Nashville Predators: 10 Best Moments since Predators were saved
Ten years after the famous “Save Our Preds” rally on July 19, 2007, hockey in Nashville is thriving. Here are the top 10 moments since that historic day.
In 1995, rumors flew around the NHL that the New Jersey Devils would be relocating to Nashville. It was the first sign of hockey in Music City since the Dixie Flyers of the Eastern Hockey League had skated in Municipal Auditorium in the 1960s. However, the deal fell through, and Nashville was without a franchise heading into the 1996 season.
That all changed though, after a deal that tried to bring an NBA team to Nashville, failed. The city turned again, to hockey. In January of 1996, Craig Leipold made a request to the NHL for an expansion franchise in Nashville. Shortly after, in June 1996, his wish was granted.
Play began in what we now know as Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 1998, in a 1-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. After finally reaching the playoffs for the first time in 2004, the Predators enjoyed much success over the next two seasons. Nashville finished fourth in the Western Conference both years, had home ice advantage in 2006, and the best home record in the league at 32-8-1.
Trouble Ahead
It seemed that all was well in Nashville, although behind the scenes, owner Craig Leipold was frustrated. On May 24, 2007, Leipold shook the Predator faithful, as he announced his intentions to sell the organization to a Canadian billionaire. Predator fans did not take the news lightly. Protests and petitions emerged from all over. On July 19, 2007, a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was held, to determine the fate of the franchise. While the men in suits fought for hockey in Nashville, so did the fans.
Thousands gathered on Lower Broadway for the famous “Save Our Preds” rally. Fans chanted, held up signs, and begged for their beloved Predators to stay in Nashville. Their efforts were successful, as the deal with that Canadian businessman ultimately failed.
On that summer day in 2007, hockey in Nashville was saved. Since then, the sport and the team has flourished in Music City. It has been 10 years since that beautiful day, so with that, let’s take a look at the top 10 moments in Predators history, in the last 10 years.
Laviolette
On May 6, 2014, the Predators shocked their fans as they announced that head coach Barry Trotz had been fired and replaced by Peter Laviolette. Trotz was the team’s first coach, and had been for 15 seasons. After many years of struggling to get past the Conference Semifinals, the Predators decided it was time for a change.
Peter Laviolette had coached for the Philadelphia Flyers for the previous five seasons. Laviolette’s hiring was the spark that the franchise needed at that time. Fans loved Trotz, but he was unable to ever deliver the magical postseason run that fans longed for. Laviolette has made the playoffs in all three of his seasons in Nashville. His biggest accomplishment in Nashville though, is finally getting the team over the hump in the Conference Semifinals. He took the Predators to their first ever Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final this past season.
The excitement as energy that we see today around the franchise, is due mostly in part to Laviolette. After much success in just three years, the future looks bright for Laviolette in Nashville.
First Standing “O”
On April 3, 2008, with 4:30 remaining in the last home and regular season game, the Smashville Standing Ovation debuted. Ahead of the St. Louis Blues 3-2, a TV timeout was taken. The sellout crowd in Nashville took over from there. The Predator fans were on their feet cheering for the entirety of the final TV timeout. Their efforts, along with those of the players, willed the Predators over the Blues, and into the playoffs. That night in the then Sommet Center, Predator fans debuted their signature move, that still continues today. It was at this moment that many realized that Nashville hockey fans were legitimate. This was the Predators first season after almost moving to Canada. Fans bowed up and showed their passion and loyalty all season long, but none more than on this night.
The Smashville Standing O is a tradition that is a driving force in many late game heroics. Players often rave about the ovations, and describe the electric atmosphere that is created. On April 3, 2008, a loud monster was born into Nashville hockey. One that continues to feast on opponents during TV timeouts, to this day.
2016 NHL All Star Game
On January 31, 2016, Nashville and Bridgestone Arena hosted the best weekend in the NHL season. The 61st NHL All Star Game debuted a new format in Nashville. The traditional game was replaced with a four team, three-on-three tournament, with one team from each division. Predators Pekka Rinne, James Neal, Shea Weber, and Roman Josi competed in the game, along with soon to be Predator P.K. Subban.
The game marked Nashville’s first major contributing to the league. Seeing four Predators in the game was a milestone for the franchise. Fans from all across the hockey world poured into Music City to enjoy the sights and sounds, along with great hockey. The weekend brought huge revenue into Nashville and the NHL. That weekend made it seem as if the NHL was recognizing Nashville as a real hockey city, but that’s just me. If they had any doubt about it though, this past season’s Stanley Cup run removed them.
First Playoff Series Win
On April 24, 2011, the Nashville Predators won their first ever playoff series. The Predators took down the Ducks in six games in front of a Nashville crowd in the Conference Quarterfinals. This marked the first time in franchise history and in five previous attempts, that the Predators won a playoff series.
The Predators had been plagued for years by an inability to get over the first round hump. Although it took them until this past season to get over the second round hump, the Predators began to legitimately compete in their division after this series. With four 90+ point seasons since that series win, the Predators as a team have been improving ever year.
Now that the second round hump, and third round are out-of-the-way, all that’s left is that final hump…
The Original Forsberg
On February 15, 2007, the Predators made a huge trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Nashville gave up two skaters and a first round pick for superstar forward Peter Forsberg. Forsberg was already past the prime of his career, as his production had slowed each of the previous four seasons. That didn’t matter though. Forsberg was one of the greatest on the ice at the time. He was already a 7-time All Star, Art Ross Trophy winner, Hart Memorial Trophy winner, Calder Memorial Trophy winner, and 3-time NHL First Team. Not to mention a future Hall of Famer.
This trade was huge for the franchise, as the Predators were able to beat out many other teams for Forsberg. Doubly impressive, was the fact that Forsberg actually chose Nashville, because of his ability to choose his destination. The arrival of Forsberg marked a new chapter in franchise history. Forsberg and Paul Kariya were two of the best in the league at the time, and to have them both in Nashville was exciting. It brought some much-needed attention to the team, and made the league pay attention to what was happening in Nashville.
Although he never did too much for the Predators, Forsberg’s brought an excitement and buzz to Nashville, that hadn’t really been seen yet.
First Trip to the Western Conference Final
Halfway there. Next up is number 5. On May 7th of this past season, the Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6, to win the series 4-2. This marked their first ever appearance in the Western Conference Final. As you all remember, this was the moment that we knew something special was happening. After coming off the sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks, many were uncertain as to how good the Predators actually were. Kevin Fiala was lost for the rest of the playoffs during game one. The next man up mentality began in this series, and continued throughout the playoff run.
When the final horn of Game 6 went off, Predator fans knew that something was different about this year. Nashville handled St. Louis throughout the series, and it became evident that no injury could stop them. A different player stepped up in every big moment, and the Predators just looked like a whole different team at that point. This series marked the beginning of a historic run.
First Trip to the Stanley Cup
Just two weeks after #5, the Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks in game 6 at Bridgestone Arena, to clinch their first ever trip to the Stanley Cup. Colton Sissons put the finishing touches on the Ducks, with his hat trick, in a 6-3 win that night. This entire series was a dogfight from beginning to end. Every game had an intense level of physicality, and scrappy play that fans love.
To me, this series win was more than the Stanley Cup birth. It showed me that the Predators were truly competitors. They were ready to win a Cup. They played fast against the Blackhawks and Blues. The Ducks were a totally different type of series though. The mean streak in each Predator was brought out. It became evident that the Predators could execute any style of play necessary, in order to win. Key pieces to the offense had been lost, yet others filled in and thrived. This showed me that the Predators were ready to step out of the shadows of the Western Conference, and legitimately compete for a Cup.
Steve Sullivan Trade
On February 16, 2004, Nashville traded two second round draft picks for winger Steve Sullivan. Although this trade was a pretty big deal at the time, it was the results of this trade that make it historic. Sullivan was a solid player before coming to Nashville. Sullivan spent nine years in the NHL before Nashville, where he had six 60+ point seasons. He was an undersized, yet scrappy, speedy winger. He knew how to score, and could maneuver well with the puck. Sullivan tallied 263 points in 317 games in Nashville, however he brought much more to the team than he knew.
Sullivan led the Predators to their first playoff appearance. Without this playoff berth, the franchise might not’ve survived the lockout the next season, and the relocation scare a few years later. Sullivan’s exciting play and the playoff birth the year before, made Nashville an attractive team for free agents like superstar Paul Kariya, who signed the following season after the lockout. If Kariya had never signed, then other free agents like Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont might’ve never worn a Predators jersey. Lastly, if none of the above had followed Sullivan to Nashville, Peter Forsberg would almost certainly have chosen another team over the Predators.
Without knowing it, Sullivan was starting a domino effect upon his arrival in Nashville. He had a great six-year career with the Predators, but it’s hard to imagine the Predators that would come after him, if he hadn’t ever been traded.
First Round Sweep
On April 20th, the Nashville Predators achieved a feat that no one saw possible. They defeated the #1 seed Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, in four games. It was the first time that the 8th seed had swept the 1st seed in NHL history and in North American major league professional sports history. Wow.
After taking the first two games on the road in Chicago, the hockey world began to turn its heads towards Nashville to figure out what was happening. The Predators never took their foot off the gas, as they outscored the Blackhawks 13-3 in just four games. After this dominant series, Predator fans and the hockey world began to realize that something was different about this 8 seed. That sweep in the first round boosted team and fan morale high above any previous level, and gave the Predators confidence to march right through the Western Conference. Without this series win, the attitude about the legitimacy of the Predators would look very different in the eyes of most.
Hockey in June
On June 3, 2017, 18 years of hockey in Nashville came to fruition, as the Nashville Predators hosted their first ever Stanley Cup game. 17, 283 fans packed into Bridgestone Arena, while a reported 25,000 more fans watched from outside the arena. Noise levels reached 129.4 decibels, the equivalent of a gunshot. Fans set the record for loudest cheer inside an NHL arena, and were 1 dB off of the record for loudest cheer during any indoor sporting event.
By this point, Nashville had been recognized as a legitimate hockey town. Fans from across the hockey world wanted to see the underdog Predators take down the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, simply because of the way Nashville does hockey. Country music stars sing the national anthem, fans throw catfish on the ice, the mascot swings from the ceiling like a crazy man, NFL lineman guzzle beers on the jumbotron, and goalies are terrorized.
Simply Amazing
I had the privilege of being at this game, and I can honestly say that without a doubt it was the best sporting event I’ve ever been to by a long shot. The building felt like it was shaking, and after the game the noise made me feel like I had been punched in the face by Mike Tyson.
The Predators throttled the Penguins 5-1, which certainly helped the crowd, which in return helped the team. With their first win in game 3, the Predators gave fans legitimate hope that Lord Stanley’s cup might have a place in Nashville, after a rough start to the series in Pittsburgh. The excitement that the Predators brought to the city has ensured that hockey will be around in Nashville for many years. The team brought the city together, and by doing so, cultivated a love for a northern game, in a southern city. Without a shadow of a doubt, this game was the highlight of the last ten years of Predator hockey, and most likely the entire franchise history.