OTF Nashville Predators Player Report Cards: Anthony Bitetto

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsSeason Overview

In just over a year's time, Anthony Bitetto's role with the Nashville Predators changed dramatically.

Prior to training camp last summer, Bitetto was a long-shot seventh defenseman on a two-way contract. After a great camp, Bitetto made the final roster and was soon expected to compete as a bottom pairing blue-liner. Despite being a regular healthy scratch and a brief conditioning stint in Milwaukee, "Tony Two-Bits" fulfilled his role nicely in the first half of the season.

Then, when Seth Jones was traded away in January, Bitetto's role and expectations increased. He responded with respectable offensively-minded defensive play down the…