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Nashville Predators: Rocco Grimaldi has found a home

By Tyler Samson

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 09: Nashville Predators center Rocco Grimaldi (23) warms up prior to a game between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 9, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 09: Nashville Predators center Rocco Grimaldi (23) warms up prior to a game between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 9, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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After being considered a minor signing this past offseason (Summer of 2018), Rocco Grimaldi has proved himself as a solidified member of the Predators.  

When the Nashville Predators signed Rocco Grimaldi on July 1, 2018, fans thought for sure it was a small-scale deal in which Grimaldi would spend most of the season in the AHL with Milwaukee. However, since the first day of training camp, he has busted his tail off and has now found himself as a key piece to the Predators bottom six forwards.

The 26-year-old forward was a highly coveted prospect, coming out of The University of North Dakota. Grimaldi was drafted 33rd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers. With the Panthers, he was an absolute offensive monster in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage and Portland Pirates. However, during his time in Florida, Grimaldi only played 27 games with the NHL, where he had four goals and two assists.

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On June 23, 2016, Grimaldi was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Reto Berra. After his first training camp with Colorado in the 2016-17 season, he was sent to San Antonio in the AHL (changed affiliation from the Panthers to the Avalanche that year). With the Rampage that season, Grimaldi played 72 games, scoring 31 goals and adding 24 assists.

It was during the 2016-17 season when Grimaldi got promoted to play four games with the Avalanche in the NHL. In those four games, he had only one assist and two penalty minutes.

During that offseason, Grimaldi signed a one year, two-way deal with the Avalanche for the 2017-18 season. Grimaldi kicked off the 2017-18 season in San Antonio where he played in 49 games, scoring 15 goals and tackling 16 assists. The Avalanche eventually called him up to play six games that season where he would go on to have one goal and two assists.

After the 2017-18 season, Grimaldi became a group IV free agent, where he chose to leave Colorado and sign a one year deal with Nashville. As a Predator, he has shown that his 5’6” and 180-pound frame can compete in the NHL.

In 51 games with the Predators, Grimaldi has five goals and eight assists. The California native his having a career-best in the NHL with the Predators and is showing no signs of slowing down.  His hard work and non-stop attack on the ice has promoted him from being a healthy scratch at the beginning of the season to a regular member of the lineup.

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There is no doubt that a lot of the players for the Predators have been playing inconsistently this season, but there is one player that plays every shift like his job on the line and that player is Grimaldi. Although he may be the shortest player in the NHL, he does not let that stop him as he continues to be a bright spot for the Predators’ organization.

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