The Early Years of the Ragtag Nashville Predators
1998-99:
The expansion season for the Predators saw the predictable struggles to score by only mustering up 190 goals all season. Leading the team was household name Sergei Krivokrasov with 25. He only finished with 86 for his entire NHL career.
Cliff Ronning was the overall best player on the team as already being a seasoned veteran. He would lead the roughneck Preds with 53 points.
Tom Fitzgerald, now a GM candidate, was team captain, but wasn't a major offensive threat with only 32 points. Andrew Brunette, now an embattled head coach of the franchise, was also on this team and is famous for scoring the first goal in franchise history.
Goaltending was a mixed bag with shared responsibility between Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun. I can't make them team MVP's, so my choice is Ronning for Year 1.
1999-2000:
The second-year Predators modestly improved to 70 points in the standings and their goal total to 199 while Ronning led the way with 26 goals and 62 points.
Kimmo Timonen surfaced as a quality two-way defenseman, while Fitzgerald retained captain duties.
David Legwand, the first draft pick in Preds history, also started contributing with 13 goals and 15 assists at age 19.
Vokoun and Dunham had seasons with over a .900 save percentage, but the easy choice again is Ronning in the early infant years of the franchise.
2000-01:
Ronning had another team leading season in points with 62, but I'm making switch to Dunham this season between the pipes with a rock solid .923 save percentage and 2.28 GAA. He was the main catalyst to getting the Preds up to 80 points and ranking 7th in league in Goals Against.
Also don't want overlook Dunham's sidekick Vokoun, who also had great numbers but slightly worse than Dunham's in fewer game appearances.
Scott Walker led the team in goals with 25.
My choice for Year 3 is Mike Dunham.
2001-02:
Not much to say about this setback season. No 50-point scorers with Ronning once again leading with a modest 49.
I have a curveball pick for MVP this season and it's the 19-year-old Scott Hartnell. An energetic and high motor player to watch who managed an impressive 41 points. Without him bursting onto the scene, the 69-point Preds might have had their worst season yet, worse than their expansion year.
2002-03:
David Legwand was beginning to evolve into a team leader and a fan favorite by this time. It appeared the Preds made the right choice with their first ever draft pick as Legwand posted 48 points at age 22.
There just wasn't much offenss on this team, putting all of the pressure on now No.1 goalie Vokoun. He would put up a .918 save percentage to at least give the offensively baron Preds a chance.
Vokoun is the easy choice here.
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