Nashville Predators sign Nolan Yonkman to one-year contract

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Nolan Yonkman to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000 on the NHL level and $115,000 on the AHL level.

Yonkman, 28 (4/1/81), has spent the past three seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), registering 30 points (6g-24a) and 296 penalty minutes in 207 games. The 6-6, 245-pound blueliner has been part of the Admirals' leadership group the past two seasons, serving as captain in 2008-09.  Yonkman has also played 50 NHL games since turning pro in 2001, notching eight points (1g-7a) and 90 penalty minutes in 50 contests.

A native of Punnichy, Sask., Yonkman was originally Washington's fifth choice, 37th overall (second round) in the 1999 Entry Draft.

Yonkman isn't among the defensemen expected to contend for an NHL roster spot this fall, but at 6'6" and 247 pounds, he represents an interesting blueline option within the Predators system.