Nashville Predators: Once they were Predators, but where are they now?

Sports leagues are a business, and with that comes trades and free agency. Where are some of the former Nashville Predators now?

As a fan of any team, you always want your favorite players to stick around on the team for a while. But what comes with any team in any league is a trade, signing free agents, or players retiring. Most moves happen because one team offers more money, or brings more to the table for the player, such as having better talent surrounding them. The Nashville Predators are great examples of this.

Unfortunately it is a part of sports and it happens all the time. Predators fans grew fond of cheering for players such as Shea Weber or Jordin Tootoo, but had to deal with them signing to play for another team besides the Predators.

Here is where a few former Predators players are now.

Shea Weber

Current team – Montreal Canadians

Shea Weber was a fan favorite of many Predators fans for years, that is, until he was traded to the Montreal Canadians for P.K. Subban. If you saw the Weber-Subban trade coming, you should go get a career as a psychic. Weber was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators and played in Nashville from 2005 until 2016.

Patric Hornqvist

Current team – Pittsburgh Penguins

Patric Hornqvist was also drafted by the Nashville Predators. He was the last pick overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Hornqvist played 6 seasons with the Nashville Predators and was a quality right-winger, until he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for James Neal. As much as I hate to bring it up, Hornqvist was the one who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal against the Predators in Game Six to clinch the Stanley Cup for the Penguins.

Seth Jones

Current team – Columbus Blue Jackets

Seth Jones was another defenseman drafted by the Nashville Predators. He was selected 4th overall by the Predators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was a consistent player for the Predators for 3 seasons until he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen.

Jordin Tootoo

Current team – Chicago Blackhawks

Jordin Tootoo was also drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Tootoo was a fan favorite by many fans when he played for the Predators, and had support by many as he struggled with alcohol abuse. Tootoo was an unrestricted free agent after the 2011-2012 season and signed with the Red Wings. Last offseason, he signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. And, before the Predators took on the Blackhawks in the 2017 playoffs, Tootoo said he was on the “right side” of rivalry.

Martin Erat

Current team – HC Kometa Brno

Martin Erat was also another player drafted by the Nashville Predators as he was 191st pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Erat was a solid right-winger for the Predators and played in Nashville for 11 seasons. Erat requested to be traded from the Predators and was sent to the Washington Capitals for Filip Forsberg. That trade seemed to pay off, as Forsberg is a key contributor for the Predators, while Erat has been traded a few times since then, and now plays hockey in Russia.

Ryan Suter

Current team – Minnesota Wild

Ryan Suter was a good young defenseman when the Nashville Predators drafted him 7th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Suter had a successful career in Nashville as he played 7 seasons as a Predator. Then, leading up to the 2012-2013 season, Predators fans and General Manager David Poile were left out to dry, as he signed a huge contract with the Minnesota Wild. Now, every time he comes to Nashville, he is greeted with boos.

Carter Hutton

Current team – St. Louis Blues

Carter Hutton was acquired by the Nashville Predators during the offseason leading up to the 2013-2014 season. Although he was signed to play backup goalie to Pekka Rinne, he ended up playing most of the season because Rinne was injured. He was a backup goalie for three season until he signed to play at the St. Louis Blues.