Maple Leafs Trade Former Viper Santorelli To Nashville:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded former Vernon Vipers forward Mike Santorelli to the Nashville Predators.  Santorelli will join his fifth NHL team (Nashville, Florida, Winnipeg, Vancouver & Toronto).  Santorelli will join the Predators for a second time played in 32 games with Nashville (2008-2010) collected (2-goals-1-assist-3-points). 

Santorelli signed with the Maple Leafs as a free-agent after one season in Vancouver. The Leafs signed Santorelli on July 3rd 2014. Santorelli was drafted by the Nashville Predators in Round 6 178th overall at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft played parts of two seasons with the Predators before being traded to the Florida Panthers on August, 5th 2010. Santorelli spent three seasons in Florida (2010-2013) before being claimed off waivers by the Winnipeg Jets on April 3rd 2013. Santorelli finished the season with the Jets before signing as a free agent July 7th 2013 with the Vancouver Canucks. 

Santorelli who was acquired in a off season trade with the Langley Hornets played one season in Vernon (2003-2004). In 60 regular season games with the Vipers Santorelli collected (43-goals-53-assists-96-points).

Mike Santorelli's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11417

This is posted on the Maple Leafs website:

Leafs Acquire Draft Pick, Leipsic and Jokinen from Predators

Sunday, 15.02.2015

David Nonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Sunday that the hockey club has acquired Nashville’s first round draft pick in 2015 along with forwards Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen in exchange for defenceman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli.

Leipsic, 20, was originally drafted by the Predators in the third round (89th overall) during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Leipsic has appeared in 47 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season, collecting 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) and 16 penalty minutes. Leipsic played four seasons (2010-11-2013-14) with the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) where he registered 302 points (132 goals, 170 assists) in 261 games. During the 2012-13 season Leipsic’s 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists) led the entire Canadian Hockey League in scoring. Leipsic will report to the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

Jokinen, 36, has skated in 48 regular season games with Nashville this season, collecting six points (three goals, three assists) and 26 penalty minutes. The Kuopio, Finland native has played in 1,217 career NHL regular season games, registering 746 points (320 goals, 426 assists) and 1,069 penalty minutes. Jokinen was originally drafted in the first round (3rd overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

This is posted on the Predators website:

Nashville Acquires Franson and Santorelli From Toronto

Predators acquire a pair of players originally drafted by the team

Sunday, 02.15.2015

By Press Release  - Nashville Predators

Nashville, Tenn. (February 15, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Sunday that the team has acquired defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nashville’s first-round selection in the 2015 Draft, and forwards Brendan Leipsic and Olli Jokinen.

“In preparation for the 2015 playoff run, our goal was to add a veteran defenseman who could play in all situations and a proven forward who could move up and down lineup based on the situation,” Poile said. “We were fortunate to do this in the same transaction with players who are in the prime of their careers more than two weeks before the Trade Deadline in order to give them more time to contribute and gel with their teammates.

"Both Cody and Mike were drafted, developed and began their NHL careers here. They know our organization and still have former teammates and friends on the roster. We are fully confident that they will seamlessly fit into our team.”

Franson, 27 (8/8/87), was selected by the Predators 78th overall (third round) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and was a member of the 2010-11 Nashville club along with current Preds Shea Weber, Colin Wilson, Mike Fisher and Pekka Rinne, that won the first playoff series in franchise history. Hailing from the same hometown as Weber – Sicamous, British Columbia – Franson has amassed 32 points (6g-26a) in 55 games this season for the Maple Leafs, and 165 points (34g-131a) in 377 career NHL games. From 2007-09, he played with Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, and from 2009-11, he posted 50 points (14g-36a) in 141 regular-season games and seven points (1g-6a) in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Predators.

“Cody brings size, offensive ability and the capacity to play in all situations to our lineup,” Poile said. “He is the perfect component to round out our defensive corps and give us eight proven NHL defensemen.”

Santorelli, 29 (12/14/85), was selected 178th overall (sixth round) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, 80 picks and two rounds before the Predators selected Rinne. The 6-0, 190-pound forward posted a 20-goal, 41-point season with the Florida Panthers in 2010-11, and has 29 points (11g-18a) and a +7 rating in 57 games for Toronto in 2014-15. In 314 career NHL games, the Vancouver native has 116 points (54g-62a). Santorelli posted three points (2g-1a) in 32 games with the Predators from 2008-10, in addition to amassing 74 goals and 171 points in 207 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2007-10.

“Mike is a versatile player that can move up and down the lineup based on the situation,” Poile said. “He has fantastic speed, is excellent in the face-off circle, and can play all three forward positions if called upon. He is an excellent complement to our existing group of forwards.”