History of Nashville Predators in Timeline
The Nashville Predators are an NHL team based in Nashville, Tennessee, playing in the Central Division of the Western Conference. They've played at Bridgestone Arena since 1998. Their games are televised on Bally Sports South and broadcasted on WPRT-FM radio. The Predators are affiliated with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) and the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL).
1971: Smilodon Skeleton Found in Nashville
In 1971, a partial Smilodon skeleton was found beneath downtown Nashville during construction. This inspired the logo for the Nashville Predators.
1995: Nashville Attempts to Lure New Jersey Devils
In 1995, there were rumors that the New Jersey Devils would relocate to Nashville. Nashville offered the Devils $20 million to relocate, but the Devils ultimately stayed in New Jersey.
1996: Bridgestone Arena Opens
Bridgestone Arena opened in 1996 as a multi-purpose venue in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
January 1997: Nashville Awarded NHL Franchise
In January 1997, businessman Craig Leipold presented to the NHL, requesting an expansion team for Nashville. In June 1997, Nashville was awarded an NHL franchise, along with Columbus, Atlanta, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
July 9, 1997: David Poile Named Predators General Manager
On July 9, 1997, David Poile was named the first general manager of the Nashville Predators.
September 25, 1997: Nashville Predators Logo Unveiled
On September 25, 1997, the Nashville Predators unveiled their new logo, a saber-toothed cat.
1997: Nashville Predators Founded
The Nashville Predators were founded in 1997 after Craig Leipold was granted an NHL expansion franchise.
1997: Detroit Red Wings Achieve 10 Straight Home Wins
The year 1997 marked the last time a team achieved ten consecutive home wins in the NHL postseason before the Nashville Predators achieved the same feat in 2017.
March 31, 1998: Nashville Sells Required Season Tickets
The Nashville Predators were required by the NHL to sell 12,000 season tickets by March 31, 1998 in order to begin play.
October 10, 1998: Nashville Predators Play First Game
On October 10, 1998, the Nashville Predators played their first game, a 1-0 loss to the Florida Panthers.
1998: Gnash the Saber-Toothed Cat Introduced as Predators Mascot
Gnash, a blue saber-toothed cat, was introduced as the mascot of the Nashville Predators in 1998.
1998: Predators Introduce Original Uniform Design
In 1998, the Nashville Predators introduced their original uniform design, which was later revived for the "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform.
1998: Nashville Predators Begin Play at Bridgestone Arena
In 1998, the Nashville Predators, an NHL expansion team, began playing their home games at Bridgestone Arena.
1998: Nashville Predators Begin Play
The Nashville Predators began playing in the 1998-1999 season.
1998: Predators Begin Playing at Bridgestone Arena
The Nashville Predators began playing their home games at Bridgestone Arena (originally called Gaylord Entertainment Center) since their inaugural season in 1998.
1998: Predators Unveil Original Uniforms
The Nashville Predators wore their original uniforms from 1998 to 2007. The uniforms featured a silver yoke on the shoulders and were navy and white. Gold was only used as an accent color.
1999: Nashville Predators Finish Second to Last
In their first season (1998-1999), the Nashville Predators finished second to last in the Western Conference.
February 20, 2000: Nashville Predators Score Four Goals in Under Four Minutes
On February 20, 2000, the Nashville Predators scored four goals in three minutes and thirty-eight seconds against the New York Islanders.
2000: Nashville Predators Play in Tokyo
To start the 2000-2001 season, the Nashville Predators played two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tokyo, Japan.
December 6, 2001: Nashville Predators 100th Victory
On December 6, 2001, the Nashville Predators recorded their 100th victory, becoming the second-fastest expansion team of the 1990s to reach this milestone.
2001: Predators Debut Alternate Uniform Design
In 2001, the Nashville Predators introduced a new alternate uniform design, which later served as inspiration for their second "Reverse Retro" uniform.
2001: Predators Introduce Mustard Gold Third Jerseys
The Nashville Predators introduced mustard gold third jerseys featuring the front-facing saber-toothed cat logo in 2001.
2002: Barry Trotz Breaks Coaching Record
In the 2002-2003 season, Predators head coach Barry Trotz broke the record for the most games coached by the original coach of an expansion team with 392 games.
June 2003: Nashville Predators Host NHL Entry Draft
The Nashville Predators hosted the NHL Entry Draft in June 2003.
October 30, 2003: First Recorded Instance of Catfish Toss
On October 30, 2003, the first known instance of a catfish being thrown onto the ice at a Nashville Predators game occurred. This tradition is a modification of the Detroit Red Wings tradition of throwing an octopus onto the ice.
2003: Nashville Predators Fail to Qualify for Playoffs
The Nashville Predators failed to qualify for the playoffs in their first five seasons.
2003: Nashville Predators First Playoff Appearance
The Nashville Predators qualified for their first Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2003-2004 season.
2004: Predators Update Original Uniforms
In 2004, the Nashville Predators updated their original uniforms, removing the secondary logo of the Gaylord Entertainment Center tower from the shoulders.
2004: Nashville Predators Eliminated From Playoffs
The Nashville Predators were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
August 2005: Paul Kariya Signs with Nashville Predators
In August 2005, Paul Kariya signed a two-year, $9 million contract with the Nashville Predators.
2005: Del Biaggio's Failed Attempt to Purchase Pittsburgh Penguins
In 2005, Del Biaggio had previously attempted to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins but the deal fell through after the team won the NHL draft lottery and selected Sidney Crosby as the first overall pick.
2005: Predators Update Primary Uniforms
In 2005, the Nashville Predators updated their primary uniforms, replacing the tower alternate logo on the shoulders with the front-facing saber-toothed cat logo.
March 16, 2006: Predators Shutout Coyotes, Mason Scores
On March 16, 2006, the Nashville Predators shut out the Phoenix Coyotes 2-0, with goaltender Chris Mason becoming the ninth goaltender in NHL history to score a goal.
July 2, 2006: Predators Sign Jason Arnott
On July 2, 2006, the Nashville Predators signed veteran center Jason Arnott from free agency.
May 23, 2007: Leipold Reaches Tentative Agreement to Sell Predators to Balsillie
On May 23, 2007, Craig Leipold, the owner of the Nashville Predators, announced a tentative agreement to sell the team to Jim Balsillie, chairman and co-CEO of Research in Motion, with the team's future beyond the 2007-08 season uncertain.
June 2007: Leipold Reconsiders Selling Predators to Balsillie, Kansas City Emerges as Potential Relocation Site
In June 2007, reports surfaced that Craig Leipold was no longer interested in selling the Nashville Predators to Jim Balsillie, fueling a campaign to relocate the team to Kansas City, Missouri.
July 19, 2007: Our Team Nashville Rally to Keep Predators in Nashville
On July 19, 2007, Our Team Nashville, a group of local business owners, organized a rally at the Sommet Center to encourage fans to purchase season tickets and help keep the Nashville Predators in the city.
August 1, 2007: Our Team Nashville Secures Letter of Intent from Leipold
On August 1, 2007, Our Team Nashville released a letter of intent from Craig Leipold, signifying a step towards keeping the Nashville Predators in the city.
November 29, 2007: NHL Board of Governors Approves Sale of Predators to Tennessee-Based Group
On November 29, 2007, the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Nashville Predators for $172 million to a Tennessee-based group, securing the team's future in Nashville.
2007: Predators Make Minor Tweaks to Uniforms
In 2007, the Nashville Predators made minor tweaks to their uniforms upon switching to Reebok's Edge template. Notably, they removed the contrasting nameplate color from the white uniforms and added the city name above the Predators logo.
2007: Predators Retire Mustard Gold Third Jerseys
In 2007, the Nashville Predators retired their mustard gold third jerseys.
2007: Predators Retire Original Uniform Design
In 2007, the Nashville Predators retired their original uniform design, later bringing it back with modifications for the "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform.
April 3, 2008: Standing Ovation Becomes Predators Fan Tradition
On April 3, 2008, during the Nashville Predators' final home game of the regular season, the sellout crowd at the Sommet Center (now Bridgestone Arena) gave the team a standing ovation throughout the final TV timeout. The Predators won the game against the St. Louis Blues and advanced to the playoffs that year. The "standing O" during the final TV timeout has since become a tradition among Predators fans.
June 2008: Del Biaggio Faces Legal Trouble and Bankruptcy
In June 2008, William "Boots" Del Biaggio III encountered legal issues and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to unpaid loans, leading to an FBI investigation and criminal charges for fraudulent activities.
2008: Nashville Predators Ownership Change
In 2008, ownership of the Nashville Predators transferred from Craig Leipold to a locally based ownership group.
2008: Del Biaggio's Plan to Relocate Predators to Kansas City
San Jose venture capitalist William "Boots" Del Biaggio III planned to relocate the Nashville Predators to Kansas City's new Sprint Center for the 2008-09 season.
2008: Predators' Last Playoff Miss Before 2012
The year 2008 marked the last time the Nashville Predators missed the NHL playoffs before their drought in 2012.
2009: Predators Introduce Navy Third Jerseys with Black Trim
From 2009 to 2011, the Nashville Predators wore navy third jerseys with black trim, replacing the gold trim used previously. These jerseys featured a roundel logo with the fossilized cat on the shoulders and a checkerboard pattern of navy and black squares on the sleeves, tail stripes, and socks.
2009: Local Ownership Group Acquires Del Biaggio's Stake
In 2009, the local ownership group of the Nashville Predators finalized the purchase of William "Boots" Del Biaggio III's stake in the team.
March 1, 2010: Freeman Steps Down as Chairman, Cigarran Takes Over
On March 1, 2010, during the 2009-10 season, David Freeman resigned as chairman of the Nashville Predators, and Thomas Cigarran assumed the position.
April 16, 2010: Predators First Postseason Road Win
On April 16, 2010, the Nashville Predators won their first ever postseason road game, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 at the United Center.
July 9, 2010: Shea Weber Named Captain
On July 9, 2010, the Nashville Predators announced defenseman Shea Weber as the fifth captain in franchise history.
April 24, 2011: Predators Advance to Second Round
On April 24, 2011, the Nashville Predators won game four of their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena, marking the first time in franchise history that the Predators advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
June 22, 2011: Predators Unveil New Logos
On June 22, 2011, the Nashville Predators unveiled a modified logo set for the upcoming 2011-12 season, simplifying their color scheme and introducing a new alternate logo.
November 3, 2011: Pekka Rinne Signs Record Contract
On November 3, 2011, the Nashville Predators signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year, $49 million contract, the largest in team history and making him the NHL's highest-paid goaltender.
November 2011: W. Brett Wilson Acquires 5% Interest in Predators
In November 2011, Calgary businessman W. Brett Wilson purchased a 5% stake in the Nashville Predators.
2011: Predators Update Jersey Design and Color Scheme
In 2011, the Nashville Predators introduced a new jersey design and color scheme featuring bright gold home jerseys and white away jerseys, both with navy and white highlights.
2011: Predators Retire Navy Third Jerseys with Black Trim
The Nashville Predators retired their navy third jerseys with black trim in 2011.
February 27, 2012: Predators Make Trades for Playoff Push
On February 27, 2012, the Predators acquired Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Gaustad from Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres respectively, bolstering their roster for the 2012 playoffs.
2012: Predators Miss Playoffs After Lockout
In 2012, the Predators failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2008-2009 season, following a shortened season due to the NHL lockout.
March 5, 2014: David Legwand Traded to Detroit
On March 5, 2014, the Predators traded David Legwand, their first-ever drafted player and all-time leading scorer, to his hometown team, the Detroit Red Wings.
May 6, 2014: Peter Laviolette Becomes Head Coach
On May 6, 2014, Peter Laviolette was announced as the new head coach of the Nashville Predators after the departure of Barry Trotz, who had been with the team for 15 years.
2015: Predators Lose in First Round, First Seven-Game Series Win
In 2015, the Predators, under new coach Peter Laviolette, lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. However, they achieved their first seven-game series win in franchise history by defeating the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.
June 23, 2016: Freeman Files Lawsuit Against Nashville Predators
On June 23, 2016, Freeman filed a $250 million lawsuit against the Nashville Predators and Cigarran. His claim was that his ownership stake had been improperly diluted by Cigarran failing to notify him of capital calls, and that he had not received loan guaranty fees that the ownership group had agreed to pay him.
June 29, 2016: Weber Traded for Subban
On June 29, 2016, the Predators traded Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman P.K. Subban, a move that surprised many fans due to its secretive nature.
July 29, 2016: Dispute Sent to Court-Ordered Arbitration
On July 29, 2016, the dispute between Freeman and the Nashville Predators was sent to court-ordered arbitration under the supervision of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
September 7, 2016: Mike Fisher Named Captain
On September 7, 2016, the Predators announced Mike Fisher as the team's new captain, replacing Shea Weber, who had been traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
2016: Predators Sell Out All Home Games
In 2016, the Nashville Predators achieved a franchise milestone by selling out all 41 regular season home games.
2016: Predators Make Gold Helmets Permanent
In 2016, the Nashville Predators made gold helmets a permanent part of their home uniform after initially using them for Saturday home games.
May 16, 2017: Keith Urban Hoists Catfish at Predators Playoff Game
On May 16, 2017, country music star Keith Urban was seen hoisting a large catfish on the Jumbotron during Game 3 of the Western Conference Final between the Nashville Predators and the Anaheim Ducks. The game was being played at Bridgestone Arena.
May 22, 2017: Predators Win Western Conference Championship
On May 22, 2017, the Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-3, winning the Western Conference Championship and advancing to their first Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history.
2017: Predators Adjust Uniform Style with Adidas Template
In 2017, the Nashville Predators modified their uniform style to align with the new Adidas template, incorporating more gold accents on the away jerseys.
2017: Nashville Predators First Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
The Nashville Predators advanced to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 2017 where they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
January 25, 2018: Arbitration Continues
As of January 25, 2018, arbitration was continuing in the unresolved dispute between Freeman and the Nashville Predators. The outcome may remain undisclosed, as the arbitration is private.
April 5, 2018: Predators Clinch First Division Title and Presidents' Trophy
On April 5, 2018, the Predators made history by winning their first division title and claiming the Presidents' Trophy for the first time.
2019: Predators Clinch Second Consecutive Division Title
In 2019, the Nashville Predators won their second consecutive division title.
January 6, 2020: Predators Fire Head Coach Laviolette
On January 6, 2020, the Nashville Predators fired their head coach, Peter Laviolette. At the time, the team was ranked sixth in their division with a record of 19–15–7.
January 7, 2020: Predators Hire John Hynes as Head Coach
On January 7, 2020, the Nashville Predators appointed John Hynes as the third head coach in the franchise's history. This followed the firing of previous coach Peter Laviolette the day before.
2020: Predators Unveil Special Edition Uniform for Winter Classic
In 2020, the Nashville Predators unveiled a special edition uniform for the NHL Winter Classic, drawing inspiration from the defunct EHL team Nashville Dixie Flyers with a gold and navy design.
2020: Predators Release "Reverse Retro" Alternate Uniform
In the 2020-21 season, the Nashville Predators released a special "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform, reviving their 1998-2007 design with gold as the primary color.
2020: Predators Play in First Winter Classic
The Nashville Predators participated in their first outdoor game at the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, facing the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl.
2021: Predators Eliminated from First Round of Playoffs
In 2021, the Nashville Predators qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
February 26, 2022: Predators Host Lightning at NHL Stadium Series
On February 26, 2022, the Nashville Predators hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nissan Stadium for a game in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series. The Predators lost 3–2 in front of a crowd of 68,619 people.
June 17, 2022: Bill Haslam to Become Majority Owner of Nashville Predators
On June 17, 2022, the Predators announced that former Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam would purchase shares in the club and become majority owner over the course of several years.
2022: Predators Release Special Uniform for NHL Stadium Series
For the 2022 NHL Stadium Series, the Nashville Predators released a special navy uniform with a prominent gold stripe featuring the "Smashville" moniker and a large "guitar pick" alternate logo.
2022: Predators Unveil Second "Reverse Retro" Uniform
In the 2022-23 season, the Nashville Predators released a second "Reverse Retro" uniform based on their 2001-2007 alternate uniform, incorporating their current athletic gold color.
February 2023: David Poile Announces Retirement as Predators General Manager
In February 2023, David Poile announced that he would be retiring as the general manager of the Nashville Predators at the end of the season. He was succeeded by Barry Trotz.
May 31, 2023: Predators Appoint Andrew Brunette as Head Coach
On May 31, 2023, the Nashville Predators announced the appointment of Andrew Brunette, a former player, as the fourth head coach in the franchise's history.
June 30, 2023: Barry Trotz Takes Over as Predators General Manager
Former Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz took over as the team's general manager on June 30, 2023, replacing David Poile, who retired.
May 12, 2024: Information Updated
The information on this topic was last updated on May 12, 2024.
