Predators swoop for free agent forward Dumont

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Nashville Predators signed
unrestricted free agent forward J.P. Dumont to a two-year
contract on Tuesday after the Buffalo Sabres walked away from
his arbitration award earlier this month.

Dumont, 28, will earn $2 million this coming season and
$2.5 million the following year.

A veteran of 434 National Hockey League games, Dumont
became a free agent after the Sabres exercised their walkaway
rights on him after an arbitration awarded him a one-year, $2.9
million contract.

Dumont made $1.56 million last season, scoring 20 goals and
adding 20 assists in 54 games in the regular season.

Slowed by a hernia in the regular season, he picked up 14
points in the playoffs, including seven goals, in leading the
Sabres to within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Several teams expressed an interest in Dumont, who has 121
career goals and 135 assists, but the Predators were the most
diligent in trying to get the Quebec native under contract.

Nashville also signed free agent forwards Jason Arnott and
Josef Vasicek this summer.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)