Preds Year in Review: Best of 2022

While 2022 marked a gradual return to normalcy after two years of COVID-19 protocols, shortened seasons and partly-filled buildings, the Predators capped 2022 with a number of memories and milestones that were anything but.
With that in mind, enjoy the Preds' top 10 moments - and then some - of the last 12 months.

Roman Josi and Juuse Saros Represent Nashville at 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas - Feb. 4-5, 2022

When the NHL announced the roster for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Smashville was understandably confused - and disappointed - to not see Roman Josi's name included alongside Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros.
Fans wouldn't be disappointed for too long, and before Juuse Saros departed for the desert, Nashville's captain got his fourth career All-Star weekend roster spot locked down.

Hours later, Josi would find himself standing on top of the world-famous Bellagio Fountain, saucering pucks into miniature light-up targets, while Saros shined in the Save Streak competition inside T-Mobile Arena.
The pair would conclude their trip by representing the Central Division in the All-Star Game the following day. 

Pekka Rinne's No. 35 is Retired - Feb. 24, 2022

After 683 games played, 369 wins, one Western Conference Championship, one President's Trophy, one Vezina Trophy, one King Clancy Memorial Trophy, four All-Star Game appearances and millions raised for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, Smashville's favorite son received an historic honor.

Pekka Rinne, the Predators winningest goaltender, stood alongside fiancée Erika and son Paulus and watched as his No. 35 was lifted into the Bridgestone Arena rafters, effectively
becoming the first player to have his jersey number retired in the history of the franchise.

Following the ceremony, Rinne's former teammates would rally to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars, with friend and mentee Juuse Saros going perfect in the four-round shootout to seal the win in poetic fashion.

2022 Navy Federal Credit Credit Union NHL Stadium Series Game Arrives at Nissan Stadium - Feb. 26, 2022

Just two days after the retirement of Rinne's No. 35, Nashville marked another historic occasion as the city and the Predators hosted the first-ever outdoor NHL game in the Music City
as part of the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game
.
While the home team ultimately fell to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning by a 3-2 decision, the event - hosted in front of more than 60,000 of Smashville's loudest fans at Nissan Stadium - was nothing short of spectacular.

From the honky tonk-inspired signage, to the live musical performances throughout the game - including two very special mini-concerts by Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert - the Stadium Series game proved once again that when you want to do hockey right, you do it in Smashville.

Filip Forsberg Becomes the Preds All-Time Leading Goal-Scorer - March 19, 2022

On Saturday, March 19, as the Predators hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs, Filip Forsberg jammed a loose puck past goaltender Erik Kallgren and
cemented his spot as Nashville's all-time leading goal-scorer.
While perhaps not as dazzling as many of the elite forward's previous 210 tallies, the goal pushed Forsberg past the Predators previous record-holder David Legwand in 410 fewer outings.

"It's been a great ride so far," Forsberg said. "I played with Leggy [David Legwand] for a little bit, so it's obviously cool. On the ice, my first point was his 200th goal. Come a long way since."

Preds Broadcaster Terry Crisp Honored at Bridgestone Arena - April 17, 2022

Since the Nashville Predators arrived in the Music City nearly a quarter century ago, hockey has become as integral to the city's culture as honky tonks and hot chicken.
Terry Crisp is largely to thank for it.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion - two as a player, one as head coach - joined the fledgling new club on the ground floor as a broadcaster, and for the next two decades used his passion for the game to create generations of loyal Predators fans.
After announcing his retirement from the game,
it was only fitting that the man who gave so much to Smashville received something in return. 

On Sunday, April 17 the Preds threw "Crispy" a special intermission ceremony and announced the
establishment of the Crisp College Scholarship Fund and the Terry Crisp Ice Rink at Ford Ice Center Bellevue.

Matt Duchene Becomes Nashville's First 40-Goal Scorer - April 19, 2022

Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi weren't Nashville's only skaters to ice career seasons in 2022.
On Tuesday, April 19 as the Predators faced the Calgary Flames, forward Matt Duchene put his stamp on the franchise by
notching his 40th goal of the season in his 900th career game.

Duchene not only became the first skater in Preds history to reach the 40-goal mark, but reached a personal milestone in the process as well.
"To do it in my 900th game, it was kind of cool," Duchene said. "The reaction from the crowd when they announced it, I was still locked into the game. It's one of those things like where you enjoy it at the end of the year. But, the reaction from the crowd was unbelievable, and it made me a little emotional on the bench. I just wanted to give a wave and just kind of stay into the game and stay seated or whatever. But they made it hard not to feel that moment a little bit. So, I really appreciate that from the fans."

Josi, Saros Finalists for Top NHL Awards - May 9-10, 2022

By the time Nashville's 2021-22 campaign was finished, Josi and Saros each had monumental stats and records to show for.
Fittingly,
the pair each received top NHL Awards nods
, with Josi being named a Norris Trophy finalist for the second time and first time as a Ted Lindsay Award finalist and Saros being named Vezina Trophy finalist in his first full season starting between the pipes.
While the prestigious hardware would ultimately go elsewhere,
the nominations marked two incredible seasons full of numerous personal achievements and franchise record-breaking performances
, including a 96-point season from Josi and a 38-25-3 record from Saros.

Forsberg Signs Eight-Year Deal with Nashville - July 11, 2022

On Monday, July 11, Smashville took a collective sigh of relief.
Filip Forsberg, the Predators all-time leading goal-scorer, would stay in Gold for the next eight years after
putting pen to paper on a $68 million extension
two days before the end of his contract and the start of free agency.
The uncertainty surrounding Forsberg's future in Gold accompanied a career season in which the 27-year-old forward broke numerous career and single-season franchise records by significant margins.

Not keeping him in Nashville simply wasn't an option.
"We never had another plan," Predators General Manager & President of Hockey Operations David Poile said. "Our plan A, B, C and D from the beginning was to sign Fil… Filip, as we all know, is clearly one of our best players and probably one of the best offensive players in the history of our franchise, and I am totally expecting that he will be an integral part of our core for the next eight years."

Nashville Lands the 2023 NHL Awards, Draft - Aug. 18, 2022

Months after Nashville stepped out of the hockey spotlight for hosting one of, if not the best, outdoor games in NHL history, the city and its team were right back in it.
On Thursday, Aug. 18,
the NHL announced the Music City would host both the 2023 NHL Awards and Draft
, becoming the first city to host both events in more than 15 years.
"There's not a better hockey city in the world," Henry said. "Smashville has completely reinvented how to put on a hockey game. I don't care who you are, who you're a fan of or where you grew up watching games - once you get a taste of how we celebrate this great game in Smashville, you leave and say, 'That was the best place to go watch my team lose.' And I always smile after I hear people say that. It's not becoming a great hockey city. It is the best hockey town in the world."

Rinne Returns - Sept. 22, 2022

On Thursday, Sept. 22, Smashville's favorite son returned. 
After watching his No. 35 rise into the Bridgestone Arena rafters in February, Pekka Rinne decided he simply missed the team and the city too much, and returned in a special alumni advisor role.

"It's everything," Rinne said. "It's been such a big part of my life for so long - the city of Nashville and this organization - that I consider it my second home. So, it was easy. I couldn't stay away from it for too long. I've been missing Nashville and I've been missing the team, and just everything about the organization."

Behind the Glass: 'Glasser' Makes the Cut - Oct. 4, 2022

Before the 2022-23 campaign, Preds fans were treated to an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at their favorite team as the NHL Network's Behind the Glass docuseries crew captured the sights and sounds of training camp.
One of the four-part series' most compelling narratives belonged to 23-year-old forward Cody Glass, who spent the majority of the 2021-22 campaign in Milwaukee playing for the Preds AHL affiliate.
In episode two, Glass gets the news he worked tremendously hard to hear.
"The second half of last year was really good for you and the summer was obviously really good for you as well," Preds GM David Poile said. "As you know, we're going to go to Bern tomorrow night, and we're going to be taking you with us. So, I hope that makes your day."

Moved by the good news, Glass breaks into a wide smile and sheds a few tears.
"It's been in the back of my mind, and to be able to finally be told that I'm going kind of lifts a weight off my back," Glass said. "It feels really good."

Global Series: Josi Makes an Emotional Homecoming to Bern, Switzerland - Oct. 1-6, 2022

Before Nashville concluded its 2022-23 preseason slate, the team boarded a plane and traveled overseas to captain Roman Josi's hometown of Bern, Switzerland.
If the city provided the picturesque storybook setting, Josi wrote the perfect ending as he
led the Predators to a 4-3 victory over his former Swiss professional club SC Bern
, tallying two goals and an assist in the effort.

When the final horn sounded, Josi received the first star of the game and a raucous standing ovation from more than 17,000 of his biggest fans - close friends and family among them.
"It was perfect," Josi said. "It was really emotional for me and I was a little nervous before the game, just coming back here and skating around in warmups, seeing the big wall again. It was just so special for me and something I'll never forget."

Global Series: Preds Go Perfect in Prague - Oct. 7-8, 2022

Hours after capping their preseason slate in spectacular fashion, the Predators were on a plane to Prague, Czech Republic to open their 2022-23 campaign against the San Jose Sharks.

Despite the emotions - and jet lag - running high following the team's 4-3 exhibition win over SC Bern, the Preds dug deep and
capped their Global Series trip with back-to-back wins over the Sharks
, returning home to Nashville with four points, and plenty of European souvenirs, in tow.

The Mustard Cat Returns - Oct. 20, 2022

All hail the mighty Mustard Cat.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, adidas - in partnership with the NHL - launched its second line of Reverse Retro jerseys that would be worn by all 32 of the League's clubs during the 2022-23 season.

Nashville's jerseys brought the animated Pred Head crest of early 2000's fame back to life in nine vivid colors
- including three different shades of blue - and updated the jersey's original mustard color to modern Preds Gold.

GM David Poile's 3,000th Game, 1,500th Win - Oct. 22, Nov. 21, 2022

Until Saturday, Oct. 22, not a single NHL general manager - past or present - could boast 3,000 regular-season games as lead decision-maker.
But as the Predators hosted the Philadelphia Flyers for a special Saturday Night in Smashville,
General Manager and President of Hockey Operations David Poile reached the towering accomplishment.

"It was amazing," Poile said. "I don't have exactly the correct word to use for it, but it's a big wow. Obviously, when you've gone through 3,000 games, [you meet] a lot of people in this game and everybody says [my achievement] is incredible."
Less than a month later, Poile put another feather in his cap as the Preds toppled the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 in the shootout to earn the winningest GM in NHL history his 1,500th.

Juuso Parssinen Tallies First Career Goal in First NHL Game - Nov. 12, 2022

When Nashville called forward Juuso Parssinen up from Milwaukee to play in their Saturday Night in Smashville contest against the New York Rangers, expectations were understandably high.
The 21-year-old seventh-round pick was on nearly a point-per-game pace with the Admirals
, tallying two goals and seven assists in 10 outings. Still, nobody could have predicted what Parssinen would ultimately do on his first shot in his first NHL game.
Carrying the puck through the neutral zone and powering past former No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafrenière with speed, Parssinen found the back of the net for his first NHL goal.

"[It was an] unreal feeling," Parssinen said. "I didn't expect to score on my first shot, but I'll take that every day… The guys made a good play in our own zone and then I had good speed, so I just tried to jump their D. I had better speed than him and then just tried to put it in the net, and this time it went in."

Josi Becomes Longest-Playing Swiss-Born NHL Player - Dec. 13, 2022

Just when we thought Roman Josi was limited to only breaking franchise records, Nashville's captain went ahead and set one for the National Hockey League, too.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Josi - born in Bern, Switzerland - skated in his 787th career NHL game, passing his idol Mark Streit to become the longest-playing Swiss-born player in League history.

"It means a lot, for sure," Josi said following the game. "Mark Streit has been such a big influence in my hockey career and in my life. He was definitely one of my idols and I got to train with him for a long time and got to learn from him for a long time and he had a massive influence on my career and I'm very thankful to be his friend. And it's definitely a huge honor. You dream about playing in the NHL and to be able to have the most games as a Swiss player is definitely a dream come true."

Josi Becomes Nashville's All-Time Points Leader - Dec. 21, 2022

It was only a matter of time.
On Wednesday, Dec. 21 as the Predators faced the Central Division rival Chicago Blackhawks at United Center,
captain Roman Josi toppled yet another franchise record. 
In the opening minutes of the third period, Josi shelved a backhander past Hawks goaltender Petr Mrázek for his 566th career point - tying forward David Legwand's all-time points record.

Less than five minutes later, Josi connected with Tommy Novak on a power-play goal and earned his 567th tally to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
"It's definitely a huge honor, just being here for that long," Josi said following the game. "It's something I never dreamed of obviously when I first started in the NHL. There were just so many people that put a lot of trust in me, so many people I'm thankful for and teammates who have been here for so long and staff."