Forgotten, but impactful Nashville Predators teams of mid 2000's

The Nashville Predators has a relatively short history compared to many of the all-time great NHL frachises, but even they've had memorable teams as well.

A couple of Predators teams that come to mind are from mid 2000's. They had a lot of talent, but couldn't get over the hump. So, this time I want to dig deeper into those teams.

Unlike the Ottawa Senators in 1993 or San Jose Sharks in 1992, they never had a really terrible record. Ottawa won just 10 games in their inaugural season and San Jose suffered 17-game losing streak.

Nashville Predators gradually built a playoff contender

Nashville won 28 games in their inaugural 1998-99 season. They had current Head Coach Andrew Brunette on the team, who finished the season with 31 points. They also drafted David Legwand, who spent 13 years in Nashville and had multiple 50+ points seasons.

In the net Tomas Vokoun made his debut for the Predators into the mid 2000s. He also spent almost a decade in Nashville. Team was coached by Barry Trotz, who did the unthinkable with 15 seasons coaching the Predators.

A couple of years later Kimmo Timmonen along with Denis Arkhipov and Scott Hartnell showed up. Then Martin Erat. Martin Zidlicky, Dan Hamhuis and Jordin Tootoo came in 2003. And team were slowly building their core. The big acquisition came in 2005 and it was Paul Kariya. He instantly lifted the franchise up another level.

After the lockout stopped the season in 2004-05, Nashville started 2005-06 campaign with relatively high hopes. Their young core were beginning to gel and by adding veterans like Paul Kariya, Steve Sullivan and Yanick Perreault they were one of the more exciting young teams.

They started the season 8-0, won 49 games and finished the season with 106 points. The Predators were 7th in defense and 10th in offense. As most Trotz teams were, they were solid defensively. They had six Olympians on their squad. Five of them, came back with medals.

The Sharks were the roadblock for the early Preds teams

In the first round of the playoffs, they met San Jose. Even though Game 1 went to the Predators, they then lost four-straight. In the five-game series, they got out-shot 171-137. San Jose scored three or more goals in four of the five games.

Even though Kariya recorded seven points in the series, he lacked help. None of the other forwards really showed up. Mid-season acquisition Mike Sillinger had three points.

Next season they were even better. In the offseason they added Peter Forsberg, who played only 17 games in the regular season, but still managed to get 15 points and Alexander Radulov. Shea Webber and David Legwand had great seasons. They finished top 4 in offense and were 8th in goals allowed. But again they ran into the San Jose "Sharks".

And again, Nashville offense lacked firepower. San Jose were more balanced team and prevailed 4-1 in the series. The Predators suffered a heartbreaking loss in Game 1. Shea Webber tied the game with less than a minute left, Jordin Tootoo had a breakaway in first OT, but Nabokov made a save, ending the game in a double overtime loss.

Even though Nashville won Game 2, it was their only win of the series.

In that summer Kariya left and they couldn't replace him. They also lost Steve Sullivan and Timonen. They won 41 games and were battling for the playoffs spot for the better part of the last month of the season. They barely made the post season and faced Detroit "Red Wings" who later on became champions.

It was close and tough series. Dan Ellis was fantastic in net. He faced 240 shots in six games and recorded 93.8% save percentage.

Nashville lost the first two games, but bounce back at home and had Detroit on the ropes in game 5. The game went into the overtime, but Johan Franzen scored for the "Red Wings" in the extra time.

Did the early Preds miss their chances in the playoffs?

The Predators also made playoffs in 2004, so you can take that into consideration also, but those four seasons cemented Nashville as a really solid franchise. Can you count it as a lost opportunity? Maybe.

The series against Detroit were really hard and they were a stronger team. Meanwhile San Jose? Those were tough defeats. Nashville had home ice advantage in both of those series. Talent level was pretty similar. San Jose had Patrick Marleu and Joe Thornton. But Nashville had Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan. Plus, I believe that they also had deeper roster.

They wouldn't have made a Stanley Cup Final, but a conference final? They had their chances. Sometimes things work out that way in sports. Somebody has your number. Sadly, San Jose had the Predators' number two years in a row.

Now, when you look back, those Nashville teams were really talented. But for various reasons, they couldn't get over the hump in the playoffs. But they at least built a foundation of winning hockey in the regular season that has carried over to present time.