Craig Leipold was awarded the Nashville NHL expansion franchise in 1997, bringing top-tier professional hockey to Tennessee. 1)
The team's distinctive saber-toothed tiger logo was inspired by a 1971 archaeological discovery of a Smilodon skull beneath downtown Nashville. 2)
The Predators played their first-ever regular-season NHL game on October 10, 1998, against the Florida Panthers. 3)
The team name “Predators” was officially selected after a fan vote, though owner Craig Leipold ultimately finalized the saber-toothed theme over other finalists. 4)
Barry Trotz was hired as the franchise's first head coach and remained behind the bench for an incredible 15 consecutive seasons. 5)
Center David Legwand was the first draft pick in Nashville Predators history, selected second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. 6)
Forward Andrew Brunette scored the first regular-season goal in franchise history during the team's inaugural home game. 7)
The team's home venue, currently known as Bridgestone Arena, actually opened in 1996, two years before the Predators began playing. 8)
Goaltender Pekka Rinne was the very first player in franchise history to have his number (35) officially retired and raised to the rafters. 9)
First-ever draft pick David Legwand holds the Nashville Predators' all-time record for career points, finishing his tenure with 566 points. 10)
During the 2021-22 season, defenseman Roman Josi broke the franchise record for the most points in a single season with 96. 11)
Forward Filip Forsberg holds the franchise's single-season goal-scoring record, finding the back of the net 48 times during the 2023-24 season. 12)
Star defenseman Shea Weber served as the Predators' captain from 2010 until his shocking departure via trade in 2016. 13)
Pekka Rinne easily leads the franchise in all-time wins by a goaltender, securing 369 career victories in a Nashville uniform. 14)
Roman Josi made franchise history in 2020 by becoming the first Nashville Predators player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy. 15)
In 2018, Pekka Rinne became the first player in Predators history to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender. 16)
Forward Tom Fitzgerald was named the first official captain in the history of the Nashville Predators prior to their inaugural 1998 season. 17)
In 2017, the Predators became the first eighth-seeded team in NHL history to sweep a number one seed when they eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks. 18)
The 2017 postseason marked the Predators' first and only appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. 19)
Forward Colton Sissons scored a natural hat trick in Game 6 of the 2017 Western Conference Final to eliminate the Anaheim Ducks and clinch the series. 20)
Nashville was forced to play the 2017 Stanley Cup Final without top center Ryan Johansen, who suffered a season-ending thigh injury. 21)
Filip Forsberg led the Predators in scoring during the historic 2017 playoff run, registering 16 points over the course of the postseason. 22)
The Predators ultimately lost the 2017 Stanley Cup Final to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a hard-fought six-game series. 23)
The 2017 Predators were the first team since the 2012 Los Angeles Kings to reach the Stanley Cup Final as the lowest overall playoff seed. 24)
Veteran center Mike Fisher served as the Predators' captain during their memorable 2017 run before briefly retiring at the season's end. 25)
The famous “Catfish Toss” tradition began in 2003 as Nashville's southern answer to the Detroit Red Wings' legendary octopus toss. 26)
After the Predators score a goal, the arena erupts into a famous, organized chant where fans aggressively yell “It's All Your Fault!” at the opposing goalie. 27)
The vibrant, loud local hockey culture in Nashville officially earned the moniker “Smashville,” a term now heavily commercialized and embraced by the team. 28)
Nashville's city government heavily embraces the team's success, occasionally dying downtown municipal fountains gold during deep playoff runs. 29)
When the Predators go on the power play, fans perform a “Fang Fingers” hand gesture accompanied by the screeching sound effect from the horror movie Psycho. 30)
Because of the city's deep musical roots, huge country music stars frequently step in unannounced to perform the national anthem before playoff games. 31)
The team mascot, Gnash the saber-toothed tiger, regularly performs daring stunts like rappelling from the arena rafters to the ice during pregame introductions. 32)
Bridgestone Arena consistently ranks in player polls as one of the loudest, rowdiest, and most intimidating home-ice environments in the entire NHL. 33)
Nashville hosted its first NHL All-Star Game in 2016, an event heavily publicized due to the fan-voted MVP performance of enforcer John Scott. 34)
The Predators played in their first outdoor game at the 2020 Winter Classic, facing off against the Dallas Stars at the historic Cotton Bowl. 35)
In 2022, the Predators hosted their first home outdoor game, taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Stadium Series matchup at Nissan Stadium. 36)
The Predators captured the first Presidents' Trophy in franchise history by posting the league's best regular-season record during the 2017-18 campaign. 37)
Nashville has been trusted to host the NHL Entry Draft twice in its history, first in 2003 and most recently in a highly praised 2023 event. 38)
In 2020, the Predators selected Yaroslav Askarov 11th overall, making him the highest-drafted goaltender in the franchise's history. 39)
David Poile served as the Predators' General Manager for 25 consecutive years, acting as the inaugural GM until his retirement in 2023. 40)
After David Poile retired, former inaugural head coach Barry Trotz returned to the organization to officially take over as the team's General Manager. 41)
In 2016, the Predators shocked the hockey world by trading franchise captain Shea Weber to Montreal in a massive one-for-one swap for star defenseman P.K. Subban. 42)
In 2013, Nashville acquired Filip Forsberg from Washington in exchange for Martin Erat, a move now widely considered one of the most lopsided trades in modern NHL history. 43)
The Predators traded highly touted defensive prospect Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 to acquire desperately needed top-line center Ryan Johansen. 44)
The Milwaukee Admirals have served as Nashville's primary American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate continuously since the Predators' inaugural 1998 season. 45)