It seems like David Poile has added some much needed depth on the third line defensive pairing at a very minimal price. Both Yannick Weber and Mat Irwin’s contracts are worth $575,000 for one year, Irwin’s is a two-way contract per Adam Vingan of The Tennessean:
Yannick Weber’s contract with the Predators is one year, $575,000. Matt Irwin’s is one-year/two-way, $575,000 NHL. https://t.co/ebkjeOmmsd
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) July 1, 2016
These contracts are a steal for Nashville, a team that is nearing the cap level (Yes you read that right). Not only does Poile get two young defensemen who are capable of filling the role of the third line pairing, but he also signed Irwin to a two-way deal.
Overall, these deals are a win for Poile and the Predators’ organization. Now we just have to wait and see what other moves, if any, GMDP has in store for us.
According to General Fanager, the Preds now have a little over $8.7 million in projected cap space
The Preds’ release on Irwin:
Nashville, Tenn. (July 1, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the club has signed defenseman Matt Irwin to a one-year contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 at the AHL level in 2016-17.
Irwin, 28 (11/29/87), spent the 2015-16 campaign with the Boston Bruins organization, appearing in two games for the parent club, while posting 30 points (5g-25a) in 64 AHL games for the Providence Bruins. Since playing his first professional games at the end of the 2009-10 season, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Brentwood Bay, B.C., has amassed 50 points (16g-34a) in 155 NHL games with San Jose and Boston, and 118 points (27g-91a) in 245 AHL contests with Worcester and Providence. He was an AHL All-Star Classic participant in 2011-12 with the Worcester Sharks.
Never drafted, Irwin played two seasons at the University of Massachusetts from 2008-09, posting 42 points (14g-28a) in 67 NCAA games. Prior to jumping to the collegiate ranks, he spent three seasons with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, being named Coastal Conference Defenseman of the Year and to the league all-star game in both 2007 and 2008.
The Preds’ release on Weber:
Nashville, Tenn. (July 1, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the club has signed defenseman Yannick Weber to a one-year, $575,000 contract.
Weber, 27 (9/23/88), has spent the past two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, posting seven assists in 45 games in 2015-16, and 21 points (11g-10a) in 65 games in 2014-15. Since 2008-09, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound blueliner has posted 70 points (22g-48a) in 274 NHL games with Montreal and Vancouver, and 95 points (33g-62a) in 155 AHL games with Hamilton and Utica. The Morges, Switzerland, native played in the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic and was named to the 2009 AHL All-Rookie Team after ranking second among all defensemen in goals (16) and eighth in points (44).
Montreal’s fifth choice, 73rd overall (third round), in the 2007 NHL Draft has extensive international playing experience – many of which came as Roman Josi’s defensive partner – including the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, three World Championships, three World Junior Championships, and a pair of Under-18 World Championships. After playing several seasons with Bern’s junior club – the same organization Josi developed in – Weber spent two seasons with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in 2006-07 and 2007-08, being named an OHL Second-Team All-Star for both campaigns. In 2008, he helped the Rangers win the OHL title and advance to the Memorial Cup.