SNL put the Nashville Predators in the national spotlight

Saturday Night Live is known for poking fun at various topics, and the Nashville Predators are no exception, thanks to the multiple meanings behind the word 'predator.'

The sketch began with a Los Angeles Kings player saying, "I'm a King in my community," while the Ranger said the same. Meanwhile, the Predator said, "And I'm a Predator in my community."

Throughout the sketch, more predator related jokes emerged, culminating with the Preds player saying, "I'm Chase Kidd, right wing, Predator." Overall, it was a lighthearted skit, and you wouldn't expect anything less from SNL.

The real meaning behind the Nashville Predators' nickname

Thanks to a fossil of a saber-toothed cat getting unearthed in downtown Nashville in August 1971, prehistoric predators and the city of Nashville became synonymous. So, when the NHL expanded into Tennessee, the new hockey team already had its fossil-inspired saber-toothed tiger logo, but it still needed a nickname.

The fans voted on the new name, and Predators was a natural fit, thanks to the logo. Other candidates for the nickname included Attack, Fury, and Ice Tigers, all of which would have also fit.

While Predators is the official nickname, it's not uncommon to hear fans refer to the team by other names, like "Perds" and "Smashville," Perds is a play on the word Preds, and it emerged from a typo that was sent out in an email campaign to season ticket holders.

Meanwhile, Smashville is a play on how loud Bridgestone Arena can get, especially during the more high-stakes home games and during the playoffs.

Who are the most famous Predators?

The Nashville Predators may not have been around long, they played their first season in 1998-99, but they have some distinguished players who fans will remember decades from now. Pekka Rinne may be the most famous, as he dominated the crease for the Predators for 15 seasons and brought home the Vezina Trophy in 2018.

Roman Josi always seems to be in the running for the Norris Trophy, an award he won in 2020. Filip Forsberg is another name that stands out, and one who has played on some successful Predators teams alongside Josi. Forsberg may be Nashville's most potent forward in its short history.

Shea Weber was an imposing force during his time in Nashville, and his two-way style made him one of the most difficult players to line up against. And finally, David Legwand, or "The Original Predator," as he was known, played in 956 games with the Preds and ended his career in Nashville with 566 points.

At the end of the day, you will always find outlets like SNL poking fun at the Predators' name, given the additional meaning the word holds. But for longtime fans, the Predators will always be associated with those fearsome saber-tooth tigers that roamed what would eventually become Nashville, Tennessee, and with some of the greatest players to ever wear an NHL jersey.