Nashville Predators Tickets

The Predators joined the NHL during the league’s expansion in the late 90s. During the construction of the Predators’ arena in Nashville, the construction crew unearthed a saber-toothed tiger skeleton. The skeleton provided the inspiration for the team’s name and logo.

The Predators played their first game during the 1998-99 season. The team named Barry Trotz its head coach. Trotz coached the Predators for 15 seasons, including through their difficult early years and their first playoff run in 2004. Trotz’s Predators made the playoffs 7 times; they reached the second round twice but never advanced to a conference final.

For many years, the Predators’ biggest star was defenseman and captain Shea Weber. Weber was one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the league. He played in Nashville from 2005 to 2016 and scored 20 or more goals in three different seasons with the Predators. Weber was known for his cannon-like slap shot, which often went faster than 100 miles per hour. He won the Hardest Shot contest at the NHL All-Star Game in three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.

Things started to change for the Predators and Weber when Weber signed a 14 year, $110 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Predators, who weren’t prepared to lose Weber, matched the offer but were stuck with a long term and serious financial burden. In the summer of 2016, the Predators traded Weber in a one-for-one deal for another of the league’s top defensemen: PK Subban. Most people believe that the Predators got the better deal. Subban is younger, his contract is better, and the team has had a good deal of success since his arrival.

In 2017, the Predators, coached by Peter Laviolette, reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in Franchise history. They lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.