Nashville Predators: Top-10 Rookie Seasons in Franchise History
By Chad Minton
![Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators speaks to Juuse Saros #74 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators speaks to Juuse Saros #74 (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/009dfe9af85eaf786aa92a83c7be6955f0f6f7bcece625b94a3e91221973914c.jpg)
Dan Hamhuis, 2003-04
Rookie Numbers: 80 games, 7 goals, 19 assists, 26 points, 22:08 ATOI, 11th in Calder voting
Dan Hamhuis marks a time when the Nashville Predators really started to build up their defensive pipeline and started becoming a playoff contender.
The Predators finished with 74 points in the standings the season before Hamhuis was drafted 12th-overall. They were trying to still earn that first playoff berth in franchise history after being the NHL for five seasons.
Hamhuis as a roughneck player with big size and the ability to also facilitate some offense. He wasn’t afraid to get physical and added some much-needed size and prowess to the Predators.
Even though his stats don’t necessarily dazzle you at first glance, he had a very strong rookie campaign as the Predators finally got into the playoffs for the first time. He ended up finishing 11th in the Calder Trophy voting as a vital part of the defensive corps that played over 22 minutes per game.