EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Kyle Turris to a two-year contract.
The 31-year-old from New Westminster, B.C., became an unrestricted free agent Friday after three seasons with the Nashville Predators.
Turris and the Oilers agreed to a deal worth US$3.3 million for an average annual value of $1.65 million, according to CapFriendly.com.
He's expected to be a third-line centre behind captain Connor McDavid and Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl.
"A great team moving in the right direction with two of the best players in the world," Turris said Friday on a conference call.
"I really feel the opportunity to win here is coming."
Edmonton ranked second in the Pacific Division at 37-25-9 when the NHL suspended the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Oilers didn't make it out of the post-season's qualifying round, falling in four games to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Turris had nine goals and 22 assists in 62 games for the Predators last season.
Nashville put Turris on waivers Wednesday and bought out the remaining four years on his contract at a price tag of $24 million.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity they gave me, but you know just for whatever reason it didn't workout," Turris said.
"It's frustrating that it didn't work out, but at the same time I'm just really excited for this new opportunity."
The six-foot-one, 190-pound centre has compiled 165 goals and 251 assists in 726 career games with Nashville, Ottawa and Phoenix.
Turris was the third overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Coyotes.
He was coached in Phoenix (now Arizona) by current Oilers head coach Dave Tippett during the 2010-11 season.
The Oilers also signed goaltender Anton Forsberg and forwards Alan Quine and Tyler Ennis to one-year contracts and inked forward Seth Griffith to a two-year, two-way deal.
Ennis totalled 16 goals and 21 assists in 70 games with the Ottawa Senators and Oilers last season.
He had two goals and two assists in nine games for Edmonton after he was acquired at the trade deadline.
Forsberg played three games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and 27 in the American Hockey League.
Quine had one goal in nine games with the Calgary Flames last season, while also playing 38 games in the AHL.
With files from Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2020.
The Canadian Press
