Nashville Predators: Top Rookie Campaigns in Franchise History
By Chad Minton
![Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators skates against goalie Calvin Pickard #31 of the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on March 5, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 5-2. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators skates against goalie Calvin Pickard #31 of the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on March 5, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 5-2. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/ac4c006c3fe0d17d84dc047f857fab65501fc5ff6a70694cc89ccae59f1321b6.jpg)
Tomas Vokoun (1998-99)
It was the inaugural season for the Nashville Predators, and they had to lean on near-perfect goaltending to remain competitive on the scoreboard.
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Mike Dunham was the team’s primary starting goaltender, but they had a hell of a one-two punch with rookie Tomas Vokoun lining up behind him.
Vokoun was already 24-years-old by the time he started getting regular time as an NHL goaltender. He appeared in 37 games that season, while Dunham appeared in 44 games and put up very similar numbers.
The Predators had their duo in net that was vital to building the foundation that would eventually grow into something special. This franchise has always enjoyed solid goaltending, for the most part, and Vokoun’s rookie season was promising.
Vokoun would end up finishing 13th in the Calder Trophy voting that season and end up playing seven more seasons in Nashville before finishing his career with three other teams.