David Legwand

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Before the Nashville Predators ever made a draft pick, general manager David Poile worked the phones. He talked to Anaheim, Calgary, and the Rangers before San Jose finally accepted a deal: first- and second-round picks for the second overall selection and the 85th pick. That move landed Legwand, making him the first player ever drafted by the franchise. After mononucleosis sidelined him during training camp, Legwand returned to the Plymouth Whalers for the 1998–99 OHL season, where he put up 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points in 55 games. Once the Whalers were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, he signed a three-year, $8.925 million contract and made his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils. Legwand's sophomore season brought a historic moment: on December 23, 2000, against the New York Rangers, he became the first NHL player to score on a penalty shot in overtime. He battled through injuries—a knee issue in early November 2005 sent him to the AHL for two games with the Milwaukee Admirals before rejoining the Predators. In 2011, Legwand and the Predators advanced to the second round for the first time in franchise history, falling to the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in six games. On March 5, 2014, with the Predators out of playoff contention, Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, Calle Järnkrok, and a conditional 2014 draft pick, ending his 15-year career in Nashville. He left as the franchise's all-time leader in all offensive categories and games played, with 956 appearances.

In Their Own Story

The puck dropped at center ice, and Legwand dug in. It was December 23, 2000, and the New York Rangers were in town. The game was tight, and then came the whistle—a penalty shot. Legwand grabbed the puck, skated in alone, and buried it. He didn't know it yet, but he'd just made NHL history: the first player ever to score on a penalty shot in overtime. The crowd roared, but Legwand just skated back to the bench, already thinking about the next shift. That was him—steady, focused, never getting too high or too low. Years later, after 956 games in a Predators sweater, after setting every offensive record the franchise had, he packed his bags for Detroit. But in Nashville, they still remember that night, that shot, and the kid who was the first Predator ever drafted.

Reader's Guide

David Legwand spent 12 full seasons with the Nashville Predators, setting several franchise records along the way. He was the first player ever drafted by the team, taken second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft behind Vincent Lecavalier. After a bout with mononucleosis during training camp, he returned to the Plymouth Whalers for the 1998–99 OHL season, where he scored 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points in 55 games. He signed a three-year, $8.925 million contract and made his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils. In his first full season (1999–00), Legwand tallied his first career NHL goal in a 4–2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. By the end of March, he led all rookies with 13 goals through 67 games. On December 23, 2000, he became the first NHL player to score on a penalty shot in overtime. During the 2004–05 lockout, he played for Swiss team EHC Basel. A knee injury in early November 2005 sent him to the AHL for two games with the Milwaukee Admirals before returning to Nashville. In 2011, the Predators advanced to the second round for the first time in franchise history, losing to the Vancouver Canucks in six games. On March 5, 2014, Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, ending his 15-year tenure in Nashville as the franchise's all-time leader in all offensive categories and games played (956).

Did You Know?

• Legwand was the first player ever drafted by the Nashville Predators, selected second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
• On December 23, 2000, he became the first NHL player to score on a penalty shot in overtime.
• He left Nashville as the franchise's all-time leader in all offensive categories and games played, with 956 appearances.
• During the 2004–05 lockout, Legwand played for the Swiss team EHC Basel.
• Legwand was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2026.