Nashville Predators: Upcoming Franchise Milestones for Key Players

With no games to talk about, we’re diving into anything we can to get our Nashville Predators fix. Next up, some milestones that are close to being reached.

It’s always fun to go back and look at franchise lists and where some all-time great players are in terms of reaching key milestones for the Nashville Predators.

We’re getting close to seeing some big time career achievements for some top Predators players of all-time.

The Nashville Predators have been around for just over two decades, so they don’t have the rich history that many other NHL franchises have. But they’re gradually building their own history as players pile up the games and career achievements wearing the blue and gold.

Most of these milestones should be set rather quickly once games get underway again, whether that’s this season, the playoffs or next season.

Forsberg climbing up goals list

Filip Forsberg has had an incredibly efficient career with the Nashville Predators, and he’s nowhere close to being done.

He’s arguably the best pure goal scorer in franchise history, and you’ll have to make a really hard argument to change my mind on that.

Forsberg has 166 career goals with the Predators, tying him with one of the all-time franchise greats in Shea Weber. Whether it’s this season when it resumes, or next season, Forsberg will move into sole possession of 2nd place on the franchise list in goals.

The only player left to catch is David Legwand, who has 210 career goals. If Forsberg keeps a similar pace of around 30 goals per season, which is easily attainable for him, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he breaks it late next season.

Forsberg has two more seasons left on his current contract, and I can’t see any way that the Predators would let him go elsewhere. He’s a career Predator hopefully, just like Roman Josi.

Josi catching Martin Erat

Roman Josi is an incredible offensive talent that just happens to play pretty darn good defense as well. Yes, he’s a defenseman, but really he’s just another dynamic forward that generates offense in quick fashion.

Without Josi this season, the Predators ship would’ve been sank a month ago. Instead, they’re staying afloat and currently in a playoff spot while the league is on pause.

Josi has 304 career assists for the Predators, including 49 this season, which is a career high. He needs just six more assists to set the single season franchise record, but that’s only if the season completes with 13 games still remaining.

As for the career list, Josi is just 14 assists behind Martin Erat for 2nd place on the franchise list. David Legwand also holds the top spot here, but it’s only a matter of time before Josi catches him in the next season or two.

Josi has a realistic chance of leading the Predators in all major offensive categories when his career comes to an end, now that he finally has his contract extension.

Craig Smith in elite company

Smith has always been a fan favorite for all of his years with the Nashville Predators. An original draft pick from 2009, being selected in the 4th round at 98th overall out of the University of Wisconsin.

Always have to love those American-born players. And he’s built an outstanding NHL career with the same team, but there’s uncertainty with his immediate future.

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Smith is due to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and if the season prematurely ends then we may never see him play in a Predators uniform again.

I know, it makes me just as sad as you are. But there’s hope that the Predators work out a deal and Smith gets the chance to move past Martin Erat for goals.

Smith has 162 goals in his Predators career, which is two away from passing Erat and just four behind Filip Forsberg.

Him and Forsberg are also battling it out to have the team lead in goals for 2019-20, with Forsberg having 21 and Smith having 18.

Saros’ future is now

There’s no more waiting for Juuse Saros to take over for Pekka Rinne. The changing of the guard has already happened.

As Saros starts piling up consistent starts as the team’s primary starter, he’ll gradually start moving up the wins list for the Predators. He’s already about to pass a Predators legend in Chris Mason, who now does commentary covering the Predators for Fox Sports Tennessee.

Mason was an oustanding goaltender for the Predators, but his time here was somewhat brief as he just played in 146 career games before going to the St.Louis Blues.

Saros currently has 55 career wins, and needs just four more to tie Mason in that department. He’ll definitely do that, and also pass the franchise’s first starting goaltender in Mike Dunham, who has 81 wins.

After that, some distance is created as you have Tomas Vokoun at 161 wins and the G.O.A.T in Rinne with 359 wins and counting. Saros, or any other Predators goaltender, may never catch that milestone.

Some honorable mention milestones that are getting close:

• Josi 30 points away from passing Shea Weber on all-time list. Will almost certainly claim that spot in next two or three seasons.
• Josi six assists away from single season record held by Paul Kariya. He may do it if the season resumes.
• Forsberg two power play goals away from passing Kimmo Timonen on most power play goals.
• Forsberg 11 goals shy of tying David Legwand for game-winning goals at 41.
• Craig Smith active Predators leader for games played with 661, with Pekka Rinne at 659.

All statistics and records are via hockey-reference.com. All contract info is via CapFriendly.com.