An NHL career continues: Anchorage's Carle signs with Nashville

Veteran NHL defenseman Matt Carle of Anchorage, whose contract was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this summer, has signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Nashville Predators.

Carle, 31, had two years and $11 million left on his six-year, $33 million deal with Tampa Bay. The buyout assured him of two-thirds of that contract, or $7.34 million, and rendered him an unrestricted free agent.

The Predators on Thursday announced Carle's signing, which reunites him with coach Peter Laviolette. Laviolette was the Philadelphia Flyers' bench boss when Carle played for the club from 2008-12.

Nashville is Carle's fourth NHL team. He began his career with the San Jose Sharks, who made him a second-round draft pick in 2003.

Carle has played 10 full seasons in the NHL. His combined 851 NHL games — 724 in the regular season, 127 in the playoffs — are the second-most among the 16 Alaska players who have competed in the world's best league. Only two-time Stanley Cup-winning center Scott Gomez of Anchorage has played more games — 1,228.

Last season, Carle was Tampa Bay's highest-paid blueliner but a frequent healthy scratch. Teammates and staff lauded him for his professionalism in difficult circumstances.

Carle has twice played in the Stanley Cup Final — in 2010, when Philly fell to the Chicago Blackhawks, and in 2015, when the Lightning lost to the Blackhawks.

Of those 16 Alaskans who have played in the NHL, Carle is the lone defenseman.

He was one of five Alaskans who last season played in the NHL. Gomez played for the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators. Center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Center Nate Thompson of Anchorage plays for the Anaheim Ducks. And goaltender Pheonix Copley of North Pole earlier this year made his NHL debut with the St. Louis Blues.

At the University of Denver, Carle won two NCAA national championships and the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's best player in his junior season. Just after his junior season ended, he signed with San Jose and scored a goal in his NHL debut. Carle made the NHL's All-Rookie team the next season.

He has also represented Team USA in international competition, winning a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships and gold medals at the 2004 World Junior Championships and 2002 World Under-18 Championships.