General manager of the Nashville Predators, David Poile, has announced the signing of unrestricted free-agent Steve Begin to a one year contract at $500,000 (league minimum) at the NHL level, and $105,000 at the AHL level.
Begin has been sitting on the open market since the off-season, and has been sent down to Milwaukee of the AHL for conditioning, a process in which he had to clear waivers on Thursday. Begin has cleared waivers, and reported to the team to get his training under way. The signing for Nashville deepens their checking line depth considerably as the 11-year veteran will add toughness and ethic on every shift. Begin is a heart and could type of player, and has displayed that throughout his career.
Last season Begin played with the Boston Bruins in 77 games, notching 5 goals and 9 assists with a -7 rating and 53 penalty minutes. Though he’s not a big time point producer, two of his five goals last year were game winners. Last year was arguably his best since the 2005-06 season where he played with the Montreal Canadiens racking up 23 points and 113 PIMs.
Begin, 32, has played 486 NHL games through his 11 years split between Calgary, Montreal, Dallas, and Boston. In 486 games he has scored 52 goals and 48 assists for an even100 points, a -17 rating and 535 penalty minutes.
Begin is good on the draw and even better on his natural left wing position. Begin’s signing comes just four days after the injury to centermen Marcel Goc and Matthew Lombardi. The Predators have lacked offense and had to play a solid defensive game to get wins, and Begin will help them to continue that trend.
In terms of goal scoring the Preds are low within their Central Division, but in terms of overall size, grit, and defensive structure they are one of the best.
- Kendall Grubbs
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