“Nashville Predators” - a hockey team playing in the NHL. Performs in the Central Division of the Western Conference. Located in the state of Tennessee, USA. The club got into the NHL playoffs 7 times, played 2 times in the semifinals. The home arena is the Bridgestone Arena, which can host up to 17,000 fans. The duties of the head coach are performed by Peter Laviolet. There is a farm club, but it plays games in the AHL, the name is “Milwaukee Admirals”.
Base
In 1996, a brand new stadium was completed in the town of Nashville, the construction costs amounted to about 145 million dollars. The arena could receive more than 17 thousand fans. Soon, businessman Craig Leopold and his company formed a proposal in which they expressed a desire to get a new hockey team. Only in the following year, the NHL management began to recommend the Nashville Arena as a potential venue for the formation of a new club. A week later, the businessman was given official permission to create a new club.
In the summer of 1997, Barry Trotz, who previously trained Portland Pirates, became the team’s coach. With them, the mentor managed to win the Calder Cup in 1994, the main AHL trophy. In early May of the following year, the NHL announced the entry into their camp of a newcomer - Nashville Predators. The shape of the club is decorated with the image of a saber-toothed tiger. The emblem appeared due to the fact that during the construction of the stadium the bones of this ancient beast were discovered.
Currently, the Nashville Predators lineup has the following: Juuse Saros, Corey Potter, Matthias Ekholm, Matt Karl, Petter Granberg, Pi Key Subban, Ryan Ellis, Stefan Elliott, Anthony Bettto, Victor Arvidsson, James Neal, Kevin Fiala, Cody Bess , Cody Hodgson, Mike Ribeiro, Miikka Salomaki, Austin Watson, Pontus Oberg, Ryan Johansen.
Early years
The 1998/99 years were the debut for hockey players from Nashville to the NHL. It was possible to demonstrate good performance. Professional athletes such as Mike Dunham got into the ranks of the club. There was no team left without young hockey players who were promised a promising future. Among them was Russian Sergei Krivokrasov, who later became the champion of Russia in the Kursk “Vanguard”.
The first official match took place on October 10, 1998 against the Florida Panthers. Unfortunately, the team, minimally losing (0: 1), lost to the guests. The debut win happened within three days. The NHL rookie managed to settle on the thirteenth line, but despite this, the club won twenty-eight victories. The most productive in the composition was Krivokrasov, who was honored to represent the team at the match of all NHL stars.
The next season was not a breakthrough for the “Nashville Predators”. Having won as many matches, the club is quite far from the playoffs. Everything indicated that it was difficult to get used to “predators” in the championship.
XXI Century
At a draft in 2000, the Nashville Predators managed to grab the promising scorer Scott Hartnell. The newcomer could not have a bright season, but the team significantly improved their performance. The club did not have the proper funding, so I had to balance in the middle of the standings.
The 2002/03 season began with an increase in the cost of tickets for the team’s games. The directors promised to return the initial cost if the Nashville Predators did not get into the playoffs. Expectedly, the team started poorly, scored points in the middle and failed the finish of the season. The main reason for the weak performances was the lack of star hockey players.
The next season brought the team the long-awaited playoffs. Thanks to the excellent hockey game, “Nashville Predators” managed to impose a fight even on “Detroit”, but did not hold out until the end of the series.
Performances after the lockout
After accepting the salary ceiling in the NHL, the club finally managed to get a star. The new leader was Paul Kariya. In the 2005/06 season, he became the best player in the lineup, meeting the expectations of the leadership. “Nashville Predators” managed to climb to 4th place, but left the playoffs after the first round.
The club started the next season with an even stronger roster. Arnott and Dumont joined the ranks, as well as Russian hockey player Alexander Radulov. In addition to them, the leadership got the famous player Peter Forsberg. The club is located again on the 4th line, and in the playoffs could not repulse the “San Jose”, which he lost in the last draw.
The season 2007/08, the team began with the loss of several leaders. Fans did not hope to get into the playoffs, but the “predators” succeeded. Here they again awaited a disappointing defeat from the “Detroit”, which was significantly stronger.
The 2010/11 season will be remembered by fans of Nashville Predators HC as they enter the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. “Predators” beat “Anaheim Ducks”, but HC “Vancouver Canucks” could not give a rebuff.