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The Nashville Predators, a professional ice hockey team hailing from Nashville, are a prominent fixture in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite their relatively recent establishment in 1998, as one of the expansion teams joining the NHL between 1998 and 2000, the Predators have swiftly made their mark. Since they began play in the 1998-99 season, they have gone onto clinch two Division Championships and a Conference Championship and Presidents' Trophy once. Presently, they are led by captain Roman Josi and head coach Andrew Brunette with Barry Trotz serving as the general manager of the team. Notable players on the team roster include Flip Forsberg, Cole Smith, Jason Zucker, Juuse Saros and Dante Fabbro.
In their early years, the Predators faced challenges typical of expansion teams, with five consecutive seasons of moderate success. However, they gradually found their footing, making their playoff debut in 2003–04. Remarkably, the Predators' most memorable postseason run occurred in 2016–17, propelled by the stellar performance of defenseman P.K. Subban. With three consecutive series upsets, they advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history. Although falling short against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Predators continued to demonstrate their prowess, clinching the Presidents' Trophy in 2017–18.
Who are the Nashville Predators owned by?
The Nashville Predators are owned by Predators Holdings LLC, a private company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Predators Holdings LLC acquired the team from preivous owner Craig Leipold on December 7, 2007, for a staggering $193 million.
The ownership group of Predators LLC includes Christopher Cigarran, Herb Fritch, Joel Dobberpuhl, Holly Dobberpuhl, Brent Jacobs, Joey Jacobs, Scott Jacobs, DeWitt Thompson IV, Dewitt Thompson V, John Thompson, David Freeman, Warren Woo, and W. Brett Wilson. The company owns and operates the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League and oversees Powers Management, which manages the day-to-day operations of Bridgestone Arena, the team's home venue.
One notable member of the ownership group is William Edward Haslam, an American billionaire businessman and former politician who served as the 49th governor of Tennessee from 2011 to 2019. Haslam, a member of the Republican Party, has a diverse background in business, having worked at Pilot Corporation and Saks Fifth Avenue's e-commerce division. He is also involved in sports ownership, serving as a co-owner of the Tennessee Smokies, a minor league baseball team, and is set to become the majority owner of the Nashville Predators by 2025. Haslam's wealth has been estimated at $2 billion, and he has previously served as a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. On the other hand, W. Brett Wilson is a Canadian investment banker, bussinessman and investor. Notably, he is the recipient of many awards.
What conference are the Nashville Predators in?
The Nashville Predators compete in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Over the years, they have amassed several notable league awards, showcasing their achievements and contributions to the sport. In the 2016–17 season, the Predators were awarded the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, recognizing their triumph in the Western Conference playoffs.Notably, their exceptional performance in the 2017–18 season earned them the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record in the NHL.
Additionally, individuals associated with the Predators have received prestigious awards, including David Poile, who won the Lester Patrick Trophy in the 2000–01 season. Other notable recipients include Steve Sullivan (Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, 2008–09), Mike Fisher (NHL Foundation Player Award, 2011–12), Shea Weber (Mark Messier Leadership Award, 2015–16), Wayne Simmonds (Mark Messier Leadership Award, 2018–19), Pekka Rinne (King Clancy Memorial Trophy, 2020–21, and Vezina Trophy, 2017–18), and Roman Josi (James Norris Memorial Trophy, 2019–20.
