The Nashville Predators avoided a hearing over the legitimacy of Sergei Kostitsyn’s qualifying offer today by re-signing the 24-year old to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. Tim Wharnsby of CBC broke the news on Twitter.
Kostitsyn had previously also filed for salary arbitration.
Nashville’s leading goal scorer came to the Predators in a deal with Montreal for the rights to negotiate with goalie Dan Ellis and forward Dustin Boyd just before free agency period began a year ago.
Last summer, Kostitsyn was a restricted free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Predators worth $550 000.
The low-risk, high reward paid off for Nashville. Kostitsyn’s 23 goals were a team high. The Novopolotsk, Belarus native also tied for the team lead in points with 50 total.
It was clear that a raise was in order.
The signing of Kostitsyn brings to a close RFA-Gate. With goal scorers at a premium this free-agency season, a 23-goal scorer would have gone for more than the $2....
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