YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NASHVILLE PREDATORS SIGN FORWARD STEVE SULLIVAN
Nashville, Tenn. (August 3, 2004) - Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Steve Sullivan (SUH-lih-van). In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sullivan, 30 (7/6/74), posted 73 points (24g-49a) in 80 games with Nashville (9g-21a-30pts) and Chicago (15-28a-43pts) last season. The 5-9, 155-pound Timmons, Ontario native has scored over 20 goals in each of the last six seasons and has notched over 60 points in each of his last five campaigns.

"Steve's impact after joining the Predators in February was significant as he provided an added dimension to our team and helped guide us to our first-ever playoff berth," said Poile. "Getting Steve signed has been an off-season priority and we're glad to have done it without going through the arbitration process."

Sullivan scored a hat trick in his first game as a Predator in a 7-3 win vs. San Jose on February 18. He became just the second player in NHL history to record 10 points (5g-5a) in his first three games with a new team and was named the NHL Offensive Player of the Week from February 16-22.

The Predators went 11-7-4-2 in 24 games with Sullivan in the lineup and averaged better than three goals a game in that span, including three of the four highest-scoring games in franchise history (7 vs. San Jose on February 18, 8 at Phoenix on February 21 and 9 at Pittsburgh on March 4).

Sullivan notched career-highs in goals (34) and points (75) with the Blackhawks in 2000-01 and led the NHL in shorthanded goals (eight) that season. He has tallied 175 goals and 274 assists (175g-274a-449pts) in 597 career NHL games over nine seasons with New Jersey, Toronto, Chicago and Nashville. Originally a ninth-round selection (233rd overall) in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Sullivan was acquired by the Predators from Chicago on February 16, 2004 for a second-round selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (Ryan Garlock) and a second-round selection in the 2005 Entry Draft.

How great is this! If the Preds actually ever play a game again, they will actually have offense! How about that! It's so nice to see the front office making moves to keep the fan interest up. This certainly got my attention.