| Nashville Predators | |
|---|---|
 2025–26 Nashville Predators season | |
.svg){kind=logo} | |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1998 |
| History | Nashville Predators 1998–present |
| Home arena | Bridgestone Arena |
| City | Nashville, Tennessee |
 | |
| Team colors | Predators gold, navy blue, white[1][2] |
| Media | FanDuel Sports Network South The Game (102.5 FM) |
| Owner | Bill Haslam |
| 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) |
| Official website | nhl |
TheNashville Predators (colloquially referred to as thePreds) are a professionalice hockey team based inNashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as a member of theCentral Division in theWestern Conference. The team has played its home games atBridgestone Arena since 1998. Their television broadcasting rights are held byBally Sports South, and theNashville Predators Radio Network flagship station isWPRT-FM. The Predators are currently affiliated with twominor league teams: theMilwaukee Admirals of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), and theAtlanta Gladiators of theECHL.
The club was founded in 1997, when the NHL granted an expansion franchise toCraig Leipold, with the team beginning play in the1998–99 season. After five seasons, the Predators qualified for their firstStanley Cup playoffs during the2003–04 season. In 2008, ownership of the team was transferred from Leipold to a locally based ownership group. The Predators advanced to their firstStanley Cup Final in2017, but were defeated by thePittsburgh Penguins in six games. In thefollowing season, the Predators won their firstPresidents' Trophy and Central Division title. As of 2025, the Predators, along withNashville SC, are one of two professional sports teams in the state of Tennessee to have not relocated from another location as theTitans and theGrizzlies moved to Tennessee fromHouston andVancouver respectively.
In late 1995, rumors began to circulate that theNew Jersey Devils would relocate to the plannedNashville Arena after they won their first-ever Stanley Cup championship.[3] Nashville offered a $20 million relocation bonus to any team that would relocate, and the Devils attempted to terminate their lease with theNJSEA before ultimately restructuring it to remain in New Jersey.[4][5]
After the failed attempt to land the Devils,NHL commissionerGary Bettman stated Nashville would probably be considered in upcoming expansion.[6] The arena was opened in 1996, and after an attempt to bring theNational Basketball Association'sSacramento Kings did not materialize, the city instead went after a hockey team.[7]
In January 1997, a group led byWisconsin businessmanCraig Leipold made a formal presentation before the NHL requesting an expansion franchise.[8] When Bettman and league officials visited Nashville to tour the arena, thousands gathered on the arena plaza to greet them. In June, the league granted conditional franchises to Nashville,Columbus, Ohio;Atlanta, andMinneapolis–Saint Paul.
The Nashville team would begin play in 1998 if they met the NHL requirement of selling 12,000 season tickets before March 31, 1998.[9][verification needed] Of the four cities, Nashville was the only one with a completed arena and therefore began play first. On July 9, 1997, Leipold named formerWashington Capitals general managerDavid Poile as the franchise's first general manager.[10][11]Portland Pirates' head coachBarry Trotz was named the franchise's first head coach on August 6.[12]
On September 25, 1997, Leipold and team president Jack Diller held a press conference where they unveiled the franchise's new logo, asaber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis).[12][13] The logo was a reference to a partialSmilodon skeleton found beneath downtown Nashville in 1971 during construction of theFirst American National Bank building, now theUBS Tower.[14][15]
Once the logo was unveiled, the franchise held a vote among fans to choose a name. Three candidates were culled from 75: "Ice Tigers," "Fury" and "Attack." Leipold added his own submission to the vote, "Predators". On November 13, Leipold revealed at a press conference that his submission had won out and the new franchise would be known as the "Nashville Predators."[12]
When awarded a franchise, the city of Nashville paid 31.50% of the $80 million fee to join the league. The city has engaged an affiliate of the team to operate the arena, and that agreement protects the city against annual arena operating losses over approximately $3.8 million.[16] The $15 million payroll of the team was the lowest of the NHL.[7]
The Predators began play during the1998–99 season, taking to the ice for the first time on October 10, 1998, where they lost 1–0 at home to theFlorida Panthers. It was the only sold-out game of the Predators' first five bouts in Nashville.[7] Three nights later, on October 13, they defeated theCarolina Hurricanes 3–2 for their first win. ForwardAndrew Brunette scored the first goal. The Predators, in their first year of existence, finished second-to-last in the Western Conference with a 28–47–7 record. In the1999–2000 season, the Predators finished with a similar record to the previous season, and finished last in the Western Conference behind theCalgary Flames. However, during a game versus theNew York Islanders on February 20, 2000, the Predators scored four goals in 3 minutes and 38 seconds.
To begin the2000–01 season, the Predators played two games at the Saitama Super Arena inTokyo, Japan against thePittsburgh Penguins. Each team won a game in front of the largest crowds ever to see a hockey game in Japan (13,849 for the first game and 13,426 for the second game). This included around 100 fans who made the trip from Tennessee.[17] Backed by the goaltending duo ofMike Dunham andTomas Vokoun, Nashville finished the season in tenth place in the Western Conference, ten points out of a playoff spot with 80 total points. During the2001–02 season, the Predators recorded their 100th victory on December 6, 2001. With that win, Nashville became the second-fastest expansion team of the 1990s to reach the 100-win plateau. In the2002–03 season, head coach Barry Trotz broke the record for most games coached by the original coach of an expansion team (392 games).
In June 2003, the Predators hosted theNHL entry draft. Future Predators captainShea Weber was selected by the team with the 49th overall pick.
The club failed to qualify for theStanley Cup playoffs for their first five years as a franchise. However, in the2003–04 season, the Predators finished eighth in the Western Conference, qualifying for their first postseason berth. The Predators were eliminated by theDetroit Red Wings in six games in the first round of the2004 Stanley Cup playoffs. The following2004–05 season was wiped out by a labor dispute between NHL owners and players.
The Predators made their biggest free agent signing to that point in August 2005, when they signedPaul Kariya to a two-year, $9 million contract.[18]
In the2005–06 season, the Predators set an NHL record by winning their first four games by one goal each (although two of those were shootout victories, which would have been tie games in previous seasons). They also became only the fourth NHL franchise to start the season 8–0; the last time a team did so was theToronto Maple Leafs, who set the mark with a 10–0 start in the1993–94 season. The Predators set the franchise mark for wins in a season with a 2–0 shutout of thePhoenix Coyotes on March 16, 2006. In that match,Chris Mason became the ninthgoaltender to score a goal. By the end of the season, the Predators had accumulated 106 points—their first 100-point season—and clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in team history. They finished the season with an NHL-best 32–8–1 record at home. However, the Predators would be eliminated by theSan Jose Sharks in five games in the first round of the2006 playoffs.
During the off-season, the Predators acquired veteran centerJason Arnott from free agency on July 2, 2006. In thefollowing season, Arnott andDavid Legwand led the team in goals with 27 each. Late in the season, the Predators traded two former first-round draft picks,Scottie Upshall andRyan Parent, plus their first and third-round pick in the2007 NHL entry draft, to thePhiladelphia Flyers for five-time NHL All-StarPeter Forsberg. The Predators finished the season ranked fourth in the Western Conference with a franchise-record 110 points, finishing third overall behind theBuffalo Sabres and the Red Wings. They were defeated by the Sharks in the first round of the2007 playoffs for the second year in a row, losing the series 4–1.
The roster saw a depletion in talent during the off-season. With multiple potential buyers and rumors of the franchise moving hounding the team until almost mid-season, the Predators were not expected to be successful during the2007–08 season. Chris Mason, former backup goaltender to Tomas Vokoun (who was traded to theFlorida Panthers) had a shaky season and shared net-minding duties withDan Ellis. Ellis, who was signed from theDallas Stars before the season began, had a 233:39 long shutout streak (fifth longest in league history) nearing the end of the season that helped Nashville attain the eighth playoff spot with 91 points. The Predators met thePresidents' Trophy-winning (and eventual Stanley Cup winners) Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs and were defeated 4–2, their fourth-straight first-round knockout.
The first off-season of settling in under new ownership was a quiet one for the Predators with little personnel movement. As such, the Predators began the2008–09 season with little expectation. Following a strong push after the All-Star break and no movement at the trade deadline, the team found themselves still battling for a playoff spot into the last week of the season. Buoyed by the return ofSteve Sullivan after almost two seasons recovering from a back injury, the Predators finished with 88 points, settling for tenth place in the Western Conference, missing theplayoffs for the first time in five seasons.
The Predators made few major additions to their roster in the 2009 off-season, signing formerSan Jose Sharks forwardMarcel Goc (who was extended for another year by the club in mid-season) and formerMontreal Canadiens defensemanFrancis Bouillon. The2009–10 season also saw the much-anticipated debut of top prospectColin Wilson. However, due to a groin injury suffered in training camp, Wilson spent the first week-and-a-half of the season on the sidelines, and was sent to theMilwaukee Admirals of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) in November. He returned to the club in February and scored 11 points in his next 15 games and finished the season with 15 points in 35 games. 2010 also saw a breakout year for the last pick in the2005 draft,Patric Hornqvist, as the 23-year-old Swede scored 30 in the 2009–10 season, becoming the fourth Predator to do so (the others being Steve Sullivan,Paul Kariya and Jason Arnott). The Predators qualified for the2010 playoffs, facing theChicago Blackhawks in the first round. The Predators earned their first postseason road win on April 16, 2010, when they beat the Blackhawks 4–1 at theUnited Center, although they lost the overall series in six games.
On July 9, 2010, the Predators announced defensemanShea Weber would become the club's fifthcaptain. In the following season'splayoffs, the Predators advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They defeated theAnaheim Ducks in the first round, winning the fourth game of the series at Bridgestone Arena on April 24, 2011. Two days prior, Predators' goaltenderPekka Rinne was nominated as aVezina Trophy finalist for his performance during the2010–11 season.[19] The Predators played against the number-one ranked team in the NHL in the second round, theVancouver Canucks. The Predators lost the series 4–2.
On June 22, 2011, the Predators unveiled their modified logo set for the 2011–12 season. With the color scheme simplified to blue, gold, and white and eliminating orange, silver, and steel, the Predators cleaned up their primary logo and wordmark. A new alternate logo incorporating elements from a guitar pick and theTennessee state flag was also introduced. Home jerseys changed from blue to gold.[20]
In the beginning of the2011–12 season, on November 3, 2011, the Predators signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year, $49 million deal. It was the largest contract awarded in Predators' history, as well as making Rinne the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL that year. On February 27, 2012, during the NHL's trade deadline, the Predators acquiredAndrei Kostitsyn andPaul Gaustad from theMontreal Canadiens and theBuffalo Sabres, respectively. The Predators surrendered draft picks to bolster their team for the2012 playoffs. The season also saw the return of Russian forwardAlexander Radulov to the Predators after a four-year hiatus to play in theKontinental Hockey League (KHL). For the second year in a row, and the second time in the team's history, the Predators won a first-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs, defeating the Red Wings in a best-of-seven series 4–1.[21] However, for the second year in a row, the Predators were ousted in the Western Conference second round, this time to thePhoenix Coyotes.
The following2012–13 season was shortened to 48 games as a result of the2012–13 NHL lockout. The Predators failed to qualify for the playoffs in the shortened season, the first time they failed to do so since the 2008–09 season. After the season, the Predators signed Weber through a front-loaded $110 million, 14-yearoffer sheet, $68 million of it as a signing bonus, from the Philadelphia Flyers on July 19. The offer sheet was the richest in NHL history in terms of total money, money per season, and length, surpassing the previous offer sheet record set byThomas Vanek.
Thefollowing season saw the departure of centerDavid Legwand, the first player ever drafted by the Predators, the club's all-time leading scorer, and co-leading scorer for the season at the time. Agreeing to waive his "no-trade clause", he was traded on March 5, 2014, to his hometown team, the Detroit Red Wings, in exchange for prospect forwardCalle Järnkrok, forwardPatrick Eaves and a third-round pick in the upcoming2014 NHL entry draft.[22] After missing the playoffs for the second season in a row, the Predators opted not to renew the contract of Barry Trotz as their head coach after 15 years, although he was offered an unnamed position within the organization. On May 6, 2014, the Predators announcedPeter Laviolette as their new head coach.
In Peter Laviolette'sfirst season as the Predators' head coach, the Predators finished second in the Central Division. Despite having home advantage in the first round of the2015 playoffs, they lost the first round in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. For the following2015–16 season, the Predators namedSean Henry CEO and then finished as the Western Conference's first wild-card, earning 96 points. By beating the Anaheim Ducks in game 7, the franchise played its first seven-game series and earned its seven-game series win. In the second round, they were eliminated in seven games by the San Jose Sharks, who went on to win the conference.
The Predators hosted the2016 National Hockey League All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena.
In the 2016 off-season, on June 29, 2016, the Predators traded Weber to theMontreal Canadiens in exchange for defensemanP. K. Subban. The trade surprised many hockey fans because the details to this trade were kept strictly confidential until the deal was already made. On September 7, 2016, the Predators announcedMike Fisher would replace Weber as the sixth captain of the club.
In the2016–17 season, the Predators finished fourth in the Central Division with 94 points, which earned them the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The 2016–17 season marked the first time the Predators sold out all 41 regular season home games. Their eighth-place finish in the conference gave them a first-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks, who finished first in the conference during the regular season.
The Predatorsswept the Blackhawks in four games. This was the first time an eighthseed swept a playoff series against the top seed in the conference in NHL history as well as the first time that there had been a sweep by an eighth seed against a top seed in a best-of-seven playoff series in the history of North American major league professional sports.[23] In the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Predators defeated theSt. Louis Blues in six games, marking the first time the team advanced to the conference finals. On May 16, the Predators became the first team in 20 years (since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997) to achieve 10 straight wins at home in the postseason.[24] On May 22, 2017, the Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6–3 and won the series four games to two, winning the Western Conference, and advancing to the club's firstStanley Cup Final.[25] In the2017 Stanley Cup Final, the Predators went down 2–0 against the Penguins before battling back and leveling the series at two, winning games 3 and 4 at home. Returning to Pittsburgh, the Predators lost 6–0 before being eliminated at home 2–0 in game 6.
On April 5, 2018, the Predators clinched their first division title in team history while also claiming their firstPresidents' Trophy.[26] They defeated theColorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs in six games, and then lost to theWinnipeg Jets in seven games in the second round.
Thenext season saw the Predators clinch their second consecutive division title, but lost to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the2019 playoffs.
The Predators played in their first outdoor game at the2020 Winter Classic, facing the Dallas Stars at theCotton Bowl.[27]
The Predators fired head coach Laviolette on January 6, 2020, with the team sitting at sixth place in the division at the time and a record of 19–15–7.[28]
On January 7, 2020,John Hynes was hired as the third head coach in the Predators' franchise history.[29] In Hynes' first game as coach,Pekka Rinne became the second Predators goaltender to score a goal in a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.[30][31] The team's season would come to an abrupt end two months later when the league suspended operations due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The Predators advanced to the2020 playoffs, but were defeated by theArizona Coyotes in the qualifying round. The Predators returned to the playoffs in2021, but were defeated by theCarolina Hurricanes in the first round.
The Predators hosted theTampa Bay Lightning atNissan Stadium in their second outdoor game, the2022 Stadium Series, on February 26, 2022, losing 3–2 in front of a crowd of 68,619.[32] They clinched the2022 playoffs, but were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup championColorado Avalanche in the first round.
In February 2023, David Poile announced that he would retire as general manager of the team at the end of the2022–23 season, and that former head coachBarry Trotz would succeed him, effective June 30, 2023.[10]
On May 31, 2023, Trotz announced that the team had hired former playerAndrew Brunette as the fourth head coach in franchise history.[33] In the2023–24 season, the Predators finished as the first wildcard, but lost to theVancouver Canucks in six games in the first round of the2024 playoffs.
.JPG)
The Nashville Predators have played their home games atBridgestone Arena since their inaugural season in 1998. Opened in 1996, Bridgestone Arena is a multi-purpose venue in downtown Nashville.
Fans of the Nashville Predators have modifiedthe octopus-throwing tradition ofDetroit Red Wings fans to show their support: on occasion, a fan will throw acatfish onto the ice.The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville cites the first instance of this as being on October 30, 2003.[34] On May 16, 2017, during game 3 of the conference finals atBridgestone Arena, country music singer, songwriter, and record producerKeith Urban, who had performed thenational anthem prior to the game, was seen on the Jumbotron hoisting a massive catfish thatTennessee Titans left tackle,Taylor Lewan had with him at the game.[35] Lewan, along with fellow Titans offensive linemenJack Conklin,Quinton Spain,Ben Jones, andJosh Klein, and Titans quarterbackMarcus Mariota, served as the hype men prior to the game, another Predators playoff tradition prior to home games, which included them waving gold Predators towels, Mariota encouraging the crowd to get louder, Lewan hoisting the catfish, and the offensive linemen chugging beer.[36][37]
Section 303 is where a section of fans at the Bridgestone Arena sit, stand, and cheer, colloquially known asThe Cellblock. The group refers to themselves as "the loudest section of the loudest arena in the NHL."[38] The fan-based organization has been recognized by the Predators' front office. A large banner was produced by the front office for posting on the wall behind the section.
On April 3, 2008, with the Predators clinging to a 3–2 lead with 4:30 in their final home game of the regular season, a sellout crowd at what was then known as theSommet Center, gave the team astanding ovation through the entirety of the finalTV timeout. The Predators went on to win the game against theSt. Louis Blues and advanced to theplayoffs that year, where the "standing O" during the final TV timeout has since become a fan tradition.
The mascot of the Predators isGnash, a blue saber-toothed cat. Introduced in 1998, Gnash's trademark includes stunts, such as very fast rappels, zip lines, and a pendulum swing that takes him under the scoreboard and just inches off the ice. To go along with the saber-toothed cat mascot, Predators fans proudly use theirFang Fingers during eachpower play of the game. There are foam saber-fang gloves that can be purchased, but most fans simply curl their index and middle fingers on each hand into fang shapes and brandish them in an up-and-down motion. Fang Fingers are done to the horror sounds from theAlfred Hitchcock movie,Psycho.[39]
Fans are also known for a variety of chants taunting players of the opposing team, particularly the goalie. For example, after each Predators goal, fans call the opposing goalie's name, accompanied by shouts of "It's all your fault" and other epithets. These cheers are sometimes said to originate from tradition at college football games,[40] but some of these derive from traditions held by fans of Nashville's former pre-NHL hockey teamsNashville Dixie Flyers,Nashville South Stars,Nashville Knights, andNashville Nighthawks/Nashville Ice Flyers.[41] This has contributed to the team also being called "Smashville".[42]
The original Predators uniforms were worn from 1998 to 2007 and both featured a silver yoke on the shoulder. Navy and white were the base uniform colors while gold was used only as an accent color. The white uniforms featured the primary Predators logo outside a navy triangle while the navy uniforms use the same logo minus the triangle. From 1998 to 2004 the secondary logo featuring the Gaylord Entertainment Center (now Bridgestone Arena) tower adorned the shoulders.
From 2001 to 2007 the Predators wore mustard gold third jerseys featuring the front-facing saber-toothed cat logo. These jerseys are known by the nickname "Mustard Cats." The logo then replaced the tower alternate logo on the shoulders of their primary uniforms in 2005.
Switching toReebok's Edge template in 2007, the Predators made minor tweaks to their uniforms. Most notably, the white uniforms no longer featured a contrasting nameplate color, while the city name was added above the Predators logo.
From 2009 to 2011, the Predators wore navy third jerseys but with black replacing gold as trim color. A roundel logo featuring the fossilized cat adorned the shoulders while a checkerboard pattern of black and navy squares adorned the sleeves, tail stripes and socks.
For the 2011–12 season, the Nashville Predators changed their jersey design and color scheme. The home jerseys are a bright gold with navy and white highlights, while the away jerseys are white with gold and navy highlights. Furthermore, the Predators changed their logo, making it purely white, gold and navy. The jerseys have a guitar pick on the shoulder with theTennessee state tri-star inside it, lines reminiscent of guitar strings on the numbers, and piano keys along the neckline inside the jersey as a nod to Nashville's internationally known music heritage. From the 2016–17 season gold helmets became a permanent part of the home uniform, after they first used them on Saturday home games the prior season.[43]
In the 2017–18 season the Predators changed their uniform style to fit with the newAdidas template. While the gold home uniforms received minimal alterations, the away white uniforms featured more gold accents in the sleeves, shoulders and tail while navy was relegated to trim color.
The Predators unveiled a special edition uniform for the2020 Winter Classic, featuring a design inspired from the uniforms of the defunctEHL teamNashville Dixie Flyers. Heavy gold stripes with navy trim adorn the chest and sleeves while a script rendition of the team name was inserted to the gold chest stripe. A navy felt-rendered saber-toothed cat logo was also added on the left shoulder.
In the 2020–21 season, the Predators released a special "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, using the design they wore from 1998 to 2007. However, gold was used as the base color while navy was relegated to trim color.
For the2022 Stadium Series, the Predators released a navy uniform with a thick gold stripe in front. The "Smashville" moniker in large navy letters along with the navy "guitar pick" alternate logo was emblazoned inside the gold stripe. Numbers were enlarged for visibility purposes.
A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was released in the 2022–23 season, using the 2001 to 2007 alternate uniform but with the current athletic gold in place of mustard gold.
The mascot of the team is an anthropomorphic saber-toothed tiger named Gnash.
The franchise was initially owned by a group led byCraig Leipold. On May 23, 2007, Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team toResearch in Motion chairman and co-CEOJim Balsillie.[44] At the time, Leipold indicated that the team would play the2007–08 season in Nashville but that the future of the team after that was not clear.[45]
On June 23, information leaked by several sources indicated that Leipold no longer wanted to sell the Predators to Balsillie.[46] Subsequently, a campaign to land the team inKansas City, Missouri, received a boost in late June 2007.[47] The CanadianNational Post, citing anonymous sources, reported that Leipold planned to sell the team toSan Jose venture capitalist William "Boots" Del Biaggio III, who wanted to relocate the club to Kansas City's newSprint Center for the 2008–09 season.[47] Del Biaggio, who had a contract withAnschutz Entertainment Group to own an NHL club that would play home games in Sprint Center, had made an offer reported to be for about $190 million for the Predators. Del Biaggio had entered an agreement two years earlier, in 2005, to purchase thePittsburgh Penguins, but the club backed out of the deal after it won that year's NHL draft lottery and tookSidney Crosby with the first overall pick.[47]
On July 19, 2007, a group of local business owners known as Our Team Nashville held a rally at theSommet Center to encourage fans to buy season tickets in order to help the Predators meet the attendance figures needed to keep the team in Nashville. They drew approximately 7,500 fans and sold the equivalent of 726 full-season tickets during the rally.[48] The rally was heavily supported byGeorge Plaster, then a sportscaster onWGFX 104.5 "The Zone" sports radio in Nashville. On August 1, 2007, the group released a letter of intent from Craig Leipold.[49] After negotiations with the City of Nashville, the local group headed by David Freeman reached an agreement withMayor of NashvilleKarl Dean, and the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale on November 29, 2007.[50]
In June 2008, Del Biaggio ran into legal trouble over a multitude of unpaid loans, culminating in his filing forChapter 11 bankruptcy.[51] Furthermore, it was alleged that Del Biaggio acquired the loans he used to buy his stake in the team through fraudulent means, prompting anFBI investigation and criminal charges.[52] The charges culminated in a 97-month prison sentence for Del Biaggio. UnderUnited States bankruptcy law, atrustee was appointed to sell Del Biaggio's assets, including his stake in the Predators, to pay off his creditors.[53] In November 2011, it was announced thatCalgary businessmanW. Brett Wilson had purchased a 5% interest in the Nashville Predators.[54]
On March 1, 2010, during the 2009–10 season, the Predators front office saw Freeman step down as chairman of the Nashville Predators in favor of Thomas Cigarran.[55] On September 2, Cigarran announced that the local ownership group had completed the purchase of the Del Biaggio stake.[56]
On June 23, 2016, Freeman filed a $250 millionlawsuit against the Nashville Predators and Cigarran. His claim was that his ownership stake has been improperly diluted by Cigarran failing to notify him ofcapital calls, and that he had not receivedloan guaranty fees that the ownership group had agreed to pay him.[57] The lawsuit stated that Freeman initially owned a 48% share, while the holding company for the Nashville Predators stated that Freeman controlled less than 1% of ownership in the team at the time of the suit.[58] This dilution was exacerbated by the existence of two classes of investments in the Predators: the common units owned by Freeman were subject to capital calls; the Series A units originally owned by Del Biaggio and his minority partner were not subject to capital calls.[59]
The dispute was sent to court-orderedarbitration on July 29, 2016, under the supervision of NHL commissionerGary Bettman.[60] As of January 25, 2018, arbitration was continuing in the unresolved dispute.[61] The outcome may remain undisclosed, as the arbitration is private.[62]
On June 17, 2022, the Predators announced that formerGovernor of TennesseeBill Haslam would purchase shares in the club and become majority owner over the course of several years.[63] Haslam's brother,Jimmy Haslam, is the owner of theCleveland Browns and theColumbus Crew.
Local television rights of Predators games are held byFanDuel Sports Network South (formerly Bally Sports South), with its territory covering Tennessee,Georgia, most ofKentucky, northernMississippi and northernAlabama. Radio coverage is carried by theNashville Predators Radio Network, whose flagship station isWPRT-FM.
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Predators. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of Nashville Predators seasons.
GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 31 | 23 | 2 | 64 | 156 | 154 | 4th, Central | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Hurricanes) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 97 | 266 | 252 | 5th, Central | Lost in first round, 0–4 (Avalanche) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 42 | 32 | 8 | 92 | 229 | 238 | 5th, Central | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 47 | 30 | 5 | 99 | 269 | 248 | 4th, Central | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Canucks) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 68 | 214 | 274 | 7th, Central | Did not qualify |
Updated October 23, 2025[64][65]
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Pekka Rinne | G | 2005–2021 | February 24, 2022[66] |
Players
Builders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history.[68] Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
* – current Predators player
Note:Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
|
|
|
| |
| Franchise | |
| History | |
| Personnel |
|
| Arena | |
| Affiliates | |
| Media | |
| Culture and lore | |
Links to related articles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
