Nashville Predators Possible Retired Numbers

David Legwand

The first ever Nashville Predator has to be on this list right? Nashville had the 2nd pick in their first ever NHL Draft and after Vincent Lecavalier was picked by Tampa Bay it left Nashville with their center of the franchise in David Legwand. When you look at Legwand’s stats you notice one major aspect in his game as a Pred, and that was consistency.

Leggy was never flashy or score huge numbers, but he was consistent with what the Predators asked of him. He had only two seasons with 20 goals or more and had multiple 30 point and 40 point seasons. He was that typical two-way center that would help on the penalty kill and powerplay. As of now, until Filip Forsberg breaks it, Legwand holds the teams records for most games played, goals scored, most assists, and most points over a career.

My fondest memory of Legwand will be in the same category as one of the fondest memories in Nashville History. Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Playoffs. Nashville had just won their first ever overtime playoff game in Anaheim and now held a 3-2 lead with only a few seconds left.  The hockey gods couldn’t have written it better. Legwand skated down the side and shot the puck into the empty net to seal the deal and give Nashville its first ever series win. I was at that game, and that memory will last with me for a life time.

Legwand spent 15 seasons with the Preds before being traded in that 15th season to his hometown of Detroit for a now familiar name in Calle Jarnkrok. Legwand may not be seen on the same level for most like Lecavalier is, especially since Vinny won a Cup with Tampa. To Nashville, David Legwand will always be the Original Predator and always the fan favorite. I can’t imagine anyone else in that number 11 jersey.

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