equal a past single game mark recorded by Vincent Trocheck (March 2012) and Marcus Crawford (January 2017) as the Spirit defeated the Greyhounds 7-5. Perfetti followed up on his career high-matching five point effort with his first hat-trick of the season on Friday as the Spirit were edged by the visiting Flint Firebirds 5-4. He rounded out the weekend with a goal and an assist on Saturday as Saginaw bounced back to defeat the Kitchener Rangers 8-2 on home ice. Perfetti became the fastest player in Spirit history to reach the 100 career assist mark in the weekend finale, bringing him to within three points of the century mark in his sophomore season.

Devils acquire Nolan Foote and First-Round Pick

NEWARK, NJ – The New Jersey Devils today traded forward Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for left wing Nolan Foote and Vancouver’s first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (previously acquired by Tampa Bay). The condition on the pick is as follows: if Vancouver fails to qualify for the 2020 NHL playoffs, New Jersey shall then receive Vancouver’s first-round selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft instead of a first-round selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Foote, 19, is currently serving as captain of Kelowna (WHL) where he has 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in 26 games. In December, he helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the World Junior Championships with three goals and two assists in seven contests. For the past two seasons, Foote has been a member of the WHL All-Star team that has participated in the Jr. Super Series where his teammates included Devils’ prospect Ty Smith. The 6’4, 200lb., left shot winger has skated in 194 WHL career games with the Rockets posting 83 goals and 88 assists for 171 points and added 167 penalty minutes. Born November 29, 2000, the native of Denver, Colorado was Tampa Bay’s first round selection, 27th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Larkin, Slavin Voted to the All-American Team for Hockey Day in America

To celebrate Hockey Day in America on Sunday and the start of Hockey Week in America, according to a panel of NHL.com writers, 12 U.S.-based staffers were asked to rank their top 12 forwards, six defenseman and two goalies. Forwards were given 12 points for a first-place vote, 11 for a second-place vote and so on down to 1; defenseman got six points for first place, five for second, down to one; goalies got two points for first place and one point for second.

 

Craig Smith scores first NHL hat trick, powers Predators past Islanders

NASHVILLE, TN – Craig Smith scored his first NHL hat trick for the Nashville Predators in a 5-0 win against the New York Islanders at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Juuse Saros made 31 saves for his second shutout this season for the Predators (27-22-7), who won for the first time in three games. Rocco Grimaldi had a goal and an assist.

“It was great,” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to get [a hat trick], so it was nice. It was really good looks by the guys around me. They were nice feeds by [Grimaldi], good work by [Nick Bonino] and was a [heck] of a pass by [Roman Josi] there at the end.”

Why Jack Campbell and a Hockey Hotbed Market Are a Good Match

TORONTO, ON – There’s a sweet spot for new arrivals in the Toronto media market. Before they get used to the swarms of reporters, the scrutiny of every single thing they do on and off the ice, the rookies or free-agent signees or trade acquisitions sometimes greet their new surroundings with wide-eyed wonder.

Jack Campbell has that right now. Who knows if it’ll stay? It could just be the novelty, but it could also be his genuine personality. Regardless of its genesis, it sure is enjoyable to see in the short term.

Leafs acquire Jack Campbell, Kyle Clifford from Kings for Trevor Moore, picks

TORONTO, ONT – The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Jack Campbell and forward Kyle Clifford from the Los Angeles Kings in a late-night trade Wednesday, in exchange for forward Trevor Moore, Columbus’ third-round draft pick in 2020 and a conditional third-round pick in 2021.

Los Angeles will retain 50 per cent of Clifford’s $1.6 million cap hit in the deal. According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, the conditional third-round pick in 2021 becomes a second-round pick if either Clifford re-signs with Toronto (he’s an unrestricted free agent on July 1) or the Leafs make the playoffs and Campbell wins six games. The Kings are guaranteed at least a third-round draft choice if neither condition is met. ​