Roman Josi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roman Josi
Josi with the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals
Born	(1990-06-01) 1 June 1990 (age 35) Bern, Switzerland
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Nashville Predators SC Bern
National team	Switzerland
NHL Draft	38th overall, 2008 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2007–present

Roman Josi (born 1 June 1990) is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman. He is the captain of the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Predators picked Josi 38th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

Josi played for his local team, SC Bern, in Switzerland from 2006 to 2010. He joined the Predators' organization in 2010. After playing one season with their minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals, he became a regular player for the Predators in the 2011–12 NHL season. During his NHL career, Josi has broken many team records. In the 2019–20 season, he became the first Swiss player and the first Predators player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the league's best defenceman. In 2021, he became the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHL player, passing Mark Streit. Josi is known as one of the best defencemen in the NHL.

Early life and hockey start

Roman Josi was born on 1 June 1990, in Bern, Switzerland. His parents are Doris and Peter Josi. He grew up in a family that loved sports. His mother was a national swimmer, and his father played competitive soccer. Roman played both soccer and hockey when he was young. He decided to focus on ice hockey at age 10. His father and older brother are also involved in hockey. Roman supports his hometown soccer team, BSC Young Boys.

Playing career highlights

Starting in Switzerland

Josi played for SC Bern from 2006 to 2010. He first played in the National League during the 2006–07 season. He became a regular player in the 2007–08 season. In 2008, Josi was one of only four 17-year-olds playing in Switzerland's top league. He was considered a top defenceman for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Nashville Predators chose him in the second round.

After being drafted, Josi went back to Switzerland. He led all junior players in the Swiss League in points, goals, and assists. In the 2010 NLA playoffs, Josi led all defencemen in goals. SC Bern won the championship title that year.

Joining the Nashville Predators

Josi (left) with the Milwaukee Admirals in March 2011

Josi signed a three-year contract with the Predators on 28 May 2010. He played his first season with their minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals, in the American Hockey League (AHL). He scored his first AHL goal in November. Josi had a 13-game scoring streak from January to February. He finished the season with 40 points in 69 games. The Admirals made it to the playoffs.

First NHL seasons (2011–2017)

Josi joined the Predators for the 2011–12 NHL season. He made his NHL debut on 26 November 2011. He scored his first NHL goal on 10 December. When star defenceman Shea Weber was injured, Josi played more minutes. He started playing more offensively with new teammate Hal Gill. Josi missed nine games due to an injury. He returned to help the Predators make the 2012 playoffs. They won their first series but lost in the second round.

During the 2012 NHL lockout, Josi played for his old team, SC Bern. When the NHL season started in January 2013, Josi returned to the Predators. He took on a bigger role after Ryan Suter left the team. Josi improved his points total. On 10 June 2013, Josi signed a seven-year contract with the Predators.

In the 2013-14 season, Josi continued to get better. He played on the top defensive pair with Weber. He missed 10 games due to a concussion. Josi finished the season with 40 points in 72 games. The Predators did not make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Josi was selected to play in the NHL's All-Star Game in 2016.

In the 2014–15 season, Josi scored 55 points. This was close to the Predators' record for defencemen. He was among the top defencemen in the league for ice time. Josi helped the Predators make the 2015 playoffs. He scored his first playoff goal in Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Predators lost to the Blackhawks in six games. Josi was a top candidate for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

Before the 2015–16 season, Josi was named an alternate captain. He set a new team record for defencemen with 61 points in 81 games. His play earned him his first selection to the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. The Predators made the 2016 playoffs. They beat the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. Josi played through a broken finger and nose during the playoffs. He finished with nine points in 14 games.

In the 2016 off-season, the Predators traded for P. K. Subban. Josi and Subban were expected to be a strong defensive pair. Before the 2016–17 season, Josi became a full-time alternate captain. He missed some games in January 2017 due to an injury. Josi finished the season with 49 points. The Predators made a great run in the 2017 playoffs. They upset the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. They then beat the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks. They reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Josi scored six goals in the playoffs, a team record for a defenceman.

Captaincy and Norris Trophy (2017–present)

Before the 2017–18 season, Josi was named the seventh captain in Predators history. He played mostly with Mattias Ekholm. Josi missed the first three games due to injury. He helped the Predators win their first Central Division title and the Presidents' Trophy. This award goes to the team with the most points in the regular season. Josi finished the season with 53 points. The Predators lost in the second round of the 2018 playoffs.

Josi was named to his second NHL All-Star Game in the 2018–19. He continued to be a top player for the Predators. The team won the Central Division again. They faced the Dallas Stars in the 2019 playoffs and lost in six games.

Josi in November 2023.

On 29 October 2019, Josi signed a long eight-year contract with the Predators. He played most of the 2019–20 season with Ryan Ellis. They were one of the best defensive duos in the league. Josi scored his 100th NHL goal in November. He was a favorite to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy. Josi had a career-high seven-game point streak. He was named to his third NHL All-Star Game. Josi became the first defenceman in team history to reach 40 points in fewer than 40 games. He also set a new team record for the longest point streak by a defenceman. The NHL season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Josi finished the shortened season with 65 points. He became the first Predators player and Swiss player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

In the 2020–21 season, Josi passed Mark Streit to become the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHL player with 435 points. He finished the season with 33 points. The Predators made the 2021 playoffs but lost in the first round.

Josi had an amazing 2021–22 season, setting many personal and team records. He played his 700th NHL game in November 2021. He broke the Predators' franchise record for assists by a single player. Josi was named to his fourth NHL All-Star Game. In March 2022, he became the second defenceman in NHL history to score at least three points in four straight games. He led all defencemen with 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists) in 80 games. This was the most points by a defenceman in a season since 1994. Josi helped the Predators make the 2022 playoffs. They were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. Josi was a finalist for the Norris Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.

In the 2022–23 season, Josi continued to set records. He played in his home country of Switzerland during the 2022 NHL Global Series. On 13 December, Josi became the longest-playing Swiss-born player in League history. On 21 December, he passed David Legwand to become the Predators' all-time leading scorer. In March 2023, Josi became the second-fastest active defenceman to reach 600 points in his NHL career. He also set a new team record for most 40-assist seasons. Josi missed the rest of the season due to an upper body injury. The Predators did not make the 2023 playoffs.

In the 2023–24 season, Josi played all 82 games. He finished first in goals and third in points among defencemen. The Predators returned to the playoffs. Josi was a Norris Trophy finalist for the third time.

Josi played 53 games in the 2024–25 season. He suffered a season-ending concussion in February. He was later diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The Predators expect him to return for the 2025–26 season.

International play

Josi at the 2013 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  Switzerland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver	2013 Sweden/Finland
Silver	2018 Denmark
Silver	2024 Czechia
Representing Team Europe
World Cup
Silver	2016 Toronto

Josi has played for Switzerland in international tournaments since he was 16. He played in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and other junior tournaments. In the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Josi was named the Best Defenceman.

He made his senior debut for Switzerland at the 2010 IIHF World Championship. He scored the game-winning goal in their first game. Josi helped Switzerland reach the final of the 2013 IIHF World Championship. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and made the All-Star Team. Josi played in his first Olympics at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In 2016, Josi played for Team Europe in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He won his third silver medal with Switzerland at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He also won a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Josi was named to the Swiss team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Personal life

Josi married Ellie Ottaway, a model and musician, on 20 June 2019. They have a son and a daughter.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Josi helped support efforts in Tennessee. He raised money for tornado relief and donated to food banks and ministries in Nashville.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

• All statistics taken from NHL.com

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	Switzerland	WJC	7th		6	0	0	0	0
2007	Switzerland	U18	6th		6	1	1	2	2
2008	Switzerland	WJC	9th		6	0	1	1	4
2008	Switzerland	U18	8th		6	1	4	5	4
2009	Switzerland	WJC D1	P		5	2	3	5	6
2009	Switzerland	WC	9th		6	0	0	0	2
2010	Switzerland	WJC	4th		4	1	2	3	0
2010	Switzerland	WC	5th		7	1	2	3	0
2012	Switzerland	WC	11th		3	0	1	1	0
2013	Switzerland	WC			10	4	5	9	4
2014	Switzerland	OLY	9th		4	0	0	0	0
2014	Switzerland	WC	10th		7	1	6	7	2
2015	Switzerland	WC	8th		8	2	2	4	2
2016	Team Europe	WCH			6	0	0	0	2
2018	Switzerland	WC			5	0	3	3	4
2019	Switzerland	WC	8th		8	1	5	6	10
2024	Switzerland	WC			10	3	9	12	4
Junior totals					33	5	11	16	16
Senior totals					74	12	33	45	30

Awards and achievements

Records

Nashville Predators

• Most assists (402)
• Most assists in a season (73, 2021–22)
• Most points in a season (96, 2021–22)