Nashville Predators: Looking Back at Their Best Starts to the Season
By Chad Minton
The best Preds roster we had seen
As mentioned in the last slide, the years from 2005-2007 were a turning point in the history of Nashville Predators hockey.
In simple terms, it is the time when they became a formidable foe and a legitimate playoff contender.
In 2006-2006, their roster was bolstered by Paul Kariya for the second year in a row and was heightening expectations to new levels.
This particular team reeled off a 9-4-1 start en route to 110 points and a fourth-place finish in overall goals scored in the NHL.
Shockingly enough, this squad actually stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3 start before winning 11 of the next 13 games. During this span, the Predators had just one regulation loss in mid-November after the 0-3 start. Pretty astounding.
Alongside Kariya, Nashville had youngsters such as Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, and Scott Hartnell, while veterans such as Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont made the team legitimate Stanley Cup Contenders. As if they needed more talent, the Predators also added Peter Forsberg later in the year who managed 13 assists and 15 points in just 17 games for Nashville.
In the end, this was perhaps Nashville’s most fun team to watch, supported by the fact they went 17-5-2 over their first 24 games and nearly won the Central Division for the first time in Franchise history
Unfortunately, though, the annoying San Jose Sharks team knocked the Predators out of the first round yet again; reminding us that all good things really do come to an end.