TSN’s Darren Dreger brings word that the Nashville Predators have reached agreement with forward Nick Spaling on a one-year contract, giving him almost a 50% raise over last season’s $1.1 million salary:
Nashville avoids salary arbitration and settles with Nick Spaling on 1-year deal.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 21, 2013
$1.5 mil for Spaling.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 21, 2013
Spaling faces a challenge in the year ahead for ice time, however, given the signings of Matt Cullen, Matt Hendricks and Eric Nystrom this summer. Where will Spals find his role? The Predators have four veteran centers on the roster, and boast a number of forwards who can kill penalties, too.
As noted in the fancy stats section of our season review, Spaling can do a variety of things for a hockey team, but I’m not sure he does them all that well.