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TSN's Darren Dreger brings us some good news (even if misspelled a bit):
News from Nashville: Siarhei Kastsitsyn (NSH) has settled: 2 yrs AAV $3 mil.
SK74 was due for an arbitration hearing on August 2nd, but avoids that confrontation and earns himself a nice bump up from the $2.5 million he earned last season. Personally, I see this as pretty fair value for a guy who contributes well as a two-way winger, but hasn't shown yet that he can elevate (or even maintain) his game in the playoffs.
Now, will there be a performance bonus tied to him actually shooting the puck more often? It's too bad that's not allowed in the current CBA.
The Nashville Predators' press release follows after the jump...
Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Sergei Kostitsyn to a two-year, $6 million contract.
Kostitsyn, 25 (3/20/87), notched 43 points (17g-26a) in 75 games in 2011-12, one season after leading the Predators in goals (23) and tying for the team lead in points (50). In addition to setting career highs in game-winning goals (3), shots (97) and average ice time (16:28) in 2011-12, the 6-0, 196-pound right wing ranked 10th in the NHL in shooting percentage (17.5), making his 21.1 percent success rate from 2010-12 is tops among players with at least 30 goals. In 307 career NHL contests with Nashville and Montreal since 2007, the Novopolotsk, Belarus native has 161 points (64g-97a).
Montreal's sixth choice, 200th overall (seventh round), in the 2005 Entry Draft has represented Belarus in 10 international competitions since 2003, including the 2010 Olympics and the World Championships in May.