Milwaukee, WI – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed 2010 draft pick Patrick Cehlin (PAT-rihk SAY-lihn) to a three-year entry-level contract. Cehlin is expected to play his first season in North America in 2012-13.

Cehlin, 20 (7/27/91), ranked fourth on Djurgarden in both goals (10) and plus/minus rating (+1) during his third season in the Swedish Elite League (Elitserien) in 2011-12. In 2011-12, the 5-11, 170-pound right wing tied for fifth among Elitserien junior players in points (16) and assists (12), and during his rookie season on the senior circuit (2009-10), the Huddinge, Sweden native helped Djurgarden reach the League finals and earn a silver medal.

Nashville’s third choice, 126th overall (fifth round), in 2010 Entry Draft also has represented his homeland in a pair of international competitions in the last four years: he was named one of Sweden’s three best players of the 2011 World Junior Championships while tying for team lead in points (4g-2a-6pts) and tying for fifth in the tournament in goals (4), and tied for first at the 2009 U-18 World Championships in penalty minutes (37) while posting four points (2g-2a) in six games.