2017–18 Nashville Predators season

2017–18 Nashville Predators
Central Division Champions
Division	1st Central
Conference	1st Western
2017–18 record	53–18–11
Home record	28–9–4
Road record	25–9–7
Goals for	267
Goals against	211
Team information
General Manager	David Poile
Coach	Peter Laviolette
Captain	Roman Josi
Alternate captains	Mattias Ekholm Ryan Ellis Filip Forsberg Ryan Johansen
Arena	Bridgestone Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Viktor Arvidsson (29)
Assists	P. K. Subban (43)
Points	Filip Forsberg (64)
Penalties in minutes	Austin Watson (123)
Plus/minus	Filip Forsberg (+27)
Wins	Pekka Rinne (42)
Goals against average	Pekka Rinne (2.31)
<2016–17 2018–19>

The 2017–18 Nashville Predators season was the 20th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. The team reached the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and won the Central Division as well as winning the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history. However, the Predators were eliminated from Stanley Cup contention in the Second Round of the playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets in seven games.

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 19, 2017.

2017 preseason game log: 2–2–2 (Home: 1–1–2 ; Road: 1–1–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Recap
1	September 19	Florida	5–3	Nashville		Saros	—	0–1–0	Recap
2	September 19	Florida	2–3	Nashville	OT	Lindback	—	1–1–0	Recap
3	September 22	Nashville	1–3	Tampa Bay		Saros	15,504	1–2–0	Recap
4	September 24	Nashville	5–3	Columbus		Lindback	12,044	2–2–0	Recap
5	September 28	Columbus	4–3	Nashville	SO	Rinne	16,052	2–2–1	Recap
6	September 30	Tampa Bay	3–2	Nashville	OT	Rinne	17,113	2–2–2	Recap

Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on June 22, 2017.

2017–18 game log
October: 5–4–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 5 Nashville 3–4 Boston Rinne 17,565 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 7 Nashville 0–4 Pittsburgh Saros 18,645 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 10 Philadelphia 5–6 Nashville Rinne 17,194 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 October 12 Dallas 1–4 Nashville Rinne 17,113 2–2–0 4 Recap 5 October 14 Nashville 1–2 Chicago OT Rinne 21,564 2–2–1 5 Recap 6 October 17 Colorado 1–4 Nashville Rinne 17,113 3–2–1 7 Recap 7 October 19 Nashville 1–0 Philadelphia Rinne 19,396 4–2–1 9 Recap 8 October 21 Nashville 2–4 NY Rangers Saros 17,181 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 October 24 Calgary 3–2 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 4–3–2 10 Recap 10 October 27 Nashville 2–1 Chicago Rinne 21,524 5–3–2 12 Recap 11 October 28 NY Islanders 6–2 Nashville Saros 17,113 5–4–2 12 Recap
November: 10–3–1 (Home: 6–1–0 ; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Nashville 1–4 San Jose Rinne 16,543 5–5–2 12 Recap 13 November 3 Nashville 5–3 Anaheim Rinne 15,523 6–5–2 14 Recap 14 November 4 Nashville 4–3 Los Angeles OT Saros 18,230 7–5–2 16 Recap 15 November 7 Nashville 3–1 Columbus Rinne 14,996 8–5–2 18 Recap 16 November 11 Pittsburgh 4–5 Nashville SO Rinne 17,397 9–5–2 20 Recap 17 November 14 Washington 3–6 Nashville Rinne 17,113 10–5–2 22 Recap 18 November 16 Nashville 4–6 Minnesota Rinne 18,888 10–6–2 22 Recap 19 November 18 Colorado 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 11–6–2 24 Recap 20 November 20 Winnipeg 3–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 12–6–2 26 Recap 21 November 22 Montreal 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 13–6–2 28 Recap 22 November 24 Nashville 2–0 St. Louis Rinne 19,033 14–6–2 30 Recap 23 November 26 Nashville 3–4 Carolina SO Saros 11,133 14–6–3 31 Recap 24 November 28 Chicago 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,187 15–6–3 33 Recap 25 November 30 Vancouver 5–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 15–7–3 33 Recap
December: 8–3–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 5–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 2 Anaheim 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 16–7–3 35 Recap 27 December 4 Boston 3–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 17–7–3 37 Recap 28 December 5 Nashville 5–2 Dallas Saros 18,023 18–7–3 39 Recap 29 December 8 Vegas 4–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,125 18–7–4 40 Recap 30 December 13 Nashville 7–1 Vancouver Rinne 16,806 19–7–4 42 Recap 31 December 14 Nashville 4–0 Edmonton Saros 18,347 20–7–4 44 Recap 32 December 16 Nashville 2–0 Calgary Rinne 18,618 21–7–4 46 Recap 33 December 19 Winnipeg 6–4 Nashville Rinne 17,432 21–8–4 46 Recap 34 December 21 Carolina 4–1 Nashville Rinne 17,492 21–9–4 46 Recap 35 December 23 Nashville 3–4 Dallas SO Saros 18,532 21–9–5 47 Recap 36 December 27 Nashville 2–1 St. Louis Rinne 19,097 22–9–5 49 Recap 37 December 29 Nashville 2–4 Minnesota Rinne 19,147 22–10–5 49 Recap 38 December 30 Minnesota 0–3 Nashville Saros 17,459 23–10–5 51 Recap
January: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Nashville 0–3 Vegas Rinne 18,171 23–11–5 51 Recap 40 January 4 Nashville 2–3 Arizona OT Saros 13,190 23–11–6 52 Recap 41 January 6 Nashville 4–3 Los Angeles Rinne 18,230 24–11–6 54 Recap 42 January 9 Edmonton 1–2 Nashville Rinne 17,188 25–11–6 56 Recap 43 January 16 Vegas 0–1 Nashville Saros 17,150 26–11–6 58 Recap 44 January 18 Arizona 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,138 27–11–6 60 Recap 45 January 20 Florida 3–4 Nashville Rinne 17,441 28–11–6 62 Recap 46 January 23 Tampa Bay 4–3 Nashville OT Saros 17,332 28–11–7 63 Recap 47 January 25 Nashville 3–0 New Jersey Rinne 14,039 29–11–7 65 Recap 48 January 30 Chicago 2–1 Nashville Saros 17,172 29–12–7 65 Recap
February: 10–2–2 (Home: 6–2–0 ; Road: 4–0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 February 1 Los Angeles 0–5 Nashville Rinne 17,384 30–12–7 67 Recap 50 February 3 NY Rangers 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,543 31–12–7 69 Recap 51 February 5 Nashville 5–4 NY Islanders OT Rinne 10,217 32–12–7 71 Recap 52 February 7 Nashville 2–3 Toronto SO Rinne 18,878 32–12–8 72 Recap 53 February 8 Nashville 3–4 Ottawa OT Saros 14,632 32–12–9 73 Recap 54 February 10 Nashville 3–2 Montreal SO Rinne 21,302 33–12–9 75 Recap 55 February 13 St. Louis 3–4 Nashville OT Rinne 17,221 34–12–9 77 Recap 56 February 15 Calgary 4–3 Nashville Rinne 17,326 34–13–9 77 Recap 57 February 17 Detroit 3–1 Nashville Saros 17,561 34–14–9 77 Recap 58 February 19 Ottawa 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,177 35–14–9 79 Recap 59 February 20 Nashville 3–2 Detroit Saros 19,515 36–14–9 81 Recap 60 February 22 San Jose 1–7 Nashville Rinne 17,354 37–14–9 83 Recap 61 February 25 St. Louis 0–4 Nashville Rinne 17,523 38–14–9 85 Recap 62 February 27 Nashville 6–5 Winnipeg Rinne 15,321 39–14–9 87 Recap
March: 11–3–2 (Home: 5–2–1 ; Road: 6–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 1 Nashville 4–2 Edmonton Rinne 18,347 40–14–9 89 Recap 64 March 2 Nashville 4–3 Vancouver OT Saros 18,470 41–14–9 91 Recap 65 March 4 Nashville 4–3 Colorado OT Rinne 17,618 42–14–9 93 Recap 66 March 6 Dallas 0–2 Nashville Rinne 17,342 43–14–9 95 Recap 67 March 8 Anaheim 2–4 Nashville Rinne 17,475 44–14–9 97 Recap 68 March 10 New Jersey 3–2 Nashville SO Saros 17,545 44–14–10 98 Recap 69 March 13 Winnipeg 1–3 Nashville Rinne 17,534 45–14–10 100 Recap 70 March 15 Nashville 3–2 Arizona Rinne 14,527 46–14–10 102 Recap 71 March 16 Nashville 4–2 Colorado Saros 17,273 47–14–10 104 Recap 72 March 19 Nashville 4–0 Buffalo Rinne 17,507 48–14–10 106 Recap 73 March 22 Toronto 5–2 Nashville Rinne 17,550 48–15–10 106 Recap 74 March 24 Nashville 1–4 Minnesota Rinne 19,303 48–16–10 106 Recap 75 March 25 Nashville 4–5 Winnipeg SO Saros 15,321 48–16–11 107 Recap 76 March 27 Minnesota 1–2 Nashville SO Rinne 17,424 49–16–11 109 Recap 77 March 29 San Jose 3–5 Nashville Saros 17,543 50–16–11 111 Recap 78 March 31 Buffalo 7–4 Nashville Rinne 17,551 50–17–11 111 Recap
April: 3–1–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 Nashville 4–1 Tampa Bay Saros 19,092 51–17–11 113 Recap 80 April 3 Nashville 1–2 Florida Rinne 12,147 51–18–11 113 Recap 81 April 5 Nashville 4–3 Washington Saros 18,506 52–18–11 115 Recap 82 April 7 Columbus 2–4 Nashville Rinne 17,594 53–18–11 117 Recap
Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

Main article: 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs

Player statistics

Final Stats

Skaters

Regular season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Filip Forsberg	67	26	38	64	27	38
Viktor Arvidsson	78	29	32	61	20	36
P. K. Subban	82	16	43	59	18	82
Ryan Johansen	79	15	39	54	13	78
Roman Josi	75	14	39	53	24	24
Craig Smith	79	25	26	51	20	24
Kevin Fiala	80	23	25	48	20	26
Kyle Turris†	65	13	29	42	22	24
Calle Jarnkrok	68	16	19	35	20	12
Mattias Ekholm	81	10	24	34	25	46
Ryan Ellis	44	9	23	32	26	6
Colton Sissons	81	9	18	27	2	42
Nick Bonino	71	12	13	25	4	20
Scott Hartnell	62	13	11	24	−3	82
Austin Watson	76	14	5	19	2	123
Alexei Emelin	76	1	8	9	9	40
Miikka Salomaki	58	2	6	8	−8	34
Pontus Aberg‡	37	2	6	8	8	8
Matt Irwin	50	2	6	8	2	8
Ryan Hartman†	21	3	3	6	−4	14
Yannick Weber	47	2	3	5	2	16
Mike Fisher	16	2	2	4	0	8
Anthony Bitetto	32	1	2	3	−1	27
Samuel Girard‡	5	1	2	3	−3	2
Frédérick Gaudreau	20	0	3	3	0	2
Cody McLeod‡	23	1	1	2	0	72
Eeli Tolvanen	3	0	0	0	0	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/–	PIM
Filip Forsberg	13	7	9	16	2	2
Ryan Johansen	13	5	9	14	3	2
Viktor Arvidsson	13	5	4	9	−1	6
P. K. Subban	13	4	5	9	−2	10
Austin Watson	13	5	3	8	3	12
Mattias Ekholm	13	1	7	8	4	12
Colton Sissons	13	3	4	7	−2	8
Nick Bonino	13	2	3	5	−1	9
Ryan Ellis	13	0	5	5	−4	8
Kevin Fiala	12	3	1	4	−3	8
Craig Smith	13	2	2	4	−3	2
Roman Josi	13	0	4	4	−4	2
Ryan Hartman	9	2	1	3	0	10
Kyle Turris	13	0	3	3	−3	6
Mike Fisher	12	1	0	1	0	2
Yannick Weber	4	1	0	1	2	2
Calle Jarnkrok	7	0	1	1	−3	0
Matt Irwin	12	0	0	0	1	2
Alexei Emelin	10	0	0	0	−1	0
Miikka Salomaki	8	0	0	0	−1	2
Scott Hartnell	4	0	0	0	−1	0

Goaltenders

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Pekka Rinne	59	59	3,475:27	42	13	4	134	2.31	1840	.927	8	0	1	6
Juuse Saros	26	23	1,496:40	11	5	7	61	2.45	810	.925	3	0	3	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Pekka Rinne	13	13	685	7	6	35	3.07	363	.904	2	0	0	0
Juuse Saros	4	0	114	0	0	2	1.05	42	.952	0	0	0	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Transactions

The Predators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	To Colorado Avalanche Colin Wilson	To Nashville Predators 4th-round pick in 2019
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	To Vegas Golden Knights 3rd-round pick in 2019	To Nashville Predators Alexei Emelin
November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05)	To Colorado Avalanche Samuel Girard Vladislav Kamenev 2nd-round pick in 2018	To Nashville Predators Kyle Turris
February 3, 2018 (2018-02-03)	To Dallas Stars Andrew O'Brien	To Nashville Predators Mark McNeill
February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)	To Edmonton Oilers Pontus Aberg	To Nashville Predators Mark Letestu
February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)	To Columbus Blue Jackets Mark Letestu	To Nashville Predators 4th-round pick in 2018
February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)	To San Jose Sharks 6th-round pick in 2018	To Nashville Predators Brandon Bollig Troy Grosenick
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)	To Chicago Blackhawks Victor Ejdsell 1st-round pick in 2018 4th-round pick in 2018	To Nashville Predators Ryan Hartman 5th-round pick in 2018
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)	To Arizona Coyotes Pierre-Cedric Labrie Trevor Murphy	To Nashville Predators Tyler Gaudet John Ramage

Free agents acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Nick Bonino	Pittsburgh Penguins	4-year, $16.4 million
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Matt O'Connor	Ottawa Senators	1-year, $650,000
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Scott Hartnell	Columbus Blue Jackets	1-year, $1 million
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Anders Lindback	Rögle BK	1-year, $650,000
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Pierre-Cedric Labrie	Chicago Blackhawks	1-year, $650,000
April 2, 2018 (2018-04-02)	Tanner Jeannot	Moose Jaw Warriors	3-year, $2.14 million entry-level contract
April 3, 2018 (2018-04-03)	Niclas Westerholm	SaiPa	3-year, $2.775 million entry-level contract
April 26, 2018 (2018-04-26)	Miroslav Svoboda	HC Plzeň	2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract
May 7, 2018 (2018-05-07)	Filip Pyrochta	HC Bílí Tygři Liberec	2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract
May 9, 2018 (2018-05-09)	Carl Persson	Karlskrona HK	2-year, $1.45 million entry-level contract

Free agents lost

Date	Player	New team	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)	Brad Hunt	Vegas Golden Knights	2-year, $1.3 million
July 2, 2017 (2017-07-02)	Mike Liambas	Anaheim Ducks	1-year, $650,000
August 14, 2017 (2017-08-14)	Marek Mazanec	Slovan Bratislava	Unknown
August 17, 2017 (2017-08-17)	Jaynen Rissling	Allen Americans	Unknown
May 18, 2018 (2018-05-18)	Petter Granberg	Skellefteå AIK	3-year

Claimed via waivers

Player	Previous team	Date	Ref

Lost via waivers

Player	New team	Date	Ref
Cody McLeod	New York Rangers	January 25, 2018 (2018-01-25)

Players released

Date	Player	Via	Ref

Lost via retirement

Date	Player	Ref
August 1, 2017 (2017-08-01)	Mike Fisher
September 13, 2017 (2017-09-13)	Vernon Fiddler
May 12, 2018 (2018-05-12)	Mike Fisher

Player signings

Date	Player	Contract terms (in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 17, 2017 (2017-07-17)	Frederick Gaudreau	3-year, $2 million
July 18, 2017 (2017-07-18)	Pontus Aberg	2-year, $1.3 million
July 21, 2017 (2017-07-21)	Marek Mazanec	1-year, $650,000
July 22, 2017 (2017-07-22)	Viktor Arvidsson	7-year, $29.75 million
July 24, 2017 (2017-07-24)	Austin Watson	3-year, $3.3 million
July 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)	Ryan Johansen	8-year, $64 million
November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05)	Kyle Turris	6-year, $36 million contract extension
January 9, 2018 (2018-01-09)	Anthony Bitetto	1-year, $650,000 contract extension
January 9, 2018 (2018-01-09)	Matt Irwin	2-year, $1.35 million contract extension
January 9, 2018 (2018-01-09)	Yannick Weber	2-year, $1.35 million contract extension
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)	Mike Fisher	1-year, $1 million
March 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)	Eeli Tolvanen	3-year, $9.4375 million entry-level contract

Draft picks

See also: List of Nashville Predators draft picks

Below are the Nashville Predators' selections at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 23 and 24, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago.

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	30	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Finland	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
2	61	Grant Mismash	C	United States	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
3	92	David Farrance	D	United States	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
5	154	Tomas Vomacka	G	Czech Republic	Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL)
6	1761	Pavel Koltygin	C	Russia	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
7	216	Jacob Paquette	D	Canada	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Draft notes:

1. The New York Rangers' sixth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on July 1, 2015, that sent Magnus Hellberg to New York in exchange for this pick.

References