Who is this mystery man who the Nashville Predators signed this year? Steve Moses is certainly not on the list of most important things the Preds did in the off-season but maybe it should be. Most folks don’t know a lot about him.

Moses played junior hockey in and around Boston and his big claim to fame was leading the Empire Jr Hockey League in penalties in 2005 with 148 minutes. He went on to play four years for the University of New Hampshire from 2008-2012. He scored 14 goals his junior year but jumped up to 22 his senior year and led the team with 35 points and was team MVP.

He went undrafted in the 2012 NHL draft and ultimately signed with Finnish club Jokerit. He had a successful first year with 22 goals and 38 points in his 55 games. He dipped a bit in an injury filled following year but really flourished last year when Jokerit moved to the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.

He scored 57 points in 60 games and set a new KHL goal scoring record with 36. The feisty and speedy winger stands only five foot nine inches and is just over 170 pounds but certainly knows how to put the puck in the net. He also scored five goals and seven points in 10 playoff games last season.

The Predators signed him to a free agent contract of only $1 million for one year so he is definitely worth the risk. Can his 36 goals in the KHL translate to 20 in the NHL? That remains to be seen but he is known as a ferocious competitor that belies his size and has a great nose for the net. Playing in a bottom six role may add some scoring where the Predators desperately needed it last year.

He may have a limited upside but playing in Peter Laviolette’s up-tempo style and possibly alongside Cody Hodgson and/or Kevin Fiala he could get some chances to prove himself. Anyone with great skating ability and soft hands around the net can usually find a home somewhere. Johney Gaudreau who stands five foot nine and is only a buck fifty weight-wise had a pretty good season last year for the Calgary Flames with 24 goals. The Preds would love that.

Time will tell but I’m hoping that this time next year we aren’t talking about Steve Moses as a mystery man but what a bargain he was and how much he will continue to help this team.

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