4/11/13: Nashville will not make the playoffs this year, for only the second time in the past nine years. The Preds have had an impressive run for almost a decade - far better than most people will give them credit for. Last season, they placed second in the Western Central Division with over 100 points, and even embarrassed the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. They were shut out again this week, 1-0 to the St. Louis Blues. Nashville only managed 15 shots on goal, and even went on one stretch where they were outshot 12-0. Goalie Pekka Rinne kept them in the game, but without any offense, there is no way to win.

3/21/13: Nashville is an offensively starved team, so the decision by head coach Barry Trotz to bench one of their top offensive players is no small feat. Sergei Kostitsyn, playing the point on the power play, let a pass slip by. He tied up an Oiler fore-checker for a moment, then inexplicably quit on the play and went to the bench for a change. Edmonton scored about four seconds later, which proved to be the winning goal. Trotz decided to bench Kostitsyn (as a healthy scratch) for the play. While Trotz was irate, Kostitsyn was remorseful for the play.

3/7/13: The Predators are mired in mediocrity this season - a far cry from the 102 points they posted last year. The Preds are 9-9-5, which is simply not going to get into the playoffs in the Western Conference. Nashville made a couple of moves in the past week, trading away fan favorite Brian McGratten for Joe Piskula of Calgary. Piskula was immediately assigned to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. Nashville also claimed Bobby Butler off waivers from the New Jersey Devils. Nashville was down to just 20 players since Hal Gill was placed on the injured reserve earlier.

11/15/12: The Nashville Predators front office understands where the team stands in the Tennessee/Southern sports hierarchy, which is somewhere between the University of Tennessee women's basketball team and the Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball team. So the franchise works hard at gaining publicity and developing a long-term relationship with the community - a rarity in professional sports. Last week, the team organized a flash mob (or as they called it, Smashmob) to perform unexpectedly at a local pee-wee hockey game. While it is not 2007 anymore, it is good to see this kind of effort to grow the appeal of hockey in the South.

11/8/12: The Nashville Predators are doing their part as hockey ambassador by hosting sessions for adult players. For only $15, amateurs can lace up and scrimmage at Bridgestone Arena, and that includes parking and donuts. Some Predator coaches may be on hand to help out as well. While hockey is not big in the South, the Predators should be commended for their efforts to get eyes away from college and pro football in the Nashville area. The team is well supported with a strong fan base, which is growing as the team gets better and better each season.

11/1/12: The Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues have had a brief but feisty rivalry. Many thought the two teams were on a collision course and would meet in the Western Conference Finals last year, with the winner going to the Stanley Cup. However, both were upset in the second round so there was no series. Now the two organizations are teaming up for an Alumni game with proceeds going to Hurricane Sandy relief and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital. The game will be played at Vanderbilt University on Saturday November 10, and a $5 dollar donation is suggested.

10/18/12: Since losing star defenseman Ryan Suter to free agency, the Preds re-signed their other star defenseman Shea Weber to a long term contract (actually having to match a monstrous offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers). They also signed 23 year old forward Craig Smith to a lucrative four year extension in the land-grab rush during the days leading up to the lockout. Smith signed with a Finnish team during the lockout, but his contract will keep him there until the Christmas break. The team is owned by current NHL players Scott Harnell and Kimmo Timonen, making for a strange Boss's Day. Smith does have an out clause, so he should be expected back should the lockout end before Christmas.

10/4/12: Predators players are fleeing Nashville as if a hurricane were coming through. In the last week, Craig Smith, Pekka Rinne, and Patric Hornqvist have all agreed to play overseas during the lockout. Smith signed with KalPa of SM-ligna, a Finnish team that is owned by NHL players Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell. Rinne, one of the true elite goaltenders in the NHL, is going to Russia to play with Dinamo Minsk. Finally, Hornqvist is headed to Sweden to play with Djurgarden - alongside Gabriel Landeskog of the Avalanche and Douglass Murray of the San Jose Sharks.

8/16/12: Like seven other teams in the Western Conference, the Avs look to get back into the playoffs next season. They were close last season, and look to make that long-awaited leap. The big questions are 1. Is Joe Sacco a good enough coach to get the most from his players, 2. Can Landeskog avoid a sophmore slump, 3. Will the acquisition of PA Parenteau and the emergence of Steve Downie and Jamie McGinn provide enough offense, and 4. Can Erik Johnson regain the form that made him the No. 1 overall pick a few years ago. If the Avs can successfully solve these challenges, then they will be playing in May.

8/2/12: Nashville matched the megadeal offer sheet by the Flyers for star defenseman Shea Weber - an 14 year, $106 million deal, thereby retaining the All-Star. Weber says there are no hard feelings between he and the Predators, which is contrary to suggestions that Weber's agent made that he wanted to be in Philadelphia. But the loss of Ryan Suter will be hard to replace, and the Preds are trying to find another defenseman. Supplies are limited and other teams (like St. Louis) are searching as well. Nashville is in the Shane Doan sweepstakes, however, it is unlikely that Doan will land in Tennessee.

7/26/12: Losing All-Star defenseman Ryan Suter in free agency to the Minnesota Wild was a big shock to the Preds, so Nashville did everything they had to do to retain their other All-Star defenseman Shea Weber. Weber entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Preds could match any offer and keep Weber. Many experts thought that no one would make an offer sheet and the Predators would have another year to negotiate a long-term deal. But the Flyers made Weber a 14 year/$110 million offer, forcing Nashville to match. They did, and Weber will likely be in Nashville the rest of his career.

Star defenseman Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. A couple of days later the Nashville Predators matched the offer. The contract is the largest in the history of the Predators organization and second largest in NHL history. With All-Star defenseman Ryan Suter gone (signed with Minnesota), the Predators chose to match the offer on their leader. Weber has been the team captain for two seasons. He finished second in voting for the Norris Trophy in those seasons and tied for the league lead in goals by a defenseman with 19 last year. He has spent his entire career with the Predators, since being drafted by them 49th overall in the 2003 NHL Draft.

5/22/12: Like division rival St. Louis, Nashville was eliminated quickly in the second round without predjudice. After compiling over 100 points and the #4 seed in the West, the Predators looked ready to make the jump from 'very good' to 'elite' with a strong postseason run. All the pieces were in place: Excellent goaltending from Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne was as good as they come in round 1 against Detroit. Wayward son Alexande Radulov returned from Russia to generate offense, and Ryan Sutter was playing at an elite level. Without games, the team must focus on how to keep their talent and move to the next level.

5/16/12: The Nashville Predators' season came to a startling halt, as the #3 seeded Phoenix Coyotes beat the Predators in five games in Round 2. Nashville earned a lot of respect, finishing with over 100 points, a 4-seed, and a first round demolishing of the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. But the Coyotes' opportunistic scoring and stellar goaltending were simply too much for the Preds. Nashville hopes to return essentially the same team next year. However, Ryan Suter is both an elite defenseman and an unrestricted free agent, and his demands may be more than Nashville can afford to commit to a single player.

5/11/12: The Predators gained league-wide respect this year because they had a terrific season, made aggressive moves to bolster their line-up throughout the year, and eliminated the Red Wings in 5 games in the first round. However, all the good feelings are waning away inside the lockerroom since the Phoenix Coyotes dispatched Nashville in five games in the second round. Long-time coach Brian Trotz made the controvercial move to scratch the Predators' top two scorers Alexander Radulov and Alexei Kostitsyn for not one but two games (games 4 and 5) during the Phoenix series for a violation of team rules.

5/3/12: After eliminating Detroit in the first round in only five games, Nashville was name the prohibitive favorite to represent the West in the Stanley Cup by several experts. However, the Phoenix Coyotes took the first two games of the second round by outplaying the Predators and taking them out of their defense-first game. The Predators will be without two of their more gifted scorers, Alexander Radulov and Alexie Kostitsyn. The pair were suspended prior to the third game by the team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Jordin Tootoo and Craig Smith are likely to replace the duo, though neither has offensive skills.

4/25/12: Nashville claims they modeled their team and operations after the Detroit Red Wings, and proved that by defeating Detroit 4 games to 1 in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. Simply put, Nashville dominated the series, owning the boards, scoring when they had the opportunity, and not giving Detroit much to work with. Goaltender Pekka Rinna was outstanding, as he has been all year, allowing 1.81 goals against/game. Late season rejoinee Alexander Radulov led all scorers with five points, and Gabriel Borque added three goals and an assist. The Predators will play the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round.

4/17/12: Nashville took a 3-1 series lead by taking two games in Detroit. The Predators, relying heavily on goaltender Pekka Rinne won 3-2 on Sunday and followed that up with a 3-1 win on Tuesday. Rinne has been outstanding in net 81 of 84 shots in the two games at Joe Louis Arena. The Preds have a chance to send the Red Wings to the golf course on Friday, at home. Should Nashville win the series, they will likely face the number 8 seeded LA Kings, who have President's Cup winner Vancouver Canucks on the ropes with a 3-0 series lead.

Nashville Predators Tickets -Team History

Nashville Predators tickets allow fans the opportunity to see one of the NHL's youngest franchises rise in the Western Conference. Established in 1997, the Nashville Predators joined the National Hockey League as an expansion team. The Predators play their games at Bridgestone Arena and have called the venue home since 1998. Watch as the Preds build a new legacy and work to bring a Stanley Cup to Music City!

Nashville Predators Tickets -Season Info

The Nashville Predators have come a very long way in such a short amount of time. With playoff appearance four of the last five seasons, the Predators have certainly given the fans hope for big things in the near future. With star players like newly minted captain and All-Star Shea Weber leading the charge, Preds fans can expect to see their squad in playoff contention year after year. The Predators had a relatively quiet offseason in 2011 but that never stops them from contending year after year. The Predators will once again have one of the best defenses in the league led by Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. They also have one of the best goalies in the league in Pekka Rinne. The Predators will look for Colin Wilson to build on a solid rookie season and lead the team in offensive production.

Nashville Predators Tickets -Ticket Information

Nashville Predators tickets ensure that fans see the Predators playing top contenders throughout the entire NHL season. The Predators have their work cut out for them in a tough Central Division. With matchups against great teams like the Detroit Redwings and Chicago Blackhawks and non-divisional meetings with Zdeno Chara's Boston Bruins, the Predators are sure to be tested all season long. Grab your Preds tickets now and don't miss the action!

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