The Preds become a perennial playoff team and add some superstars
2003-04:
Finally, Preds fans were going to get their first taste of the magic of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But they hadn't acquired their superstar talent just yet.
Scott Walker hit 67 points to lead the team, while Greg Johnson was team captain and played in all 82 regular season games.
Marek Zidlicky was a newcomer and provided 39 assists. Martin Erat, a former 7th-round draft pick by Nashville in 1999, had his best season to datw with 49 points.
Steve Sullivan was picked up midseason and was a major factor in the playoff push, putting up 30 points in 24 games.
This is a tough choice, but I'm going with Walker here as the trusted veteran and leading the team in points by a wide margin.
2005-06:
The NHL had a lockout the season before which brings us to the 2005- 2006 season for the Nashville Predators. The Predators stormed to 106 points and by far had their best season in their franchise's history to that point, led by their offseason acquisition of Paul Kariya.
I don't think we have to overthink this too much on this one. Kariya played in all 82 games and finally gave the Predators their first Hall of Fame caliber player. No disrespect to the quality players mentioned befor, but Kariya is just on another elite level.
Without Kariya, the Predators may not have even made the playoffs in 2006. He erupted for 85 points and elevated his teammates ariund him, like Legwand, Erat, Zidlicky and Hartnell.
Steve Sullivan also had a great campaign alongside Kariya, finishing second on the team with 68 points. But without question the team MVP for that season is Paul Kariya. He would also put up seven points in five playoff games.
2006-07:
Kariya once again surpasses 70 points while gaining a new sidekick in J.P. Dumont. Two trusted veterans were leading the Preds along with a solid supporting cast of Jason Arnott, Shea Weber, Legwand, Sullivan, Erat and Timinon. One of the best starting lineups in Preds history which would finish with 110 points.
Tomas Vokoun And Chris Mason would split time at goalie and each put up similarly strong numbers making the a legit powerhouse.
This is a really tough choice To pick one team MVP from such a stacked roster. Kariya led the team in points, while Vokoun and Mason shared the starts at goalie equally.
My choice is still Kariya because Every great NHL team needs at least one elite superstar for everything to flow through. Without Kariya, I'm not sure just how great they would have been this season. Still a quality team that was deep,but it all started with having a player like Kariya.
Part two of this series of listing every season MVP of the Preds in their franchise history we will get deeper into the playoff years and remember Pekka Rinne's ascension.
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