Nashville Predators sign defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to one-year, two-way contract

The Nashville Predators have signed restricted free agent defenseman Marc Del Gaizo to a one-year, two-way contract.

Del Gaizo will earn $775,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level for the 2024-25 season.

Though expected to play for the Predators' AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals this season, Del Gaizo will likely be one of the first called upon for injury replacement. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound defenseman has more than 200 games professional experience and has developed into a dependable two-way player.

Del Gaizo, 24, was the Predators' fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft out of the University of Massachusetts. After finishing his college career in 2021, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract in April 2021. He was assigned to the Chicago Wolves during the AHL's pandemic-shortened season, then joined the Admirals for the 2021-22 season.

In 198 games for the Admirals, Del Gaizo has 17 goals and 67 assists. The left-hander has been a consistent force on the defensive end for the Admirals, adding incrementally more offense to his game as he's developed. Last season, he had eight goals and 26 assists in 60 games, with four goals and three assists in 15 playoff games.

Del Gaizo made his NHL debut on Nov. 4 against the Edmonton Oilers, where he also earned his first point, assisting on a Filip Forsberg goal. In nine NHL games, he has three assists.

Del Gaizo will remain a restricted free agent when this contract expires in 2025.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators sign Marc Del Gaizo to one-year, $775K contract