Club History
33 entries in the Nashville Predators compendium.
Club History — Era Chart
Mike FisherThe two-way centre who led the Predators to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals and scored the lonPekka RinneFinnish goaltender Pekka Rinne anchored Nashville's rise with Vezina-winning play and a hiRoman JosiSwiss-born captain who won the Norris Trophy and became the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHLBarry TrotzThe architect of the Predators' identity, who turned an expansion afterthought into a pereFilip ForsbergThe Swedish left winger who set franchise rookie records and became the first Predator to 1998 NHL Expansion FoundingFrom expansion upstart to Music City's hockey heartbeat.David Poile Named First General ManagerThe architect who sketched the Predators on a blank slate.Barry Trotz Hired as First Head CoachThe architect who built a culture of grit from a blank slate.2004 Playoff Debut vs. Detroit Red WingsA young team's first taste of playoff fire, where a gold towel-waving crowd discovered jus2006-07 First 100-Point Season110 points. A franchise reborn.2011-12 Central Division TitleFirst Central Division crown for the Preds — a banner moment that silenced the doubters.2016-17 Stanley Cup Final Run (vs. Penguins)Smashville's first Cup Final: a golden dream, a roar heard around the world.2017-18 Presidents' Trophy (Best Regular Season Record)From expansion to elite: Predators top the NHL.#35 Pekka Rinne (Retired Jersey)The backbone of Smashville's golden era.#6 Shea Weber (Captain, Retired Jersey)The first Predator to have his number retired.#11 David Legwand (First Draft Pick, Retired Jersey)The original Predator. Number 11. Forever.2017 Bridgestone Arena 'Smashville' National SpotlightSmashville didn't just show up—it shook the hockey world awake.Founding and 1998 NHL EntryThe roar began in 1998. Smashville was born.David Poile named first GMThe man who sketched a dynasty on a whiteboard before the ice even froze.Barry Trotz first head coachThe architect who turned Smashville's underdogs into playoff nightmares.2005-06 first playoff series winFirst playoff series win: Predators slay Sharks in five.2017 Stanley Cup Final runFrom expansion to the brink of glory.2017 Western Conference ChampionshipSmashville's first roar heard around the hockey world.Retirement of #35 Pekka RinneThe wall that built a hockey town.Retirement of #6 Shea WeberWeber's #6: the number that built a franchise, now forever in the rafters.Retirement of #11 David LegwandThe first pick. The all-time scorer. The first to hang in the rafters. Forever #11.2017 Bridgestone Arena roar vs BlackhawksThe roar that shook the NHL and silenced a dynasty.2010-11 SeasonTrotz's second year forged a physical identity, but Kovalchuk's exit left a void the small2017 Stanley Cup Final115 points, one Conference, and the closest Nashville ever came to the Cup.1998 ExpansionTwo new teams, one small-market dream, and a city that showed up for hockey like it had be2003 SeasonA season of rock-bottom patience that forged the foundation for Nashville's future.Mattias EkholmNashville's offensive engine on the blue line, the Swedish skater who made a small-market Peter LavioletteThe coach who finally put Nashville on the map by marching them to the Cup Final.
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