Nashville Predators: Top Five Teams In Franchise History
Predators get eliminated by Canucks
This team was the first team that I felt could really go deep into the playoffs. The times before I was honestly just thrilled to see them in the field. This is also the same year the Predators notched their first playoff series win.
It all starts with this season on the long road to where they are now. Something special was beginning to brew. With Shea Weber approaching superstar status, the Predators nearly notched a division title this season. A still great Red Wings squad edged them out by five points in the standings.
As for the first series playoff win, they dismantled the Ducks in six games. This is where I believe the hatred for the Ducks starts. Their fans didn’t have respect for a Predators team that was 0-5 in playoff series. That day marks as a rude awakening that the Predators weren’t just a cute story anymore.
Along with Weber, the stars that stand out for me on this team is guys like Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat and Ryan Suter. It’s a blue-collar team when you look back on that roster. Of course, you can’t leave out the fact that Pekka Rinne was beginning to ascend into elite status. His stat line of a 93 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average is still one of his career’s best.
Franchise record-holder for points
We forget about this team unfortunately, mainly because of a first-round playoff exit. At this point in my Predators memory, it’s me being happy that they’re at the top of the standings. That’s exactly where they finished with 110 points. That’s still a franchise record. Again, the Red Wings stood in their way of a division title with 113 points.
The major addition of this season was Peter Forsberg. I remember thinking, “we actually signed a superstar?”. Forsberg was joining another superstar and future member of the Hall of Fame, Paul Kariya. We can’t overlook the solid goaltending duo of Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason. Both have 20-plus wins from this season.
As for the playoffs this particular year, they ran into a ridiculously good Sharks team. That series was incredibly physical, and the Predators couldn’t match their size. The series only went to five games, with three of the four losses being decided by one goal. It was hard to swallow, but my excitement for where this team was heading had me pumped for the next season.
That oh so sweet win over the Ducks
Just the third playoff series win in franchise history, the Predators had the number of the Ducks again. This one is still sweet.
The series was brutal. A roller coaster of emotions that I don’t wish on anyone. If you recall, the Predators stole the first two games of the series at Anaheim, and it had fans prematurely thinking it was wrapped up. After the Ducks did the unthinkable by stealing two in Nashville, I about lost all control. Revenge for the Ducks was within reach when they took the 3-2 series lead. What makes this Predators team one of the greatest is how they somehow reeled off two in a row to steal the series, and crush Ducks fans everywhere.
Another great Sharks team ended the magic for a depleted Predators team. They had given everything they had, and came up just short of a conference finals berth. A lot of fans are lying if they say they expected to go into San Jose and win that Game 7. We just weren’t there yet.
This season marks Filip Forsberg‘s burst onto the scene with 33 goals and Shea Weber’s last season in Nashville. It’s also the season that James Neal became forever legendary in Predators history.
Climbing out of the Red Wings’ shadow
Outside of the Stanley Cup run, I can’t think of a more satisfying victory than when the Predators eliminated the Red Wings from the playoffs. It will be hard to ever top that. Taking down “big brother”, the bully that pushed the Predators around for years. The legendary franchise that had already eliminated some less-talented Predators teams in years past is finally defeated.
Some major debuts from current Predators players happened during this season like Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis and Craig Smith. This also marks Mike Fisher‘s first full season with the Predators, finishing with 24 goals on the season. Up to this point, the Predators never had a better roster top to bottom. Perhaps the best Predator of all time, David Legwand, is still plugging along at this point. A 104-point regular season nearly won the division.
My favorite part about this particular team is the blue collar mentality. There’s not a lot of star power when you look over this roster. Yeah, you got Weber and Ryan Suter as the dynamic defensive duo. Outside of that, it’s a bunch of hard working guys who upset a Red Wings team that was still really good. The franchise’s original head coach, Barry Trotz, never had another playoff-caliber Predators team after this season.
The Stanley Cup run
The magical run to the Stanley Cup Final, and how it gripped an entire city for weeks, is something I’ll never forget as a Nashville native. Heading into the playoffs, you didn’t feel like this was a conference champion. Something seemed off and, of course, the Blackhawks were the opening round opponent.
Much like the disdain for the Red Wings, the Blackhawks now have that new title as most-hated by most fans. I can’t lie and say to you I expected an 8-seed Predators team to get out of the first round. The fact that a sweep ends up happening, and the team transforms into an unstoppable force is something I really can’t explain. It starts with Pekka Rinne putting this team on his back. It shows you can ride a hot goaltender deep into the playoffs.
When you look at the road to the Stanley Cup and the teams they had to beat, you have to make this one the best in franchise history. No other past team sweeps Chicago, and then turns around and dismantles a solid Blues team in six games. Nothing is every easy in the NHL playoffs, but they made it look as easy as you possibly can.
Next: Preds Acquire Hartman From Blackhawks
But there’s more to what makes this one the best in franchise history, and it’s not just because they went the farthest. It’s about the mental makeup that they had, and how players deep on the roster made impacts. Players like Pontus Aberg, Colton Sissons and Frederick Gaudreau. It takes digging deep to get where the Nashville Predators got to, and losing in six games to a ridiculously great Penguins team is nothing to sulk over. Maybe this year’s current team is even better.