From Rookies to Veterans, Preds Realize City of Nashville is Special

When Pekka Rinne was notified in the summer of 2004 that he had been drafted by the Predators, one of the first things he did was consult an atlas.
Nashville, Tennessee? No idea.
Little did the goaltender know, that southern city with the hockey team who called his named, he would grow to know that city, to love that city, to call that city his home.

And the fans who show up by the thousands wearing his name on their backs? All one has to do is listen to who receives the loudest cheer when the starting lineup is announced at Bridgestone Arena.
The veterans like Rinne who have sported Preds Gold for some time now are well aware of what makes Nashville special. The people. The atmosphere. The music. The food. The hockey.
With Predators Development Camp ongoing this week, a new crop of talent is beginning to realize the same thing - Nashville is not just a weekend destination for country music and hot chicken. Rather, as an NHL market, it's difficult to find a spot with greater appeal.
"I like it a lot," prospect Eeli Tolvanen said. "Just the weather to begin with, and then there's a lot to do and a lot of great places to go out to eat, and then the hockey and fans are great here. It's the best place to play hockey."
"With their record of developing defensemen in the League, it would definitely be a perfect fit for me," defensive prospect Dante Fabbro said. "I'm excited to play here. I want to play here. It's definitely going to be a dream come true if I can."
That rookie testimonial is just the beginning. With a General Manager of the Year winner in David Poile at the helm, followed by a Jack Adams Award winner and Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach Peter Laviolette in charge, the Predators are primed to compete season after season with the team's All-Star core of players.
Then there's the math. Nashville's cost of living is significantly less than a slew of other NHL cities. Combine that with the fact that Tennessee has no state income tax and the opportunity for players to earn more than they could in other markets is often an attractor that other teams simply can't offer.
And don't forget about the Seventh Man. Honestly, which player isn't going to say their respective city and franchise has the best fans when the question is asked? It's common sense to do so.

But, there's just something different in Nashville. Fans in other NHL rinks don't always stand up and applaud when their team takes the ice. Or when they head into the intermission without a lead. Or during a television timeout without prompting.
They do here. And the seats are full night after night - 109 consecutive sellouts and counting.
"It's the energy that comes into the building," Laviolette said. "We're very fortunate here for the support that we have, how vocal they are and the atmosphere that they create inside of our building which makes it a difficult place to play. We love it here. We love it at home."
"The people are so awesome here and the atmosphere in the city has taken such a big step forward in the last couple years," defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "But the people are what makes this town great. We're lucky to be here."
Now, back to Rinne. After four career nominations for the Vezina Trophy as the League's top netminder, he finally took the award home last week in Las Vegas. Of course, he thanked his family, his teammates and all who helped him become the goaltender he is today.
But then, he had something to say to Predators fans.
"You guys drive our team and you guys are always behind us," Rinne said. "This trophy means a lot to me, and I want to share it with you guys. You have been such a big part of my career, and the last 10 years I've been in Nashville, I feel like we've always had such a great relationship. I love you guys, and I can't wait to see you in September."
With a bond like that, who wouldn't want to call Smashville home?