Back to the playoffs as the Nashville Predators try to finally break through the proverbial glass ceiling of the 1st Round
2009-10:
This year's Preds team was very deep and a product of the sum of their parts rather than being loaded with elite talent at the top. That is with the exception of Pekka Rinne who was beginning to take over as the franchise's workhorse.
Rinne started in 54 games in the 2009-2010 campaign that saw the Preds improve to 100 points, only to lose again in the first round to the Chicago Blackhawks. Evenso, Rinne performed admirably in that series that went six games. He put up a .911 save percentage and commendable 2.68 GAA.
It's Hard to argue for anyone else as team MVP that season. No one surpassed 51 points, while it only took 30 goals for Patric Hornqvist to lead the team in goals. So the obvious choice is Rinne for a second-straight year.
2010-11:
Similar regular season as the year prior, but everything finally changed when the Nashville Predators finally broke through the brickwall and advanced to the second round but eliminating the Anaheim Ducks in six games.
Mike Fisher led the in points that series with six, including a game winning goal in a pivotal Game 3 at home to put the Preds up 2-1.
During the regular season, it was another season of below average team goal scoring. No one reached the 30-goal mark. But somehow due to great goaltending a solid team defense, the team found ways to win 44 games.
I almost went Fisher because he was an x-factor down the stretch after being acquired midseason, but then you see a ridiculous .930 save percentage by Rinne and an insane 2.12 GAA, iit's not even a question. It's Rinne again for team MVP.
2011-12:
The goal scoring got deeper for the Preds this season coming off their first playoff series win. They had 10 players reach double digit goals, with Hornqvist holding the lead with 27.
Martin Erat, now a long-time staple of the Preds, led the way in points with 58. Legwand was still around too, chipping in 53 points. This was a well-balanced team that succeeded again in advancing past the first round, this time taking out their long-time bully Detroit Red Wings.
With all of tgat said, Rinne yet again proved he was the heart and soul of Smashville and their newfound playoff success. He would finish third in the Vezina Trophy voting and live up to it in the playoffs with a .929 save percentage.
With better goal support, this could've been the year the Preds made their run to their first Stanley Cup Final. Not 2017. Regardless, it's Rinne again as Team MVP, and it's these glory years as to why he has a statue out front of Bridgestone Arena.
Next up in this four-part series of team MVP's For every Preds season in franchise history, We'll go through the timeline of moving on from Barry Trotz, bringing in a much different personality in Peter Laviolette, and building a Stanley Cup caliber team.
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