I couldn't believe it when I saw this.  For years, when reading through the NHL Guide & Record Book or surfing through hockeydb.com, I always wondered, why would this guy never come over to North America?

10 years later, he's here.  Too bad it wasn't a Staal from Thunder Bay, ONT we drafted though!

And for those of you that care Rattias Ivannas is trying out with the LA Kings and has 3 fights so far.

Nashville, Tenn. - Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Kim Staal (KIHM STAHL) to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Staal $450,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 at the American Hockey League level.

Staal, 28 (3/10/78), has played the last 12 seasons in Sweden and will be making his North American debut in 2006-07. Hailing from Herlev, Denmark, the left wing has been a fixture on the Danish National Team in international competition and played in the Swedish league's All-Star Game in 2001 and 2002.

While attending Nashville's 2006 training camp on a tryout basis, Staal appeared in two preseason games and netted two goals. He was reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) on Sept. 23.

The 6-0, 185-pound forward was originally Montreal's fourth choice, 92nd overall (fourth round), in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.