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Nashville Predators: The 5 Best Draft Picks in Predator’s History

By Chad Minton

OTTAWA, ON - JUNE 21: 38th overall pick, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators poses for a portrait at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place on June 21, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JUNE 21: 38th overall pick, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators poses for a portrait at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place on June 21, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images) /
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Martin Erat
ST PAUL, MN – JANUARY 22: Martin Erat /

Martin Erat drafted in 1999

Fresh off their first season of existence, the Predators were looking to build through the draft. They were dealing with all of the challenges of being an expansion team, so drafting team-first players was critical.

In came Martin Erat, who would end up becoming a cornerstone to the franchise for the next several years. Erat made his NHL debut in 2001 for the Predators, but really didn’t burst onto the scene until 2003-04 season, finishing with 49 points.

As the ultimate assist man, Erat helped spearhead the Predators to their first playoff berth in 2004. The Predators were finally on the NHL map, and Erat was a major part of that.

There can be a strong argument that Erat is one of the original pieces that made the Predators franchise what it is today. He’s second in team history to only David Legwand in assists and points. He’s also third in team history in goals with 163.

Erat was traded for the young Filip Forsberg in 2013, which was a tough loss at the time. Obviously that trade has worked out beautifully for the Predators, but Erat’s time with Nashville is still worthy of putting him on this list.

If you’re building a Mount Rushmore of Predators hockey, Erat better be on there. You can’t celebrate what this team has become in 2017 without knowing where it came from and who was there when it was still an infant.

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