For current news on this topic, see 2007-08 Nashville Predators season

Nashville Predators
Conference	Western
Division	Central
Founded	1998
History	Nashville Predators 1998-present
Home Arena	Sommet Center
City	Nashville, Tennessee
Colors	Navy Blue, Silver, Light Blue, and Gold
Media	FSN South WGFX (104.5 FM) WNSR (560 AM) WRLT (100.1 FM)
Owner(s)	Craig Leipold
General Manager	David Poile
Head Coach	Barry Trotz
Captain	Jason Arnott
Minor League Affiliates	Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) New Mexico Scorpions (CHL) Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	None
Conference Championships	None
Division Championships	None

The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was widely speculated that the Predators would be relocating after the 2007-2008 season, but on August 1, 2007 a group that wanted to keep the team in Nashville provided a letter of intent to current owner Craig Leipold, temporarily giving them exclusive negotiating rights to buy the team. ^[1]

Franchise history

The team was named after the fossil skull of a saber-toothed cat—a species extinct for at least 10,000 years—that was found in August 1971, in a cave during the excavation for the AmSouth Center in downtown Nashville. The fossil is only the fifth of its kind found in North America.

When awarded a franchise, the Predators got a very lucrative deal. The city of Nashville paid 31.50% of the $80-million fee to join the league. The city also absorbs operating losses from the arena, despite the fact that the Sommet Center is operated by a subsidiary of the team.[3]

The Predators first took the ice on October 10, 1998, where they lost 1-0 at home to the Florida Panthers. Three nights later, on October 13, they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 for their first win. Forward Andrew Brunette scored the first goal on a play that was reviewed by the video goal judge.

1998-99 season

The 1998-99 NHL season was the last year that two points were awarded for a win, and one point for a tie, regardless of how the game ended in regulation. The Predators, in their first year of existence, finished second-last in the Western Conference with a 28-47-7 record, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.

1999-00 season

The Predators finished the 1999-00 NHL season with an almost identical record to the previous season (28-47-7-7), and finished last in the West behind the Calgary Flames. During a game versus the New York Islanders on February 20, 2000 the Predators scored four goals in 3 minutes and 38 seconds.

2000-01 season

The Predators opened the 2000-01 NHL season with two games in Japan against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Each team won a game in front of the largest crowds ever to see a hockey game in Japan. Backed by the goaltending duo of Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun, Nashville finished the season in tenth place in the West, 10 points out of a playoff spot with a 34-36-9-3 record, good for 80 total points.

2001-02 season

A highlight of the 2001-02 NHL season for the Predators was recording their 100th victory as a franchise on December 6, 2001. With that win, Nashville became the second-fastest expansion team of the 1990s to reach the 100-win plateau. The team was especially unlucky in overtime, finishing with a 28-41-13-0 record - good for 69 points, and 15th spot in the West.

2002-03 season

The 2002-03 NHL season saw another record broken by the Predators, as coach Barry Trotz broke the record for most games coached by the original coach of an expansion team (392 games). Nashville finished the season with a 27-35-13-7 record for 74 points, putting them well out of contention in he Western Conference in 14 place.

2003-04 season

In the 2003-04 NHL season, the Predators, under coach Barry Trotz, finished eighth in the Western Conference and made their first trip to the playoffs. The rival Red Wings beat them in six games in the quarterfinal.

2004-05 season

This season did not occur due to a labour dispute between the owners and players.

2005-06 season

In 2005-06, 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 the Toronto Maple Leafs, who set the mark with a 10-0 start in 1993. The Buffalo Sabres tied the Leafs' record in 2006. The Predators set the franchise mark for wins in a season with a 2-0 shutout of the Phoenix Coyotes on March 16, 2006. In that match, Chris Mason became the ninth goaltender 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.

In the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Predators faced the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Sharks beat them in five games.

2006-07 season

The Predators acquired veteran center Jason Arnott from free agency on July 2, 2006. Arnott and David Legwand led the team in goals with 27 each. Late in the season the Predators traded two former first round draft picks Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent, plus their first-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2007 draft, to the Philadelphia Flyers for five-time NHL all-star Peter Forsberg.

The Predators finished the season in fourth place in the Western Conference with 110 points, a franchise record. They were defeated by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western conference quarter-finals for the second year in a row, losing the series 4 games to 1, for the second straight season.

Tentative sale agreement and possible relocation

On May 23, 2007, Craig Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team to the Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion, Jim Balsillie.^[2] According to Leipold, the team will play the 2007-08 season in Nashville, but the future of the team after that is not clear.^[3] Balsillie had long been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario. The deal is expected to be finalized in late-June and must be finished by June 30, 2007.^[4] The proposed re-location site is Hamilton, Ontario, with Balsillie's new company, Golden Horseshoe Sports & Entertainment (named after the portion of Southern Ontario centred around the west-end of Lake Ontario, which is known as the Golden Horseshoe), securing exclusive rights to bring an NHL team to Copps Coliseum, as well as the rights to operate Hamilton Place, the Hamilton Convention Centre, and the associated parking facilities for the next 20 years.^[5][6] Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger has stated that Balsillie's intention is to bring an NHL team to Copps in Hamilton,^[7] and it is reported that Basillie will invest $140 million into the arena to bring it to modern NHL standards.^[8] Relocating to Hamilton, however, may require compensation to be offered to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, since they have territorial rights to the region. Despite rumors to the contrary, it has been reported that Kitchener-Waterloo is not being considered as a possible location for the team.^[9][10]

A "cure" clause exists in the lease deal with the Sommet Center, allowing the team to pull out of the lease should the attendance for two consecutive seasons average below 14,000. Craig Leipold has recently executed the "cure" clause,^[11] although there is debate with civic leaders as to whether it would apply to the 2007-2008 season or the 2008-2009 season. A "buy out" clause also exists, allowing the team to terminate the lease by buying out the remaining portion. This clause would allow the team to move regardless of any existing lease deal with the Sommet Center.^[12]

On June 13, it was announced that season ticket deposits for the "Hamilton Predators" will begin to go on sale through Ticketmaster the next day. A source said Balsillie's objective is to show the league's governors there is a large base of ticket buyers in Southern Ontario.^[13][14] Since the drive started, over 13,000 season ticket deposits have been sold, including all of the 70 available corporate box deposits, costing $5000 each.^[15][16] In Nashville, there are just under 9,000 season ticket holders.^[17]

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has stated the provincial government is willing to consider offering financial support if the team relocates to Hamilton.^[18] Hockey great Wayne Gretzky, himself a member of the NHL Board of Governors through his ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes, has openly supported the team's move to Hamilton, stating that an NHL team in Hamilton would be tremendously successful.^[19]

On June 23, false information was leaked by a number of sources indicating that Leipold was pulling the plug on the pending sale and no longer wanted to sell the Predators to Basillie. Leipold was quick to distance himself from the rumours, and advised that a deal with Basillie was still in the works.^[20] Mr. Basillie's lawyer, Richard Rodier, was quoted as saying Craig Leipold's letter to the NHL "changed little if anything" in regards to the pending sale, and was a mere formality as part of the sale process.^[21] Canadian insiders believe that the false information and delay tactics may be due to the league not wanting a team to move to Canada, something the NHL denies.^[22]

The campaign to land the team in Kansas City, Missouri reportedly received a boost^[23] in late June 2007. The National Post of Canada, citing anonymous sources, reported that Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold plans to sell the team to San Jose venture capitalist William “Boots” Del Biaggio, who wants to relocate the club to Kansas City’s new Sprint Center for the 2008-09 season.^[23] Del Biaggio, who has an a contract with Anschutz Entertainment Group to own an NHL club in Sprint Center, had made an offer reported to be for about $190 million for the Predators. In 2005, he had an agreement to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the club backed out of the deal after it won the NHL draft lottery and took Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick. ^[23] Balsillie’s brazen move of taking season-ticket deposits in Hamilton while the Predators still have a lease to play in Nashville upset NHL owners and commissioner Gary Bettman and reportedly caused Leipold to have second thoughts about selling to Balsillie,^[23] although a ticket drive in selling corporate suites is underway in Kansas City^[24] but not season tickets like Balsille's move. Later that day, Leipold denied rumours that he was dealing exclusively with Del Biaggio, stating that he is open to all bids and that a deal with Basillie is still possible.^[25] The Globe and Mail reported on July 4, 2007, a group of 30 investors became the third party to make a bid to purchase the franchise and keep the team in Nashville ^[26]

Should the team relocate to Kansas City, it will be the second time the NHL has ventured to the market. The Kansas City Scouts debuted in the 1974-1975 season as an expansion franchise, but relocated after a short two season run. The Scouts were never successful, continually not turning a profit and having only secured 2000 season ticket sales for the 1975-1976 season.^[27][28] Hamilton is also a former NHL market, being the home of the Hamilton Tigers from 1920 through 1925.

On August 1, 2007 the group who had intentions to keep the team in Nashville received a letter of intent from Craig Leipold.^[29]

Fanbase

Catfish throwing

Fans of the Nashville Predators have modified a tradition of the Detroit Red Wings to show their support: on occasion, a fan will throw a catfish onto the ice. The Tennessean^[30] newspaper in Nashville cites the first instance of this on October 30, 2003. At least four catfish were thrown onto the ice after the first Nashville goal on November 13, 2003.

Section 303

Section 303 is a section of notoriously fervent fans at the Sommet Center colloquially known as "The Cellblock". The group refers to themselves as "the loudest section of the loudest arena in the NHL".^[31] While no reports of relative sound pressure levels have been cited by the group, the section's predetermined motivating and demoralizing chants towards the home and visiting teams respectively can be heard from many locations within the arena.

The entirely 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. The organization maintains a website where chants tailored to the opponent can be reviewed before the game. The group also makes available merchandise through CafePress that reflects the Cellblock's brazen and supportive attitude.

Season-by-season record

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

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Records as of April 7, 2007

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoffs
2001-02	82	28	41	13	0	69	196	230	1071	4th, Central	Did not qualify
2002-03	82	27	35	13	7	74	183	206	969	4th, Central	Did not qualify
2003-04	82	38	29	11	4	91	216	217	1360	3rd, Central	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Red Wings)
2004-05	Season cancelled due to 2004-05 NHL Lockout
2005-061	82	49	25	—	8	106	259	227	1489	2nd, Central	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Sharks)
2006-07	82	51	23	—	8	110	272	212		2nd, Central	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Sharks)

¹ As of the 2005-06 NHL season, all games will have a winner; the OTL column includes SOL (Shootout losses).

Notable players

Current roster

As of October 5, 2007. [4]

Goaltenders
#		Player	Catches	Acquired	Place of Birth
30		Chris Mason	L	2003	Red Deer, Alberta
39		Dan Ellis	L	2007	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Defensemen
#		Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth
2		Dan Hamhuis	L	2001	Smithers, British Columbia
3		Marek Zidlicky	R	2002	Most, Czechoslovakia
4		Ville Koistinen	L	2006	Oulu, Finland
5		Greg Zanon	L	2004	Burnaby, British Columbia
6		Shea Weber (IR)	R	2003	Sicamous, British Columbia
7		Greg de Vries	L	2007	Sundridge, Ontario
8		Kevin Klein (IR)	R	2003	Kitchener, Ontario
20		Ryan Suter	L	2003	Madison, Wisconsin

Forwards
#		Player	Position	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth
10		Martin Erat	RW	L	1999	Třebíč, Czechoslovakia
11		David Legwand	C	L	1998	Detroit, Michigan
12		Scott Nichol	C	R	2005	Edmonton, Alberta
14		Radek Bonk	C	L	2007	Krnov, Czechoslovakia
16		Darcy Hordichuk	LW	L	2005	Kamsack, Saskatchewan
19		Jason Arnott – C	C	R	2006	Collingwood, Ontario
22		Jordin Tootoo	RW	R	2001	Churchill, Manitoba
23		Martin Gelinas	LW	L	2007	Shawinigan, Quebec
25		Jerred Smithson	C	R	2004	Vernon, British Columbia
26		Steve Sullivan – A (IR)	LW	R	2004	Timmins, Ontario
38		Vernon Fiddler	C	L	2002	Edmonton, Alberta
41		Jed Ortmeyer	RW	R	2007	Omaha, Nebraska
47		Alexander Radulov	RW	L	2004	Nizhny Tagil, U.S.S.R.
71		J.P. Dumont – A	RW	L	2006	Montreal, Quebec

Team captain

• Tom Fitzgerald, 1998-2002
• Greg Johnson, 2002-06
• Kimmo Timonen, 2006-07
• Jason Arnott, 2007- present

Honored Members

Hall of Famers: The Predators do not have a Hockey Hall of Fame member from their team.

Retired numbers: The Predators have not retired any numbers. However, Wayne Gretzky's number 99 was retired league-wide February 6, 2000.

First-round draft picks

• 1998: David Legwand (2nd overall)
• 1999: Brian Finley (6th overall)
• 2000: Scott Hartnell (6th overall)
• 2001: Dan Hamhuis (12th overall)
• 2002: Scottie Upshall (6th overall)
• 2003: Ryan Suter (7th overall)
• 2004: Alexander Radulov (15th overall)
• 2005: Ryan Parent (18th overall)
• 2006: None
• 2007: Jonathon Blum (23rd overall)

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history, through 2005-06. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Predators player

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	P/G
Kimmo Timonen	D	573	79	212	301	.53
David Legwand*	C	484	106	178	284	.59
Scott Walker	RW	410	96	151	247	.60
Greg Johnson	C	502	93	145	238	.47
Cliff Ronning	C	301	81	145	226	.75
Scott Hartnell	LW	436	93	118	211	.48
Martin Erat*	LW	331	62	134	196	.59
Paul Kariya	LW	164	55	106	161	.98
Steve Sullivan*	LW	150	62	96	158	1.05
Marek Zidlicky*	D	228	30	102	132	.58

NHL awards and trophies

Lester Patrick Trophy

• David Poile: 2000-01

Franchise individual records

• Most goals in a season: Steve Sullivan & Paul Kariya, 31 (2005-06)
• Most assists in a season: Paul Kariya, 54 (2005-06)
• Most points in a season: Paul Kariya, 85 (2005-06)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Patrick Cote, 242 (1998-99)
• Most points in a season, defenseman: Kimmo Timonen, 55 (2006-07)
• Most points in a season, rookie: Alexander Radulov, 37 (2006-07)
• Most wins in a season: Tomas Vokoun, 36 (2005-06)
• Most shutouts in a season: Chris Mason & Tomas Vokoun, 5 (2006-07)

References

See also

• List of NHL players
• List of NHL seasons

External links

• Official website of the Nashville Predators
• Official Section 303 website

Nashville Predators
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