Nashville Predators: Counting Down the Top Centers in Team History

To help satisfy our craving for anything hockey related, we’re counting down our top true centers in Nashville Predators history.

The role of an NHL center is tricky and multi-faceted. The center is comparable to a quarterback of sorts, and the Nashville Predators have had some great ones over the years to quarterback their offensive attacks.

Being deep at the center position is also incredibly important, and the Predators have sometimes struggled to build that part of the roster over the years. They were able to build the position up more over the last decade with some high-level players.

The center’s role is to keep the puck moving and distribute it to other players.  They’re required to be good passers, fast skaters, and have an excellent defensive eye as well. While scoring is a huge plus, it’s not necessarily their main focus.

Here are the picks for our top centers in Nashville Predators’ history, with only one of them currently playing on the team, but another one looking to perhaps etch his name high up in team history in the coming years.

Ryan Johansen

Although his play this season hasn’t lived up to expectations, Ryan Johansen’s past performances have earned him the No.4 spot on our list.

Johansen is also the only current Predators center to make our list.

Initially drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010 as the fourth overall pick, Johansen was traded to the Predators in 2016. In his first full season with Nashville, he tallied 61 points, 47 assists, and 14 goals.

2017 was also the first year that the Predators made the Stanley Cup Final, and Johansen was instrumental that season before getting injured. Unfortunately, Johansen had to have emergency thigh surgery and missed the finals.

You have to consider that things may have turned out differently if Johansen had been able to play against Pittsburgh.

In the 2017-2018 season, Johansen had a small dip in production. He roared back in the 2018-2019 season, racking up 64 points, 50 assists, and 14 goals. Before the 2018-2019 season, Johansen re-signed with Nashville for a whopping $64 million over eight years.

This season hasn’t been kind to Johansen. Before the season pause, he had only managed 36 points and 22 assists, well below his usual production.

Johansen made our list based on past performances and potential. I feel that whether it is this season if play continues, or next, he’ll get his head back into the game and produce at a high level that we’re accustomed to seeing from him.

Mike Fisher

Former Predators captain and fan-favorite Mike Fisher enters our list at No.3. He spent eight seasons with the Predators, including a brief comeback out of retirement for 16 games in his final NHL season.

The Ottawa Senators initially drafted Fisher in 1998, where he played for 11 seasons. His best season in Ottawa was in 2009-20010. That year he had career-highs points and goals with 53 points and 25 goals, respectively.

Before the trade deadline in 2011, Fisher was traded to the Predators for a first-round pick and another conditional pick. He played his first game in a Predators sweater on February 12, 2011.

Fisher remained relatively consistent during his time in Nashville. He had a couple of off years, but for the most part, he continued to post good numbers.

In 2016, Fisher was named the captain for the Predators. You can argue he’s the best team captain in franchise history. Just an outstanding all-around leader and representative of the franchise.

Check out what Ryan Ellis said about FIsher’s leadership during media day for the Stanley Cup Final back in 2017, per Thomas Willis of the Predators official website:

“We have some great leaders in this room. You look at Mike [Fisher], terrific human, just a great person off the ice. What he brings to the locker room, he goes out and works hard every single night.”

Fisher was an integral part of the 2017 team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final. The key injury to Johansen occurred, but Fisher kept the team rolling and that series was closer than the 4-2 finish indicates on paper.

In one memorable playoff game the season before, Fisher hit the triple-overtime game-winner against San Jose, ending the longest playoff game in Predators’ history.

After the Stanley Cup, Fisher retired from the NHL briefly before coming back for 16 games the next season.

Fisher’s long and fulfilling NHL career had officially come to an end, but he definitely goes down as one of the best centers and players in general in Predators history. He remains active with the organization and makes appearances regularly.

David Legwand

Former long-time Predators and fan-favorite David Legwand is our top center in team history. This beloved centerman spent 15 years with Nashville and has the distinction of being the Predators’ first-ever draft pick.

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As a 19-year-old and in his first full NHL season with the Predators, Legwand managed 28 points, 15 assists and 13 goals on a team that was lacking a lot of high-end talent.

Legwand’s best year stats-wise was the 2006-2007 season, where he garnered a career-high 63 points. That same season, Legwand also picked up 27 goals, which was another career-high.

Over his long and storied career with the Predators, Legwand racked up several team records that still stand today. His team records include:

• Most Goals (210)
• Most Assists (356)
• Most Points (566)
• Most Games Played (956)
• Most Game-Winning Goals (41)

At the trade deadline in 2014, Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Calle Jarnkrok, Patrick Eaves, and a draft pick, thus ending his 15-year career with the Predators.

Legwand will always hold a special place in the hearts of Predators fans everywhere. And we can all honestly say that the Predators connected big time with their first draft pick as an expansion franchise in 1998.