On Monday, the Nashville Predators signed defenseman Anthony Bitetto to a one-year, two-way contract, according to the team.
The Predators join the rising number of teams including financial terms in contract announcements — despite the fact that commissioner Gary Bettman is sure we don’t care about that kind of thing. The deal is worth $665,500 at the NHL level and $60K at the AHL level.
#Preds ink defenseman Anthony Bitetto to a 1-year, 2-way deal: http://t.co/imiFuw5pLO pic.twitter.com/TO6yPneYkb
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 13, 2015
The 24-year-old defender was drafted by the Predators in the 6th round draft pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut last season, finding his way into seven games, over which he didn’t register any points.
Bittetto played for Northeastern University for two seasons following the draft, then he went pro. He logged one season where he split time between the Preds’ AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and the Cincinnati Cylcones of the ECHL. Then he put in a full season with the Admirals in the 2013-14 season, playing 73 games, scoring 11 goals and 25 assists.
That brought him up to last season and his NHL debut. Aside from his seven games in Music City, he also logged 70 games with the Admirals last season, posting four goals and 26 assists.
If Bitetto would like to get regular time with the Predators next season, he has a tall task ahead of him, with the team’s d-corps looking strong with Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Seth Jones, Ryan Ellis, Barret Jackman, and Mattias Ekholm all ahead of him and mostly guaranteed roster spots.