Nashville Predators facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nashville Predators
Conference	Western
Division	Central
Founded	1998
History	Nashville Predators 1998–present
Home arena	Bridgestone Arena
City	Nashville, Tennessee
Colors	Predators gold, navy blue, white
Media	FanDuel Sports Network South The Game (102.5 FM)
Owner(s)	Predators Holdings LLC
General manager	Barry Trotz
Head coach	Andrew Brunette
Captain	Roman Josi
Minor league affiliates	Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	0
Conference championships	1 (2016–17)
Presidents' Trophies	1 (2017–18)
Division championships	2 (2017–18, 2018–19)

The Nashville Predators, often called the Preds, are a professional ice hockey team from Nashville, Tennessee. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. Their home games have been at Bridgestone Arena since 1998.

The team started in 1997 when the NHL gave an expansion team to Craig Leipold. They began playing in the 1998–99 season. After five seasons, the Predators made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in the 2003–04 season. In 2017, they reached their first Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The very next season, in 2017–18, the Predators won their first Presidents' Trophy and their first division title.

History of the Predators

Bringing NHL Hockey to Nashville

In 1995, there were talks that the New Jersey Devils hockey team might move to Nashville. Nashville offered a large bonus to any team that would relocate. The Devils tried to end their lease but decided to stay in New Jersey.

In August 1997, Barry Trotz became the first head coach of the Nashville Predators.

After Nashville didn't get the Devils, the NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, said Nashville would be considered for a new team. The city had a new arena built in 1996. After trying to get a basketball team, Nashville focused on hockey.

In 1997, a group led by businessman Craig Leipold asked the NHL for a new team. When NHL officials visited Nashville, thousands of fans gathered to welcome them. In June, the league decided to grant new teams to Nashville, Columbus, Atlanta, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul.

The Nashville team was set to start playing in 1998 if they sold 12,000 season tickets by March 1998. Nashville was the only city with a finished arena, so they started playing first. On July 9, 1997, Leipold named David Poile as the team's first general manager. Barry Trotz became the first head coach on August 6.

On September 25, 1997, the team showed off its new logo: a saber-toothed cat. This logo was chosen because a saber-toothed cat skeleton was found under downtown Nashville in 1971. Fans then voted on the team's name. Leipold added "Predators" to the choices, and it won! On November 13, the team was officially named the "Nashville Predators."

Early Years (1998–2005)

The Predators played their first game on October 10, 1998, losing 1–0 to the Florida Panthers. Three nights later, they won their first game, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3–2. Andrew Brunette scored the team's first goal. In their first season, the Predators finished near the bottom of the Western Conference.

In the 2000–01 season, the Predators played two games in Tokyo, Japan against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won one game in front of huge crowds. Goaltenders Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun helped the team finish tenth in the Western Conference. In the 2001–02 season, Nashville got its 100th win, becoming one of the fastest expansion teams of the 1990s to reach this milestone.

In June 2003, Nashville hosted the NHL Draft. Future Predators captain Shea Weber was picked by the team. The team didn't make the playoffs for their first five years. But in the 2003–04 season, they finally made it! They finished eighth in the Western Conference but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. The next season was canceled due to a player lockout.

After the Lockout (2005–2014)

In August 2005, the Predators made a big move by signing Paul Kariya to a two-year contract. In the 2005–06 season, the Predators started strong, winning their first four games by one goal. They also became only the fourth NHL team to start a season 8–0.

Chris Mason became the ninth goalie to score a goal in the NHL during the 2005–06 season.

The Predators set a team record for wins with a shutout against the Phoenix Coyotes. In that game, goalie Chris Mason even scored a goal! They finished the season with 106 points, their first time reaching 100 points. They had a great home record but lost to the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2006, the Predators added veteran player Jason Arnott. The team finished the next season with a franchise-record 110 points, ranking third overall in the NHL. However, they lost to the Sharks again in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.

The 2007–08 season was tough for the Predators. Many thought the team might move. Goalie Dan Ellis had a long shutout streak that helped Nashville get the eighth playoff spot. They faced the Presidents' Trophy-winning Red Wings in the first round and lost.

New Owners Take Over

The 2008–09 season was quiet for the Predators. They missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. The 2009–10 season saw the debut of young player Colin Wilson. Patric Hornqvist had a great year, scoring 30 goals. The Predators made the 2010 playoffs and got their first road win against the Chicago Blackhawks, but lost the series.

The 2009–10 season saw the debut of Colin Wilson with the Predators.

On July 9, 2010, Shea Weber became the team's fifth captain. In the next playoffs, the Predators reached the second round for the first time, beating the Anaheim Ducks. Goalie Pekka Rinne was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. They then lost to the Vancouver Canucks.

In 2011, the Predators updated their logo and colors, simplifying them to blue, gold, and white. Their home jerseys changed from blue to gold. On November 3, 2011, Pekka Rinne signed a big seven-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid goalies. The Predators also added Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Gaustad to boost their team for the 2012 playoffs. They beat the Red Wings in the first round but lost to the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round.

The Predators signed Shea Weber to a 14-year contract in 2012.

The 2012–13 season was shorter due to a lockout, and the Predators missed the playoffs. After the season, the Predators signed Shea Weber to a huge 14-year contract. In the next season, David Legwand, the first player ever drafted by the Predators, was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. After missing the playoffs again, the team decided not to renew coach Barry Trotz's contract after 15 years. On May 6, 2014, Peter Laviolette was named the new head coach.

The Peter Laviolette Era (2014–2020)

Finding Success Again (2014–2016)

In Peter Laviolette's first season, the Predators finished second in their division. They had home advantage in the 2015 playoffs but lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. For the 2015–16 season, the Predators made it to the playoffs as a wild-card team. They beat the Anaheim Ducks in a thrilling seven-game series, their first time winning a Game 7. They were then eliminated by the San Jose Sharks.

Nashville hosted the 2016 National Hockey League All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena. In 2016, the Predators made a big trade, sending Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman P. K. Subban. This trade surprised many fans. On September 7, 2016, Mike Fisher became the team's sixth captain.

P. K. Subban during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. The Predators traded Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban in 2016.

First Stanley Cup Finals and Presidents' Trophy (2016–2018)

In the 2016–17 season, the Predators finished fourth in their division, earning a wild-card spot in the playoffs. This season was also the first time the Predators sold out all their home games. They faced the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.

The Predators completely swept the Blackhawks in four games! This was the first time an eighth-seeded team swept a top-seeded team in NHL playoff history. In the second round, the Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games, reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time. On May 22, 2017, the Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks, winning the Western Conference and advancing to their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals. In the Finals, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nashville tied the series 2-2 but ultimately lost in six games.

On April 5, 2018, the Predators won their first division title and their first Presidents' Trophy (for having the best regular season record in the league). They beat the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs but then lost to the Winnipeg Jets in seven games in the second round.

Later Playoff Exits (2018–2020)

The next season saw the Predators win their second straight division title. However, they lost to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2019 playoffs. The Predators played in their first outdoor game at the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, facing the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl. Coach Laviolette was fired on January 6, 2020, as the team was struggling.

The John Hynes Era (2020–2023)

Continued Playoff Challenges (2020–Present)

On January 7, 2020, John Hynes became the third head coach in Predators history. In his first game, goalie Pekka Rinne scored a goal! The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Predators made the 2020 playoffs but lost to the Arizona Coyotes. They returned to the playoffs in 2021 but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Predators hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning in their second outdoor game, the 2022 NHL Stadium Series, at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022. They lost the game in front of a huge crowd. They made the 2022 playoffs but were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. In February 2023, David Poile announced he would retire as general manager, and former head coach Barry Trotz would take over.

The Andrew Brunette Era (2023–Present)

On May 31, 2023, Barry Trotz announced that former player Andrew Brunette was hired as the fourth head coach in the team's history.

Team Information

Home Arena

The Predators have played their home games at Bridgestone Arena since 1998.

The Nashville Predators have played their home games at Bridgestone Arena since their first season in 1998. This arena is a large building in downtown Nashville used for many events.

Fan Traditions

Predators fans have a unique tradition: sometimes, a fan will throw a catfish onto the ice! This started around 2003. During a playoff game in 2017, country music star Keith Urban was seen holding a huge catfish that Tennessee Titans football players had brought to the game.

A special section of fans at Bridgestone Arena is called The Cellblock. They call themselves "the loudest section of the loudest arena in the NHL." The team has even recognized this group.

Since 2008, a tradition called the "standing O" happens during the last TV timeout of close games. Fans stand and cheer loudly for the entire timeout to support the team.

The Predators' mascot is Gnash, a blue saber-toothed cat. Gnash is known for exciting stunts like rappelling from the ceiling and swinging over the ice. Fans also use their Fang Fingers during power plays, curling their fingers into fang shapes and moving them up and down to the sound of music from the movie Psycho.

Fans also have chants to cheer on their team and sometimes tease the opposing goalie. After each Predators goal, fans often chant the opposing goalie's name and shout "It's all your fault!" These traditions have helped give Nashville the nickname "Smashville."

Jersey and Logo Design

The Predators' first uniforms (1998-2007) were navy and white with silver and gold accents. From 2001 to 2007, they also wore special "Mustard Cats" jerseys that were mustard gold.

In 2011, the Predators changed their jersey design and main colors to bright gold, navy, and white. The new jerseys have a guitar pick on the shoulder with the Tennessee state flag's tri-star inside it. The numbers have lines like guitar strings, and the neckline has piano keys, all to celebrate Nashville's music history. Since 2016, gold helmets are a regular part of their home uniform.

The Predators have also worn special jerseys for events like the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, inspired by old Nashville hockey teams. They've also had "Reverse Retro" jerseys that bring back old designs with new colors.

Team Ownership

The team was first owned by a group led by Craig Leipold. In 2007, there were talks about selling the team and possibly moving it to Kansas City, Missouri. However, a group of local business owners in Nashville, called Our Team Nashville, worked hard to keep the team in the city. They encouraged fans to buy season tickets and held rallies.

After talks with the city, the local group, led by David Freeman, reached an agreement. The NHL approved the sale on November 29, 2007, ensuring the team stayed in Nashville. One of the original minority owners, William "Boots" Del Biaggio III, faced serious financial problems related to how he acquired his share of the team. His share was later sold to pay off his debts.

In 2010, the local ownership group completed the purchase of Del Biaggio's remaining share. In 2016, there was a legal disagreement within the ownership group about shares, but it was handled privately. On June 17, 2022, the Predators announced that former Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam would gradually become the majority owner of the team.

Broadcasters

Predators games are shown on local television by FanDuel Sports Network South. Radio coverage is provided by the Nashville Predators Radio Network, with WPRT-FM as the main station.

Season-by-Season Records

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Predators. For the full history, see List of Nashville Predators seasons.

GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players

Team Captains

Retired Numbers

• The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams in 2000.

Hall of Famers

Players

• Peter Forsberg
• Paul Kariya
• Shea Weber

Builders

• David Poile

Franchise Records

Top Scorers in Team History

David Legwand is third all-time in franchise points. He was also the last player from the first team to retire or move.

These lists show the top-ten players for points, goals, and assists in the Predators' regular season history. Numbers are updated after each NHL season.

 *  – current Predators player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Individual Records

Awards and Trophies

League Awards

All-Star Honors

Images for kids

• 

  Nashville's third jersey logo (2001–2007); a more detailed, three-quarters front view of the team's saber-toothed cat logo and used as their 2023 reverse retro jersey logo (2023–present)

See also

In Spanish: Nashville Predators para niños

• List of Nashville Predators broadcasters
• List of Nashville Predators general managers
• List of Nashville Predators head coaches
• Nashville Predators Radio Network