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.
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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.