All-Time Teams: Predators

Welcome to Smashville! Today's team joined the NHL in 1998, allowing the Maple Leafs to leave the Western conference. Here's the all-time roster for the Nashville Predators:

The Predators failed to qualify for the playoffs in their first five seasons. In the 16 seasons since, Nashville has made 13 playoff appearances. They reached their first Stanley Cup final in 2017, losing to Pittsburgh in six games.

1st Line

Left Wing - Martin Erat Czech winger was a consistent performer for the Predators in his decade-plus with the team, totaling 49-59 points every season from 2004 to 2012. Erat is third on Nashville's all time list in games played, even-strength goals and game-winning goals, and second only to David Legwand in assists and points. He was traded to Washington in 2013 for the next player on this line.

Center - Filip Forsberg The Capitals' first round pick in 2012, Forsberg recently passed Shea Weber for second place on the Preds' all-time goal-scoring list with 168. His 0.77 points per game average is fourth in franchise history, and only Jason Arnott (who you'll see tomorrow) has a higher goals per game average. Forsberg's six hat tricks are tops in team history and his 31 game-winning goals are second in Preds' annals. Hockey-reference lists him as a center, and Nashville's top scorers are mostly wingers so I'll line him up here.

Right Wing - Steve Sullivan A veteran of six teams and 16 NHL seasons, Sullivan played just 317 games for the Preds. However his 263 points rank ninth in team history, resulting in the franchise's second-best points per game average of 0.83. "Sully" is one of just ten players in Predators history to score 100 goals for the team, and only Arnott needed fewer games to reach the century mark. He won the Masterton trophy for perseverance in 2009.

2nd Line

Left Wing - Viktor Arvidsson The franchise record-holder for goals in a season, Viktor Arvidsson has tallied 117 career goals to date - the sixth-highest total in team history. His ten short-handed markers are just one behind franchise leader Greg Johnson, and his next game-winning goal will tie him with Shea Weber for fourth on the Predators' all-time list.

Center - Ryan Johansen The fourth overall pick in 2010 by the Blue Jackets, Ryan Johansen was traded to Nashville for Seth Jones in 2016. He ranks eighth in Predators' annals with 184 assists and his 0.71 points per game average is sixth-highest. Johansen's five 60-point seasons have been split evenly between the Jackets and Preds (including the season he was traded) and I considered him for Columbus, before placing him with his current team.

Right Wing - J.P. Dumont Third overall pick in 1996 played five years in Buffalo and five in Nashville, where he ranks eighth on the team's all-time point-scoring list with 267. Ranks seventh in Predators history with 0.69 points per game and tenth with 174 assists. Set career highs with 29 goals and 72 points for the Preds in 2007-08.

 

3rd Line

Left Wing - Scott Hartnell Nashville's first round pick in 2000, Hartnell was a grinding power forward for 17 seasons, racking up 327 career goals and 1,809 penalty minutes. He had better years for Philly, but Nashville needs him in their bottom six. Hartnell is second in Predators history with 626 penalty minutes, and ranks tenth in team annals with 106 goals - only seven "Smashville" forwards have potted more for the team.

Center - David Legwand The Predators' first ever draft pick (2nd overall) in 1998, David Legwand is Nashville's career leader in several categories including games played, goals, assists, and points. The two-way center ranks third in Preds' history with 35.3 offensive point shares - the highest total of any forward - and eighth in defensive point shares with 20.6 - the highest total of any forward.

Right Wing - Patric Hornqvist Currently a Florida Panther, Patric Hornqvist is tied with Hartnell for tenth in Predators' annals with 106 goals and tied with Legwand for eighth with 35 power play markers. The eight-time 20-goal scorer spent six seasons with Nashville and six with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won two Stanley Cups.

 

4th Line

Left Wing - Craig Smith Versatile forward is fourth in Predators' annals with 661 games played and a +67 plus/minus rating. Ranks fifth in team history with 162 goals, sixth with 330 points, and only David Legwand scored more even-strength goals for Nashville. Currently a Boston Bruin, Smith played center and right wing for Nashville, but I've moving him to the left side rather than dropping Hartnell here.

Center - Colin Wilson The seventh overall pick in 2008, Colin Wilson is tied for ninth place in Nashville annals with 73 even-strength goals, tied for tenth among Predators players in game-winning goals, and tied for tenth in plus/minus. A third-generation NHLer, Wilson has battled mental health issues that abruptly ended his career. If you have time I encourage you to read his post at The Player's Tribune.

Right Wing - Scott Walker An original Predator, Scott Walker is eighth among Nashville forwards with 151 assists and 247 points. The two-time 25-goal scorer is fifth in franchise history with 465 penalty minutes and sits in fourth place among Preds with eight short-handed goals.

spares - Calle Jarnkrok, Greg Johnson

Jarnkrok was a key contributor to Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup final in 2017 and continues to contribute on both ends of the ice entering his eighth season with the team. Johnson ranks among the top ten forwards in team history in assists and points. His franchise-worst -52 rating is largely a product of playing big minutes for an expansion squad. I dislike selecting two centers as spares but the Predators' lack of depth, combined with the versatility of players like Forsberg, Erat, and Smith, make the forward lines a bit more manageable.

 

Defense Pair 1

Shea Weber - Roman Josi

Shea Weber is the Predators' career leader in defensive point shares and offensive point shares. His 166 goals and 443 points for Nashville rank third in franchise history and only David Legwand has played more games for the franchise. The three-time Norris trophy finalist captained the Preds for six seasons. Josi, the team's current captain, ranks third in Predators history with 305 assists and a +68 rating. The NHL's top defenseman in 2020, Josi is closing in on Mark Streit's NHL record for points by a Swiss player.

Defense Pair 2

Kimmo Timonen - Ryan Ellis

Timonen played the first eight seasons of his career in Nashville, where he ranks eighth in team history with 573 games played. A 10th-round draft pick of the Kings in 1993, the Finnish blueliner boasts the fifth-most assists and the seventh-most points in Predators history. He won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2015, his final NHL season. Ellis is the Preds' career leader in plus/minus with a +115 rating. Nashville's first round pick in 2009 is ninth in team history with 183 assists and tenth with 253 points. Only Weber and Josi have earned more defensive point shares for the Predators.

 

Defense Pair 3

Mattias Ekholm - Dan Hamhuis

Ekholm trails only Ellis on the Predators' career plus/minus list. His 29.1 defensive point shares are sixth-best in franchise history and he's tenth in team history with 540 games played. Hamhuis was Nashville's first round draft pick in 2001. The stay-at-home rearguard played half of his 16-year career in Music City. His games played and DPS totals are seventh in Preds' annals, and he ranks sixth in team history with 438 penalty minutes.

 

Spare - Marek Zidlicky

 Marek Zidlicky played for five teams in his 12-year NHL career, including the minimum four years in Nashville. The power play specialist is seventh in Predators history with 74 man-advantage assists and registered three of his six 40+ point seasons in Tennessee. Zidlicky earned 27.5 point shares in 307 games, eleven more than Kevin Klein compiled in 403 contests for the Predators.

Goalies

Starter - Pekka Rinne

Backup - Tomas Vokoun

Pekka Rinne leads all Predators players in point shares with 119.9. The 2018 Vezina trophy winner leads all Nashville netminders in games played, wins, shutouts, and goals against average. Vokoun is second to Rinne in games, wins, and shutouts, and ranks third in goals against average. His 71.7 point shares total for the Preds is the fourth highest total in team history.

Head Coach: Barry Trotz  Captain: Shea Weber

Barry Trotz is one of only three coaches in Nashville Predators history. The two-time Jack Adams award winner took the Preds from an expansion team to a Stanley Cup contender over his 15 seasons behind the bench at Bridgestone Arena. While Peter Laviolette led the Preds to the final in 2017 he's still more than 300 wins behind Trotz. 

I hope you'll join us tomorrow for our next All-Time Team, the New Jersey Devils.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

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