Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Alexander Sulzer to a two-year, $1.3 million contract.

Sulzer currently ranks third among American Hockey League defenseman in both points (29) and assists (22), in addition to being third on the Milwaukee Admirals in each category. Through 35 games, the Kaufbeuren, Germany native has already matched his goal total (7), and is just three points shy of his 61-game performance from 2007-08, his first season in North America. During the month of December 2008, the 6-1, 196-pound blueliner reached the scoresheet in 12 of 14 games, totaling 18 points (6g-12a) in that span, and helping Milwaukee to 12 wins, its most during a month in franchise history.

Nashville’s seventh choice, 92nd overall (third round), in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft held in Nashville, Sulzer was the first German player ever drafted by the Predators. He has represented his nation in international competition on five occasions since his draft year, most notably playing five games and posting an assist for the Germans at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.