The Nashville Predators have prevented the St. Louis Blues from signing forward Marek Svatos, by claiming him off waivers Wednesday.
The Blues were ready to sign the free agent forward to a one-year contract, if he cleared waivers. A report on Tuesday said that the Blues had a two-way deal set that would have paid Svatos $800,000 at the NHL level.
The 28-year old Svatos was released by KHL club Omsk Avangard last week. He had three goals and five assists in 19 games for the Russian side.
The Kosice, Slovakia native last played in the NHL in the 2009-10 season and collected seven goals and four assists in 54 games with the Colorado Avalanche.
Svatos was originally selected in the seventh round, 227th overall, by the Avs in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In 316 career games, all with Colorado, he has 96 goals and 68 assists.
