The Nashville Predators, parent club of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, have announced the signings of defenseman Ville Koistinen, forwards Ryan Maki and Mike Santorelli and goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris.
Koistinen, 25, played his first pro North American season this past year with Milwaukee and notched 41 points (9g, 32a) in 59 games. The Oulu, Finland, native earned a spot in the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic and tied for eighth among AHL blueliners in scoring on the year. Following the season, Koistinen earned a silver medal with Finland at the 2007 World Championships and was voted the team’s best player in gold medal round vs. Canada.
Koistinen’s contract is a one-year deal.
Maki, 22, completed his senior season at Harvard University in 2006-07. He finished second on the Crimson with 12 goals and third on the club with 23 points (12g, 11a) in 32 games. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound forward joined Milwaukee at the conclusion of his college season and appeared in two regular-season and two playoff games with the Admirals. In 129 career games over four college seasons (2003-07), Maki recorded 36 goals and 36 assists for 72 points. He was originally Nashville’s sixth-round choice in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Maki’s contract is a two-year deal.
Santorelli, 21, completed his junior season at Northern Michigan University in 2006-07, earning nods as a Second Team West All-American and a First Team All-CCHA. The Vancouver, B.C., native led the conference in goals (30) and power-play goals (11) and also led the Wildcats in points (47) and plus-minus rating (plus-6). The 6-foot, 190-pound forward was originally Nashville’s sixth-round choice in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Santorelli’s contract is a three-year deal.
Grumet-Morris, 25, played his second professional season in 2006-07 after a four-year career at Harvard. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound netminder was 4-7-5 with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and four shutouts in 17 combined AHL appearances with Portland, Hamilton and Manitoba last season. Grumet-Morris was originally Philadelphia’s fifth-round choice in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
He signed as a free agent with Nashville to a one-year contract.
