Bitetto, claimed off waivers Friday, becomes latest player Wild GM Paul Fenton knew from Nashville

There was never a question that Paul Fenton was proud of the job he did as Nashville Predators assistant general manager.

In his first year as GM of the Minnesota Wild, he has reinforced that notion by repeating a handful of player acquisitions. The latest was Friday, when Minnesota claimed defenseman Anthony Bitetto off waivers from Nashville.

A sixth-round pick by the Predators in 2010, Bitetto has appeared in just 114 NHL games over the past five seasons, including 18 in 2018-19. Seven other defensemen have played at least 26 games for Nashville so the move to Minnesota should afford him the opportunity to earn more ice time.

Fenton filled multiple roles during his time with the Predators. One was as the head of the amateur scouting department, which made him the lead voice at the draft table from 2003-17. He also was GM of Nashville’s AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

Bitetto is the third player Fenton drafted for the Predators who is now with the Wild. Forward Pontus Aberg (second round, 2012) went to Minnesota in a trade with Anaheim nine days earlier.

Matt Hendricks (fifth round, 2000) and Mike Liambas were among Fenton’s first free agent acquisitions last July 1. Nashville never signed Hendricks when it originally held his rights but brought him back as a free agent in 2013. Liambas spent four full seasons with Milwaukee (2012-17) and made his NHL debut for Nashville in 2016-17.

Earlier this week, Fenton traded with Vegas to acquire defenseman Brad Hunt, who played three games for the Predators in 2016-17 after he was claimed off waivers midseason.

Minnesota is currently third in the NHL’s Central Division, nine points behind second-place Nashville. The teams will meet three times between now and the end of the regular season, including a home-and-home March 3 (at Minnesota) and March 5 (at Nashville).