Nashville Predators ink D Matt Irwin

The Nashville Predators took a step toward bolstering their defense on Friday by signing blue-liner Matt Irwin to a one-year, $650,000 contract.

Irwin has collected three goals and five assists in 32 games during his first season with Nashville. The 29-year-old British Columbia native has posted a team-best plus-14 rating, which ranks third among Western Conference defensemen heading into Friday's action.

Irwin has scored 19 goals and set up 39 others in 187 career contests with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and Predators.