2009-10: Set career highs in games played (81), assists (10) and penalty minutes (27)… Led the team, and ranked 22nd in the League, in blocked shots (147)… One of just two Predators (along with Shea Weber) to post at least 100 hits (101) and 100 blocked shots… Saw his average ice time increase by 7:16 over the 2008-09 season (12:39 to 19:55), the highest season-to-season increase in the NHL among players appearing in at least 20 games each season… Ranked second on the team in average shorthanded ice time (2:30)… Logged 20-or-more minutes in 43 games after doing it only twice in the first 81 contests of his career… Put up half his season assist total in a 12-game stretch from Nov. 28-Dec. 19… Played his 100th career contest on Nov. 17 vs. San Jose. PLAYOFFS: Played in all six WCQ games vs. Chicago… Made his playoff debut in Game One, and collected his first career postseason point/assist in Game Three.

2008-09: Played his rookie season after appearing in 18 games over the three previous campaigns… Tied for fifth among rookie defensemen in goals (4) and 12th in points (12)… Recorded seven (4g-3a) of his 12 points against Central Division opponents, including all four goals… Posted points/assists in back-to-back contests (3a) for the first time in his career Feb. 28-March 3… Registered his first career multi-point outing with a pair of assists vs. Edmonton on March 3… Scored his first career power-play goal on Feb. 10 vs. Detroit.

2007-08: Appeared in 13 games in his first full season at the NHL level… Was reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) on two occasions for conditioning assignments (Nov. 16-30 & Feb. 14-18)… Missed the first six games of the campaign due to injury.

2006-07: Appeared in two games with Nashville and scored his first career NHL goal on Jan. 26 at Chicago. It was his fourth career NHL game… Was recalled from Milwaukee (AHL) twice during the season (Nov. 20-24 and Jan. 26-28)… Ranked third among Milwaukee defensemen in scoring with 20 points (5g-15a-20pts) in 70 games.

2005-06: Was recalled from Milwaukee twice during the season (Dec. 3-4 and March 9-12)… Led Milwaukee defensemen in scoring (10g-33a-43pts) and ranked 13th among AHL backliners in points… Tied for second on the Admirals in shorthanded goals (2) and tied for third on the club with 76 games played… Tied for first on the team and fifth in the AHL with a +11 rating in the 2006 playoffs.

2004-05: Spent the majority of his first pro season with Milwaukee, including seven playoff contests… Also posted three points (2g-1a) in three games with Rockford (UHL).

AMATEUR: Captured a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2004 World Junior Championships… Won the 2004 Ontario Hockey League championship as a member of the Guelph Storm… Tied for second on the Storm with 21 playoff points (10g-11a) and ranked third in playoff goals (10)… Named the OHL Western Conference’s best defensive defenseman in the 2004 OHL coaches’ poll, was named a Third-Team All-Star and played for the Western Conference at the 2004 OHL All-Star Classic… Served as an alternate captain for Toronto St. Michael’s in 2002-03 and finished third in team scoring (11g-33a-44pts)… Finished second in voting as the OHL Eastern Conference’s best defensive defenseman in the 2003 OHL coaches’ poll… Named the Majors’ most outstanding defenseman in 2003... Played for the OHL Eastern All-Stars in the CHL Hershey Cup All-Star Series… Tallied an assist at the 2003 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener… Won a gold medal with Canada’s U-18 team at the 2001 Six Nations tournament in the Czech Republic… Played for Team Ontario at the 2001 U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia.

BACKGROUND: Enjoys golfing, biking and reading… Favorites include Tayst (Nashville restaurant), planetgreen.com (website), Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bob Marley (musicians) and the Green Bay Packers (non-hockey sports team)… Lists his favorite hockey moment as winning a gold medal with Canada’s U-18 team in 2001 at the Six Nations tournament in the Czech Republic and winning the 2004 Ontario Hockey League championship with Guelph… Nickname “Kleiner”… He and his wife Jody have a son, Joseph.

TRANSACTIONS: June 22, 2003 – Nashville’s third selection, 37th overall (second round), in the 2003 Entry Draft.