Nashville Predators: Top-10 Rookie Seasons in Franchise History
By Chad Minton
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.