Nashville Predators: From lowest seed to NHL’s top team in 365 days

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

The season is essentially complete even with one game left. The Nashville Predators made history all season long, a year after barely making the playoffs.

What many people thought impossible turned into reality last night. Last season’s run to the Stanley Cup was merely a fluke to other fanbases. It took a run in the final weeks of the season for the Nashville Predators to make the playoffs in 2017. Now, the enter the postseason hoisting the Presidents’ Trophy. In one evening, the Predator earned their first division title, the top-seed in the Western Conference, and took home significant hardware.

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I will be honest, I did not expect all of these things to happen this season. We talked before the season about the possibility of the Predators winning their first division title, but that was the pinnacle most pundits expected. Earning the top seed in the Western Conference seemed out of reach this season. My prediction was third. I would like to thank the face-planting Chicago Blackhawks for the assistance, as well as Edmonton.

Still, it took great effort on the ice and intelligence in the front office to earn the accolades for the accomplishments this season. The 20th year of the Nashville Predators’ existence is one large party. And we are ready for a few more on Broadway in the coming weeks.

How did it get to this point? Several things had to go right for this moment to happen.