Nashville Predators: Top 10 Predators Free Agent Signings

Stu Grimson

Some fans may know Stu Grimson just from his time in the Nashville Predators broadcast booth.  However, he signed as a free agent with the team on July 2, 2001.  It was his only season with the Predators and the last of his career.  He managed 30 games, missing time due to concussions and subsequently retired at the end of the season.

It was a memorable signing because Grimson was one of the elite enforcers of his time.  You knew what you were getting when he signed to play. In 729 games played, he totaled a whopping 2113 penalty minutes.  Seems like a lot, but it’s only the 44th most in NHL history.  He was a heck-of-a fighter and a good broadcaster.  He certainly left a mark in his time with the Nashville Predators.

Yanic Perreault

On October 3, 2005, the Nashville Predators acquired free agent Yanic Perreault. The signing was significant because of the following:

• Perreault was an established veteran, 34 years of age.
• It was a very late signing–two days before the Predators first game.
• The year before was the lockout.

But what did Yanic Perreault do?  He went and had the highest scoring season of his career with a slash line of 22G/35A/57PTS.  Mighty impressive if you ask me.  Of course, it was his only season with the Predators.  He bounced around three teams after his stint with the Predators and retired.

He was most known for his contributions on the faceoff dot.  You’ll see many lists citing Perreault as the best faceoff man in NHL history. He regularly finished a season with a FO% of over 60%.  It was no different with the Predators when he had a 62.18%.

Vladimír Országh

The Nashville Predators signed Vladimir Orszagh on June 1, 2001.  He was a draft pick of the New York Islanders who couldn’t find regular playing time. He totaled 5 points in 34 games over three seasons with the Islanders. Orszagh proved otherwise with the Predators becoming a consistent 30 point player.  His tenure with the team ended in 2004 before the lockout.

Some notes of interest, though.  He scored a hat trick against Buffalo in 2003.  It was the fifth time a Predators player achieved the feat.  And in the 03-04 playoff series against Detroit, Orszagh scored two goals which were the team high.

He proved to be a consistent scorer with the Nashville Predators.  He was a free agent signing that became a familiar name.  Had the lockout not occurred, it’s very possible Orszagh would have had a longer career.

Dan Ellis

No relation to Ryan, at least I don’t think.  Dan Ellis had only one game of NHL experience before signing with the Nashville Predators on July 5, 2007. He began the season as the backup goaltender to Chris Mason but ended up outperforming his partner in twine.  Ellis’ first season with the Predators was his best performance statistically.  With 23 wins and 10 losses, he finished with a 2.34 GAA and .924 SV%.

The Predators made the playoffs that year, facing rival Detroit.  Ellis started every game in the series that went six games.  He held his own putting up a .938 SV% and 2.52 GAA.  The following year Ellis started the season before Smashville got their first taste of Pekka Rinne.  Ellis lasted with the team until 09-10 when he was part of a trade for Sergei Kostitsyn.

Dan Ellis put on a great first impression for the Nashville Predators but couldn’t quite match that initial season. His contributions as a free agent were definitely more than expected.

Joel Ward

Another player with minimal NHL experience before signing with the Nashville Predators is Joel Ward.  He signed on July 14, 2008, and played three full seasons with the team.  He scored 10+ goals each season with the Predators and was good for about 30 points per year.  In 2010-2011, he was third on the team with 157 shots on goal.

Joel Ward is most known for shouldering the team in its playoff run in 2010-2011.  He was an important part of the Predators winning their first playoff series against Anaheim.  He led the team in points with 13 as they eventually lost in the Semifinals to Vancouver in six games.  It was a performance that will go down in history though.

Tom Fitzgerald

Technically speaking, Tom Fitzgerald signed as a free agent after the Nashville Predators expansion draft. He signed a few weeks after the draft on July 6, 1998.  He was a former first-round pick of the Islanders in 1986, but he is most known as the Predators first-ever team Captain.

In a “Where are they now?” interview on the Predators website, Tom said, “I held wearing the ‘C’ in high esteem and I am thankful for that, and the Predator organization.” He did what few other players have done; he led a completely new, young team in its infancy stage and put Nashville on the map.

Tom Fitzgerald is held high in the hearts of many Nashville Predator fans.  He was the first leader of the team. As a free agent signing, he will always be one of the most important signings in team history.

J.P. Dumont

As the list of memorable free agent signings narrows down, the top three should become clearer and clearer.  J.P. Dumont‘s best hockey was played with the Nashville Predators.  After signing on August 29, 2006, he made an impact right away. His first three seasons went as follows:

• 06-07: 82 games- 21G, 45A, 66PTS
• 07-08: 80 games- 29G, 43A, 72PTS
• 08-09: 82 games- 16G, 49A, 65PTS

Those point totals are still in the top 10 in Predators history, with the 72 points being tied for third. Dumont is also 6th in team history with 267 points.  The impact is undeniable. Forget the fact that his last season ended with a thud, J.P. Dumont is one of the best players to don a Predators jersey.

Nashville also had an impact on him. According to the Predators website, Dumont is still in the city “helping out young hockey players in the area, assisting at Southern Elite Prep’s hockey academy, as well as at Centennial Sportsplex and Ford Ice Center.”

Jason Arnott

Deciding who should be number 1 and 2 on this list is like picking a favorite son.  But I will show favoritism.  At #2 on this list is Jason Arnott.  He had a storied career before even dressing in a Predators jersey. He exploded on the scene with 68 points as a rookie with Edmonton. He scored the  double-overtime, Stanley Cup-winning goal for New Jersey in the 2000 playoffs.  He jumped ship to play for Dallas who he scored that goal against. But what matters here is that on July 2, 2006, Jason Arnott signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators.

David Poile was “ thrilled to add a player of his caliber to our lineup“.  It truly was a great signing, albeit towards the end of Arnott’s career, but he cranked out some good seasons for the Predators.  He was a 70 point scorer in 07-08 and a 30 goal scorer a year later. He led the team to the playoffs three out of the four years he was with the team, and he wore the ‘C’ from 2007-10.

Arnott’s 33 goals in 08-09 are still a Predators season-high. He also takes the number one spot with .39 goals per game. With four seasons as a Nashville Predator, he will go down as an all-time great and one of the best free agent signings.

Paul Kariya

The greatest free agent signing in Nashville Predators history only spent two seasons with the team, but he made the most of them.  Paul Kariya will always be a huge name in hockey.  He’s one of the most skilled players to ever take the ice.  After a down season with Colorado, he chose to take his talents to a small market team, and on August 5, 2005 he signed with the Nashville Predators.

For starters, Kariya never missed a game with the Predators. He went bonkers in his first season with a line of 31G/54A/85PTS.  Those assist and point totals are still team records to this day.  He was an assistant captain, scored a hat-trick, and in his time with the Predators had  .98 points per game. Last year he became the first Predators player to be inducted in the Hall of Fame.

David Poile knew it then and it’s true now, Paul Kariya “is unquestionably the biggest signing in our club’s history“.