2017-18 Presidents' Trophy (Best Regular Season Record)

Lore & Background

The club was founded in 1997, when the NHL granted an expansion franchise to Craig Leipold, with the team beginning play in the 1998–99 season. After five seasons, the Predators qualified for their first Stanley Cup playoffs during the 2003–04 season. In 2008, ownership of the team was transferred from Leipold to a locally based ownership group. The Predators advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final in 2017, but were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. In the following season, the Predators won their first Presidents' Trophy and Central Division title.

Reader's Guide

The Predators have played their home games at Bridgestone Arena since 1998. The team's logo, a saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis), references a partial Smilodon skeleton found beneath downtown Nashville in 1971. The franchise name 'Predators' was chosen by owner Craig Leipold from fan submissions. The Predators are one of two professional sports teams in Tennessee to have not relocated from another location.

Did You Know?

• They won their first Presidents' Trophy and Central Division title in the 2017–18 season.
• The team's first head coach was Barry Trotz, named on August 6, 1997.
• The Predators' first win was on October 13, 1998, a 3–2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.