Adam Vingan

avingan@tennessean.com

The Predators added veteran depth to their defense Wednesday, signing Matt Carle to a one-year, $700,000 contract.

Carle, 31, had been with the Lightning for the past four seasons, but Tampa Bay bought out the final two years of his six-year, $33 million contract last month. He was the Lightning’s highest-paid defenseman last season, making $5.5 million, but fell out of the team’s defensive rotation.

With the Lightning facing a tight salary-cap situation and needing to re-sign several of their top players, Carle knew that he probably would be a casualty of roster retooling.

In 724 career NHL games with the Lightning, Flyers and Sharks, Carle has 45 goals and 282 points. He had only nine points in 64 games last season, though, his lowest amount in 10 full seasons.

"I've never had a year like that," Carle said. "If I could describe it in one word, it'd more or less be just 'inconsistent.' My play was probably inconsistent. My ice time was probably inconsistent. I was in and out of the lineup, and it's tough to get into a flow and get comfortable. But I felt at times when I was playing consistently and playing on a regular basis, my game did pick up and I was being productive."

The Predators have emphasized skill and speed this offseason in retooling their defense, trading for P.K. Subban on June 29, buying out Barret Jackman on June 30 and signing Yannick Weber on July 1. Carle is a strong skater who fits what Nashville is looking for.

He is also now the most experienced member of the team’s defense, previously playing for Predators coach Peter Laviolette in Philadelphia.

"I'm pretty familiar with his system and the way he likes to play," Carle said of Laviolette. "From just watching the team last year in the playoffs, they're an exciting team to watch and they play a fast-paced game. I'm not a type of guy that's going to be leading a rush or anything like P.K. Subban or Roman Josi, but I certainly can make plays to get the puck into the forward group's hands and allow them to do their thing. It was an easy decision from that standpoint."

After re-signing Petter Granberg to a two-year contract Tuesday, the Predators have nine defensemen on their roster, including Matt Irwin, who signed a one-year, two-way contract July 1.

Laviolette would prefer to start the season with eight defensemen on the roster, creating competition once training camp begins in September.

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