Tampa's defensive depth got a little bit deeper on Tuesday with the addition of Steven Santini on a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old has 23 points (5G/18A) in 123 career NHL games since making his debut in 2015-16.
Santini had an assist, two PIMs and five SOG through four games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Los Angeles. The 28-year-old defenseman was drafted by New Jersey in the second-round of the 2013 draft (42nd overall) and brings five goals, 23 points and 57 PIMs across 123 career NHL games played to the Kings.
With Nick Leddy out with an upper-body injury, Santini will make his season debut in Montreal, his 120th career NHL game. Santini has 22 career points (5G / 17A).
Santini had one-year left on his three-year deal that paid him $1.416 million AAV. The buyout will cost Nashville just $41,667 against the cap in 2021 and $275K in 2022. Santini appeared in just two games with the Predators last season, playing the majority of the year in Milwaukee (AHL).
Santini, who was acquired in the P.K. Subban trade, has been in Milwaukee all season. The 24-year-old has five assists in 17 AHL games and 21 points (5G / 16A) in 114 career NHL games.
Santini, who is a former second-round pick (2013), is a big (6-foot-2, 205 lbs) defensive-defenseman. The 24-year-old has just 21 points (5G / 16A) in 114 career NHL games but should be more than capable of eating up 15 minutes per night on the Predators third pairing.
Santini has been a healthy scratch for the last four games but will replace Eric Gryba on Thursday. Santini has registered two assists in 18 games this season.
Santini has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but will replace a banged up Ben Lovejoy on Thursday. Santini has just one assist in 12 games this season.
Santini was activated from IR on December 1st but hasn’t played since October 20th. Santini does not have a point in one NHL game or three AHL games.
Santini lasted just 2:33 TOI in his season debut on Saturday. Santini left the game after breaking his jaw when he was hit by a puck. Either Ben Lovejoy (injured) or the recently called up Egor Yakolev will draw into the lineup on Thursday.
Santini has not played in the last nine games and with the return of Mirco Mueller, Santini became their eighth defenseman. Santini has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 36 games with the Devils this season and will likely make his AHL season debut this weekend.
Santini was a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Ben Lovejoy in the lineup in Columbus. Santini will likely skate with Will Butcher and comes in with six points (1G / 5A) in 22 games this season.
Santini has been played well on the Devils’ top pairing but with the addition of Sami Vatanen on Thursday, Santini will be the first victim of a numbers game tonight. Vatanen will take his spot next to Andy Greene and brings a lot more offence so the table than Santini.
Santini, 21, has two goals and three assists in 13 games with the Devils this season. He was sent to Albany during the All-Star break, but returns after a strong showing before the break. The former second round pick hasn’t recorded a point in 15 games with Albany.
Santini, 21, made his NHL debut last season and will make his season debut tonight vs. the Bruins. The 2013 second round pick (42nd overall) has no points in 15 games with Albany this season. Expect him to skate on the right side of Jon Merrill.
Santina, 21, did not record a point in his first game with Albany this season. Santini was a second round pick (42nd overall) in 2013 and has a lot of offensive ability to bring to the Devils’ blueline.
