Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

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 are currently affiliated with two minor league teams: the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL. The team's logo is a saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis), referencing a partial skeleton found beneath downtown Nashville in 1971. The franchise name 'Predators' was chosen by owner Craig Leipold from fan submissions.

Did You Know?

• The Predators began play in the 1998–99 season, losing their first game 1–0 to the Florida Panthers on October 10, 1998.
• The team recorded its 100th victory on December 6, 2001.
• In the 2005–06 season, the Predators became only the fourth NHL franchise to start the season 8–0.
• As of 2026, the Predators are one of two professional sports teams in Tennessee to have not relocated from another location.