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.