2018-19 Central Division Champions: Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators of 2018-19 was the best team over the past three full seasons in my opinion, not counting the shortened pandemic years. They had an overall record of 47-29-6 (100 points) and finished in first place in the Central Division.
Ryan Johansen led the team in points that season with 64 in 80 games. The Predators may not have had anyone come close to the 100-point mark that season however they were deep with11 players tallying 30 or more points, and ten players with double digits in the goal column.
Even though the team only had 236 goals with a league average of 244, the combination of Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros held opponents to only 212 goals against for the Nashville Predators.
Diving a little deeper, the Predators had their worst power play percentage since their inaugural season, 1998-99, at 12.94%. During that first season of NHL hockey in Smashville, the Predators had a power play percentage of 12.35%.
The Nashville Predators only have five players from this season on their roster for the 2023-24 season; Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Colton Sissons, Dante Fabbro, and Saros.
Even though they won their division, the Predators faced an early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after being eliminated by the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round. A major disappointment following a President’s Trophy the year before.