Predators sign pair

Jul 31, 2008 - 9:28 PM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators on Thursday signed center Jerred Smithson to a two-year extension worth $1.475 million and also inked Ville Koistinen to a one-year deal worth $700,000.

Already under contract for next season, Smithson will make $725,000 in 2009-10 and $750,000 in 2010-11.

Last season, the British Columbia native established career highs in games (81), goals (seven) and points (16) while matching a personal best in assists (9).

Smithson, 29, has spent the past three seasons with the Predators after signing as a free agent on July 22, 2004.

The contract for 26-year-old Koistinen was based on the award of an arbitrator who heard the case on Monday.

The native of Finland made his NHL debut last season, registering four goals and 13 assists in 48 games for the Predators.

Signed by Nashville as a free agent on May 18, 2006, Koistinen played his first season in North America with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League in 2006-07.