2017-18 Presidents' Trophy (Best Regular Season Record)

Lore & Background

The 2017-18 Predators were a team forged in the fire of the previous year's Stanley Cup Final run, still tasting the sting of a Game 6 loss in Pittsburgh. They returned with a chip on their shoulder, determined to prove that run was no fluke. Led by a formidable defensive corps—often called the 'top four' of Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, and P.K. The team's depth allowed them to roll four lines, with the JOFA line (Johansen, Forsberg, Arvidsson) buzzing and the third line of Colton Sissons, Austin Watson, and Calle Järnkrok providing a grinding, shutdown presence. Their special teams were among the league's best—the power play clicked at 22.3% and the penalty kill at 82.5%—making them a nightmare matchup every night. Securing the Presidents' Trophy required consistency over 82 games, and the Predators delivered. The achievement was a testament to general manager David Poile's long-term vision, from drafting Josi and Rinne to trading for Subban, and head coach Peter Laviolette's aggressive, up-tempo system that maximized the roster's strengths. For a franchise that began as an expansion team in 1998, winning the Presidents' Trophy was a landmark moment, signaling that Nashville had arrived as an NHL powerhouse. The trophy, however, also brought immense pressure. The Predators entered the playoffs as the top seed, but the postseason is a different beast—a grind where regular-season dominance means little. While the regular-season success was celebrated, it also set a high bar that the team ultimately could not clear, falling in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets in a seven-game series that exposed cracks in their depth. That bittersweet ending does not diminish the significance of the Presidents' Trophy: it remains a shining example of what the franchise can achieve when everything clicks, from the front office to the ice to the stands.

In Their Own Story

The final home game of the regular season—April 7, 2018, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Captain Roman Josi skates a slow lap, holding the Presidents' Trophy aloft, its silver surface catching the arena lights like a beacon. The fans chant 'We want the Cup!' but for one night, they celebrate the regular-season crown. The team gathers for a photo, a moment of pure joy—a snapshot of a franchise that had climbed from the bottom to the very top of the NHL, a journey from the days of catfish tosses and 'I Like Trains' to this gleaming hardware.

Reader's Guide

**Era: The Golden Age (2015-2018)**

This period defined the Predators' identity as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The 2017-18 Presidents' Trophy season was the peak of that era, showcasing a team that was deep, fast, and defensively dominant. It mattered because it validated the franchise's long-term strategy: build through the draft, develop a core, and create a unique home-ice advantage. The trophy also put Nashville on the hockey map, proving that a non-traditional market could not only compete but excel. For fans, it was a season of pure belief—every game felt winnable, and the team's swagger was infectious. Though the playoff exit stung, the Presidents' Trophy remains a proud banner in the rafters, a symbol of what the Predators can achieve when they play their best hockey.

Did You Know?

• They were the first team in NHL history to have four defensemen score 10+ goals in the same season.
• The team's 28 home wins tied a franchise record at the time.