Predators Sign Erik Haula to One-Year Contract

Nashville, Tenn. (December 23, 2020) - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced Wednesday that the team has signed forward Erik Haula to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
Haula, 29 (3/23/91), tallied 24 points (12g-12a) in 48 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers in 2019-20, hitting the 20-point mark for the fourth time in his career. He picked up 22 points with the Hurricanes to begin the campaign before being dealt to the Panthers at the trade deadline, where he recorded two assists in seven games and tacked on a goal in four contests during the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

He is two seasons removed from a career-best 2017-18 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he helped lead the expansion franchise to the Stanley Cup Final, establishing highs in several categories, including goals (29), assists (26) and points (55). Haula has scored at least 12 goals in four of the last five seasons - he missed much of 2018-19 for Vegas due to an injury but tallied seven points (2g-5a) in 15 games in his final season with the Golden Knights. In seven career NHL seasons, the 6-foot, 193-pound forward has skated in 405 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild, Vegas, Carolina and Florida, recording 175 points (85g-90a); he's also appeared in 48 career postseason contests, adding 10 goals and 23 points. From 2013-17, he played four seasons in Minnesota as a teammate of current Predators forward Mikael Granlund.
Originally drafted by the Wild in the seventh round (182nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Haula spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2010-13 and led his team in scoring twice. Internationally, the Pori, Finland, native has represented his country in numerous tournaments, including the 2014 World Championship and the 2009 World U-18 Championship, earning a bronze medal in both events.