Predators ink RW Dumont to four-year deal

Feb 1, 2008 - 11:18 PM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- J.P. Dumont's impressive season already has paid off.

Currently on a 16-game points streak, Dumont on Friday signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

The 29-year-old Dumont, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, is on pace for the best campaign of his career. He has registered 18 goals and 27 assists in 52 games.

Named the NHL's "Second Star" of the month of January earlier Friday, the 29-year-old right wing has notched eight tallies and 14 assists during his current streak.

"J.P. Dumont's commitment, leadership, work ethic and reputation as a big-game performer has helped him fit perfectly into the Predators culture since he came to Nashville by choice as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2006-07 season," Predators general manager David Poile said. "When he expressed a desire to stay in Nashville, we jumped at the opportunity to keep him as part of our team's foundation for the next four seasons."

After spending the previous five seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Dumont posted career highs of 45 assists and 66 points in his first campaign with the Predators in 2006-07. He has reached the 20-goal plateau five times in the last six seasons.

Selected third overall by the New York Islanders in the 1996 draft, Dumont has recorded 160 goals and 367 points in 568 career games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Sabres and Predators.

Dumont becomes the second player in as many days to sign an extension with the Predators. Right wing Jordin Tootoo agreed to a two-year, $1.95 million deal on Thursday.