1998 NHL Expansion Founding
From expansion upstart to Music City's hockey heartbeat.
The Nashville Predators were founded as an NHL expansion franchise in 1998, bringing professional ice hockey to Tennessee for the first time. The club was awarded to a group led by local businessman Craig Leipold, and the team's name—inspired by a saber-toothed tiger skull unearthed during a 1971 excavation in downtown Nashville—pays homage to the city's prehistoric roots. The Predators hit the ice for the 1998–99 NHL season as members of the Western Conference's Central Division, quickly cultivating a rabid fanbase known for their deafening, gold-clad presence at Bridgestone Arena (then called the Gaylord Entertainment Center).
- Role
- NHL expansion franchise
- Affiliation
- National Hockey League
- First appears
- 1998–99 NHL season
- Status
- Active
- Home arena
- Bridgestone Arena (originally Gaylord Entertainment Center)
- Division
- Central Division (Western Conference)
- Founding owner
- Craig Leipold
Lore & Background
The Predators' birth in 1998 was a gamble: Nashville was a southern market with zero NHL history, but the city's embrace of the team proved immediate and electric. The franchise's first-ever draft pick, David Legwand—selected second overall—became a cornerstone player, and the team's early years were defined by gritty, defensive-minded hockey under the iron hand of coach Barry Trotz. The club's first home game on October 10, 1998, a 3–2 victory over the Florida Panthers, electrified a sold-out crowd and signaled that hockey could not only survive but thrive in the heart of country music country.
In Their Own Story
It was October 10, 1998, and the Nashville Predators were about to play their first regular-season home game. As the puck dropped, defenseman Kimmo Timonen—a future captain—calmly moved the puck up ice. The crowd, many seeing live NHL hockey for the first time, rose to their feet when Cliff Ronning scored the franchise's first home goal. When the final horn sounded, a 3–2 victory over the Florida Panthers, the celebration was deafening. In that moment, Nashville wasn't just a hockey town—it was a Predators town.
Reader's Guide
**The Expansion Era (1998–2003)**
This era forged the Predators' identity as a hardworking, overachieving bunch. Led by coach Barry Trotz and general manager David Poile, the club built through the draft and savvy trades, emphasizing suffocating defense and steady goaltending. Key players like Legwand, future captain Kimmo Timonen, and goaltender Tomas Vokoun became fan favorites. The team missed the playoffs in its first five seasons but steadily improved, sharpening its claws for future success. **Why It Matters**
The expansion era established the Predators' DNA: relentless effort, deep community loyalty, and a singular blend of southern hospitality and hockey toughness. It proved that non-traditional markets could not only sustain NHL hockey but make it thrive. The foundation laid in these early years—from the 'Gold Rush' fan movement to the team's iconic saber-tooth logo—remains the bedrock of the club's identity today.
Did You Know?
- The Predators' name was chosen from over 5,000 fan submissions, inspired by a saber-toothed tiger fossil found in Nashville.
- The team's first-ever draft pick was David Legwand, selected second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
- The franchise's first win came on October 10, 1998, a 3–2 home victory against the Florida Panthers.
- The Predators' original owner, Craig Leipold, sold the team in 2007 to a local ownership group, ensuring the team remained in Nashville.
More in Club History
Elsewhere in the Nashville Predators universe
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