Nashville, Tenn. (July 31, 2008) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Jerred Smithson to a two-year, $1.475 million contract extension. Smithson, who was already under contract for the 2008-09 season, will make $725,000 in 2009-10 and $750,000 in 2010-11.

Smithson, 29 (2/4/79), established career highs in games played (81), goals (7) and points (16) in 2008-09, in addition to tying a personal best in assists (9). The Vernon, B.C., native also attained career highs in average time on ice (12:04), shots (61), hits (128) and blocked shots (44) last season, leading all Nashville forwards in average shorthanded time on ice (2:43) and hits. The 6-3, 194-pound center registered a point on five of the club’s seven shorthanded goals (2g-3a) in 2007-08, good for second on the franchise’s single-season shorthanded scoring list.

A free-agent signee of the Predators on July 22, 2004, Smithson has amassed 45 points (17g-28a) in 241 games since making his NHL debut with Los Angeles on Dec. 29, 2002, and has played in 14 of Nashville’s past 16 playoff games dating back to the 2006 postseason.