Nashville Predators sign forward Dave Scatchard

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Dave Scatchard (DAYV SKAT-chuhrd) to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 on the NHL level and $105,000 on the AHL level. Scatchard cleared waivers on Wednesday and will report to Milwaukee (AHL).

            Scatchard, 33 (2/20/76), has played in 635 career NHL games since the 1997-98 season, amassing 263 points (125g-138a) with Vancouver (1997-2000), the New York Islanders (2000-04), Boston (2005-06) and Phoenix (2005-07). The Hinton, Alta., native saw limited action in 2007-08 with Hartford (3gp, 0g-1a) and Milwaukee (8gp, 1g-2a) of the American Hockey League, and didn't play during the 2008-09 campaign. The 6-3, 210-pound center participated in Vancouver's training camp last month on a Professional Tryout Agreement.

            A second-round choice (42^nd overall) of the Canucks in the 1994 Entry Draft, Scatchard's top offensive season came in 2002-03 with the Islanders, when he registered 27 goals and 45 points in 81 contests.

I don't think this will have much to do with the Preds' short-term injury issues, based on this report from Admirals Short Shifts. Scatchard is skating with Milwaukee already, and I doubt they'd send him through waivers if the Preds intended for him to help out in Nashville.