Top-25 Predators Continued, Top-5 Players Revealed
Welcome to the THW Nashville Predators Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Predators writers.
In today’s edition, we once again return to author Alex Wauthy’s top 25 players in Predators’ history, climbing into the top five players of Nashville’s 25 year history and diving all the way into the third-best player. Who does Alex have high up the list? Read on to find out!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Predators’ Top 25 Players of All-Time: Tomáš Vokoun
October 7, 2023 by Alex Wauthy
The Vegas Golden Knights are the modern-day model for conducting an expansion draft: acquire additional assets by making teams give up players or picks to keep their preferred pieces. Although, before the Golden Knights’ savvy set of deals that got them Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault from the Florida Panthers, among other moves, the Predators were one of the leagues shrewdest operators.
At the 1998 Expansion Draft, the Predators were eyeing defenseman Peter Popovic from the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens’ general manager (GM) Rejean Houle, who already had a lot of goaltenders on his plate, struck a deal with Predators GM David Poile. The Canadiens kept Popovic, instead sending forward Sebastien Bordeleau to the Predators so they’d pick goaltender Vokoun.
Predators’ Top 25 Players of All-Time: Kimmo Timonen
October 7, 2023 by Alex Wauthy
Timonen is, by all accounts, an original Predator, although he wasn’t selected in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. The Los Angeles Kings sent Timonen and defenseman Jan Vopat to the Predators so they’d stay away from other players on their roster in the draft.
Forked over to protect other players the Kings saw as essential to their franchise, Timonen was motivated to prove his former team wrong from the onset of his Predators tenure. In the organization’s inaugural year, he split time playing with the Predators and their International Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. In his first season with the Predators, he scored 12 points in 50 NHL Games, flashing his star potential.
Predators’ Top 25 Players of All-Time: Filip Forsberg
October 8, 2023 by Alex Wauthy
The Predators acquired Forsberg in the infamous 2013 NHL Trade Deadline Day deal that saw the Washington Capitals fork over their best prospect for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. At the time, the trade could be argued as a win-win. The Capitals added another scoring weapon to their dangerous forward core, featuring Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, while the Predators added a blue-chip prospect to their growing pool. As we all know, this trade was a disaster for the Capitals, meaning the Predators made out like bandits.
Forsberg would play a combined 18 games for the Predators over the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, taking time to develop overseas in Sweden and then in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators faithful were ecstatic with how the trade was turning out before he played a full NHL season; however, once Forsberg finally played an entire 82-game season, he put the Capitals to shame for trading him.
Predators’ Top 25 Players of All-Time: David Legwand
October 9, 2023 by Alex Wauthy
Legwand is ‘The Original Predator’. He was the first draft pick in Predators history, selected second overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Joining the team in its inaugural season, he snuck into one game during the Predators’ first season before being sent back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He joined the big club in the 1999-00 season, scoring 28 points in 71 games during his rookie season.Finally, in the 2013-14 season, Ehkolm carved out a role on the Predators blue line. He played 62 games, scoring nine points and providing stout defense. He blocked 55 shots, threw 42 hits, and began earning recognition regarding his shutdown ability.
At second-overall, Legwand was expected to become the foundation of the Predators for years to come. While his eventual talent level may not scream second-overall worthy, he helped build the organization’s culture of determination, strong work ethic, and resilience—traits that also describe Legwand. When people think of the Predators, they think of Legwand.
Predators’ Top 25 Players of All-Time: Shea Weber
October 10, 2023 by Alex Wauthy
During his prime, Weber was one of the most dominant, physically imposing defensemen in the NHL. Standing at 6-foot-4, the right-handed defenseman carried a booming shot, brought a rugged, hard-hitting playstyle, was a leader, and had the offensive talent to run a first-unit power play. The Predators drafted him 49th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played 28 NHL games in the 2005-06 season and became a staple on the Predators’ blue line the following year. He scored 40 points in 79 games in his first full season, earning respect quickly throughout the NHL for his all-around talent.
Weber’s 2008-09 campaign put him within striking distance of winning a Norris Trophy. He finished fourth in voting that year thanks to the 23 goals and 53 points he notched in 81 games. The 23 goals were the first of three seasons he hit the 20-goal mark, the others coming in 2013-14 and 2015-16. Weber showed stout leadership abilities and impeccable defensive and offensive qualities during his first five seasons with the Predators.
