Nashville Predators sign Jasper Weatherby to one-year contract

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Jasper Weatherby to a one-year contract worth $775,000.

The 25-year-old forward split the season with between the San Jose Barracuda and Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. He had 16 points in 70 games, with the 6-foot-4, 223-pound winger showing a willingness to throw the body and clear space in front of the net.

Weatherby has 50 games of NHL experience, scoring five goals and 11 points with the San Jose Sharks in 2021-22. It was his first season of pro hockey after a three-year run with the University of North Dakota, where he capped off his junior season with 14 goals and 24 points in 2020-21. He won the NCHC title that year after UND finished as a regular season champion for the second consecutive year.

Weatherby finished his Junior A career with the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild as the MVP in 2017-18, earning top-scorer honors with 74 points en route to a league championship.

Weatherby’s arrival will give the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals some extra depth. The Preds have $8.779 million in projected cap space with no RFAs left to sign, and 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders under contract on the main roster, according to Cap Friendly.