32 NHL Cities in 32 Days: Nashville Predators

Alexis Bazydola
May 17, 2020
5 min read

The Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Built in 1996, Bridgestone Arena has been home to the Nashville Predators since their inaugural season in 1998. It started as Nashville Arena and has been known as the Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center throughout the years. The arena has been host to various events over the years including the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 2016 NHL All Star Game, SEC Men’s Basketball tournament, as well as various entertainers including John Mayer, Janet Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber and many more. For a home hockey game, the arena sits just over 17,000 spectators.

Team History

In 1995, rumors began that the New Jersey Devils were looking to relocate to the new Nashville Arena. Although plans were started, the team restructured its deal to stay in New Jersey and Gary Betteman stated that Nashville was site that would receive an expansion team in the near future. In 1997, Craig Leopold made a pitch to the NHL Board of Governors and a conditional franchise selection was made. The team was scheduled to begin play in 1998.

In April 1998, David Poile was named the general manager and in August, Barry Trotz was named the first head coach of the new franchise. During construction of the First American National Bank tower in 1971, partial remains of a Smilodon were found on the site. This contributed to the logo of the new franchise: a saber-tooth cat. The fans were asked to vote on the name and Leopold added the option of “Predators” to the mix.

The team began play in October 1998 and finished second to last in the Western Conference that season. The next year was not much better as they finished last in the Western Conference. With the next year beginning with games in Japan, the team could still not gain a playoff spot and finished 10 points away from clinching. It took the team five seasons before they reached the playoffs during the 2003-04 season. They were eliminated in six games by the Detroit Red Wings.

After the 2004-05 season was cancelled due to the lockout, the team clinched a playoff spot once again in 2006. They faced the San Jose Sharks in the first round and lost the series in five games. The team would acquire Peter Forsberg and Jason Arnott the next season and set a franchise record with 110 points to finish the season. They would meet the Sharks again in the first round losing in five games yet again.

With a sale of the team looming, the Predators did not fare well during the 2007-08 season. While they were able to make it to the playoffs, they were knocked out of the first round for the fourth straight season by the Detroit Red Wings. New ownership began in the 2008-09 season and the Preds would miss the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

With little roster moves during the 2009-10 season, young stars like Colin Wilson were being leaned on more than ever. The team returned to the playoffs to face the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, but fell in six games. During the 2010 offseason, Shea Weber was announced as the new captain of the franchise. The 2011 playoffs saw the Preds work their way past the first round for the first time in their history. After beating the Anaheim Ducks, the team faced the Vancouver Canucks. They fell to the Canucks in six games.

Beginning in the 2011-12 season, the Preds signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to the largest contract in their history (7 years, $49 million). More roster moves saw the addition of Paul Gaustad and Alexander Radulov among others thus propelling the team to another second-round faceoff after beating the Detroit Red Wings in five games. The Preds faced the Phoenix Coyotes but did not move on.

Another partial lockout season did not do the Predators any favors in 2012-13 and they failed to make the playoffs. Shea Weber was signed to a 14-year, $110 million contract following this season. The team also traded David Legwand in 2014 to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Calle Jarnkrok, Patrick Eaves and a draft pick. The Preds failed to make the playoffs for a second season in a row and opted to not renew the contract of head coach Barry Trotz. Peter Laviolette was announced as his replacement.

Under Laviolette’s leadership the Predators returned to the playoffs in 2015 only to lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. The next season saw them face the Anaheim Ducks and win the first round in seven games. Nashville ultimately fell to the San Jose Sharks in the second round. Following this season, the team traded captain Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban. Mike Fisher was announced as the new captain.

The 2016-17 season was a surprising season for the Predators. They earned the second wild card spot to advance to the playoffs and were faced with the conference champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. They swept the Blackhawks in four games and went on to face the St. Louis Blues. For the first time in franchise history, the team would advance past the second round of the playoffs to the Western Conference Finals. There, they met the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville won the series in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. While they were able to push the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins to six games, they ultimately were not able to hoist a Stanley Cup that year.

In 2018, the team won their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. While they were able to defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, they fell to the Winnipeg Jets and were not able to return to the Conference Finals. The next season the team did not advance past the first round of the playoffs. This lackluster performance saw the dismissal of Peter Laviolette in January 2020 in exchange for John Hynes as the new head coach. At the season’s pause, the team sits at 19th in the league with 78 points.

Fanbase & Traditions

Fans have modified the Detroit Red Wings tradition of throwing an octopus on the ice to symbolize their own southern flare: the catfish. One widely popular section of the arena is known as Cellblock 303. They are known to lead chants to help hype up the team. Cellblock 303 is also joined by the sabretooth tiger mascot Gnash who also helps to cheer on the team. Whether he is falling from the ceiling, leading the fans in “fang fingers” during a powerplay or beating his drum, he is quite the presence in the arena.

The fans also take part in a tradition started during a TV timeout in 2008. Fans will stand during the entire timeout and cheer and it has been known as the “Smashville Standing O.” Other cheering traditions include calling out the name of the opposing goalie after the team scores a goal and shouting “it’s all your fault!” With sound levels known to reach 120dB during the playoffs, Nashville has been known to many as Smashville.