Nashville Predators: Remembering the Franchise's Best All-Stars

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The 2020 NHL All-Star Game is coming up this Saturday, and the Nashville Predators have Roman Josi representing. That got us thinking.

The Nashville Predators have been around for two decades now, and they’ve had plenty of great players throughout the years. It was a gradual build into the franchise they are today, but they’ve had some outstanding representatives at the All-Star games during that time.

This year Roman Josi will be the only representative for the Nashville Predators. It’s his third appearance, and I’m sure he has plenty more to come.

The early years of the franchise found it difficult to get all-stars due to being an expansion franchise. They weren’t loaded with talent and had to slowly build their roster into one that could contend for making the playoffs and actually win a playoff series.

Making an All-Star game isn’t some ordinary accomplishment. Let’s look back on some of the franchise’s best and most memorable All-Star selections going all the way back to the last millennium!

27 Feb 1999: Sergei Krivokrasov #25 of the Nashville Predators skates during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 3-1. /

1999 NHL All-Star Game

The franchise’s official first All-Star selection was Sergei Krivokrasov. The game was at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Florida and featured Team North America against Team World. Krivokrasov represented Team World.

This is a memorable All-Star game for everyone because it was Wayne Gretzky‘s last All-Star game appearance. As for Krivokrasov, this is just a monumental accomplishment for the inaugural season for the Predators.

Krivokrasov would end up recording 25 goals on that season and would end up having the best season of his NHL career. He would leave the Predators midway through the next season, but he’ll always be able to say he was the first player to represent the Nashville Predators at the All-Star game.

St. Paul, MN – Xcel Center – 2/8/04 – NHL Allstar Game – West goalie Tomas Vokoun watches Gary Roberts shot in the goal in the 2nd period. (Photo by BRUCE BISPING/Star Tribune via Getty Images) /

Finally another All-Star selection

The Predators would go four seasons before getting a couple more All-Star representatives. Tomas Vokoun and Kimmo Timonen would be the next ones up to represent the young franchise.

This came at a time when the Predators were finally starting to make progress in the league and pushing towards the playoffs. In fact, later this season the Predators would make their first playoff appearance in franchise history and lose in six games to the Detroit Red Wings.

Neither Vokoun or Timonen had much of an impact on the game itself as the East would defeat the West 6-4. Vokoun would take the official loss in the game that was held in St.Paul, Minnesota.

As this point, we were just happy to be part of the group as a franchise. We hadn’t even tasted the playoffs yet, but good things were still to come and some great players were coming down the pipeline.

(Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2008 NHL All-Star Game from Atlanta

Perhaps one of the biggest player acquisitions of the time for the franchise was Jason Arnott. He signed a huge contract for the time period in the offseason and I remember the fans buzzing about getting such a big named player at the time.

Arnott would be just the fourth different player in the franchise’s history to go to the All-Star game. It was just his second appearance of his career, with his first coming over a decade before.

Arnott would record an assist in the game as the West would lose to the East in an exciting game that would end with a final score of 8-7. As for the rest of the season, Arnott would go onto record 72 points that season and play four total seasons with the Predators.

Those 72 points remains tied for third on the franchise list for most points in a season, tied with J.P. Dumont who somehow never made an All-Star game for the Predators. Also, can we bring back those navy blue uniforms for alternates?

MONTREAL – JANUARY 23: Shea Weber poses for a portrait during the 2009 NHL Live Western/Eastern Conference All-Stars Media Availability at the Queen Elizabeth Fairmont Hotel on January 23, 2009 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /

In comes Shea Weber

Arguable still the greatest Nashville Predator of all time, Shea Weber crashed the party for the All-Star game in what would be the first of several in his career.

Weber wouldn’t record a point in the game, but it was still so cool to see a young player like he was make the All-Star game. We all knew we had a special player at that early point in his career.

The East would beat the West 12-11 after going to a shootout. None other than Alexander Ovechkin would score the game-winning shootout goal to get the victory for the East.

It’s also worth noting that Pekka Rinne participated in the YoungStars game which was rookies against sophomores. He would make 20 saves and represent the Predators in a big way as his future was obviously bright.

COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 25: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators and Team Toews and Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators during the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Nationwide Arena on January 25, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Ok, this guy is special

Shea Weber had already been to three All-Star games before this, but Filip Forsberg was bursting onto the NHL scene. Finally the Predators had a lethal scorer who had a high ceiling to grow.

Peter Laviolette would serve as one of the coaches as this featured a captain format as Team Foligno went against Team Toews. Forsberg and Weber would play for Team Toews.

Forsberg was actually one of the last players selected as part of a fan vote in this new All-Star format. He won a new car and would represent the winning team in the event as he scored two goals.

Incredibly, Forsberg would go on to record 63 points on that season as he played in all 82 games. He’s also record 19 points on the power play and come in fourth in rookie of the year voting.

Ironically enough, the game MVP was Ryan Johansen as he was still a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who was the host team of the All-Star game.

NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 31: (L-R) Pekka Rinne #35, Shea Weber #6, James Neal #18 and Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators look on during warm-up prior to the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena on January 31, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The All-Star Game comes to Music City

Easily the most memorable All-Star game if you’re a Predators fan. The game was held in Nashville and it was an incredible event that the city put on. No one had ever seen such an outdoor party like what the city of Nashville accomplished.

As for game itself and who was selected, the Nashville Predators had four players selected. Roman Josi got his first All-Star selection and was joined by James Neal, Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber.

This was the first time the NHL went with the 3-on-3 tournament with the divisions. I personally love this format and hope they never change it as the action is intense and it gives you more of a rooting interest to cheer for your division.

Josi would also compete in the Fastest Skater competition and Neal would compete in the Breakaway Challenge. However, Weber would take home the honors of winning one of these events as he recorded the hardest shot at 108.1 MPH.

The Central Division would lose in their first game to the Pacific Division, which would go onto win the whole thing. The great and inspiring story of John Scott would highlight the entire event as he was voted in by the fans and got MVP honors.

SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 26: Goaltender Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators takes the ice during player introductions for the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on January 26, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Pekka Rinne makes another All-Star Game

The career accomplishments for Pekka Rinne seem endless. He’s the official greatest of all-time for the Nashville Predators, followed closely by Shea Weber in my book.

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Rinne would make eight saves on nine shots to help the Central Division win the first game of the tournament, while Roman Josi would record a goal and three assists as well.

The final didn’t go as well as Sidney Crosby took over for the Metropolitan Division and Rinne would surrender four goals. However, he made some spectacular saves as well in a format that does no favors for the goaltender and makes it as difficult as possible to stop the offense.

Rinne would also compete in the Save Streak competition. The year before Rinne came in 2nd place by making 13 consecutive saves and narrowly losing to Marc-Andre Fleury in the final round.

This might have very well been Rinne’s last All-Star game appearance as his career is coming near the end. With that said, what an incredible career and hopefully he’s got enough gas in the tank to reach one more before he retires.

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