Nashville Predators Sign Dan Hamhuis

News 2001-02

Jul 17 2002

Nashville Predators Sign Dan Hamhuis

Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Dan Hamhuis (HAM-yoos), the team's first selection (12th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Hamhuis, 19 (12/13/82), was named the 2002 Canadian Hockey League Dewalt Top Defenseman of the Year and a First Team CHL All-Star after his 2001-02 season with the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougers. He also was named the WHL Player of the Year (Four Broncos Memorial Trophy), the WHL Defenseman of the Year (Bill Hunter Trophy) and a WHL Western Conference First Team All-Star. He became the first player to win both the WHL's Four Broncos Memorial Trophy and the Bill Hunter Trophy in the same season since 1977.

The 6-0, 196-pound Smithers, British Columbia native finished fourth among WHL defensemen in scoring with 60 points (10 goals, 50 assists). He also recorded a +10 rating and 135 penalty minutes in 59 games for the Cougars, and was named the team's 2001-02 Most Valuable Player and Defenseman of the Year.

For the second straight year, Hamhuis represented Canada at the World Junior Championships, and he added a silver medal to the bronze medal won in 2001. The rearguard tied for fourth in the 2002 tournament with a +8 rating and he posted three assists in six games.

Hamhuis becomes the first member of the Predators' 2001 NHL Entry Draft class to sign an NHL contract. Nashville's roster at the end of the 2001-02 season featured eight players that the team has drafted (Jonas Andersson, Denis Arkhipov, Martin Erat, Adam Hall, Scott Hartnell, Jan Lasak, David Legwand and Karlis Skrastins), and the club's organizational roster currently contains 15 signed players selected by Nashville in its five NHL Entry Drafts.

Hamhuis is in Nashville to attend the Predators' rookie conditioning camp, which runs from July 8-14 at the Centennial Sportsplex.