Predators TV Analyst Terry Crisp Announces Retirement

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Bally Sports studio analyst Terry Crisp is retiring at the end of the 2021-22 season. Crisp has covered the Predators for the last 23 seasons, starting with the team’s expansion season in 1998.

“It was not a hard decision for us because it has been such a great trip,” says Crisp. “We’ve had so much in our hockey life and coming to Nashville was one of the best decisions we ever made. We were able to start with a new franchise and watch it grow, all while having a lot of fun in a wonderful city. Having one last season to enjoy with this young group is as good a way to finish as Sheila and I could ask for.”

Crisp served as in-game analyst for 16 seasons with former TV play-by-play announcer Pete Weber before shifting to Predators pre and post-game shows as a studio analyst for the last seven seasons with host Lyndsay Rowley. He was also a member of the Predators’ Emmy-winning broadcasts in 2003, 2008 and 2010.

“Terry Crisp is one of the most beloved and iconic figures in professional hockey,” says Jeff Genthner, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports South. “He’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion and his big personality and connection with fans is like no other. We all have been blessed to have Crispy on our telecasts since the team’s inaugural season.”

Crisp played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers from 1965-77, posting 201 points (67 goals, 134 assists) in 536 games. He went on to coach for 11 seasons with Philadelphia, Calgary and Tampa Bay, serving behind the bench for the Lightning’s first 391 games. He won three Stanley Cup Championships, two as a player with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975, and one as head coach of the Flames in 1989.

“There are few individuals who have been more important to more hockey markets and expansion teams than Terry Crisp,” says Predators President and CEO Sean Henry. “Terry and his wife, Sheila, introduced the NHL through the Predators’ launch in a way that welcomed everyone into what has now become the most passionate fan base in sports. Smashville would not have become what it has without their generous spirit and hospitable natures. Terry’s role after he leaves the broadcast desk will continue to work to grow and engage our fanbase and incredible partners for years to come.”

Crisp has been a pillar in the Preds and Nashville sports community and was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. He is also a member of the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, located in his hometown of Parry Sound, Ontario.

Crisp will be celebrated throughout the 2021-22 season, starting Tuesday, Nov. 2 when he travels with the team to Calgary for the game between the Predators and Flames. Crisp will also be formally honored by the Predators on Sunday, April 17, when the team hosts the St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena.

Predators, Bally Sports Announce Sports Betting Partnership

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators, through a partnership with Bally Sports, are designating Bally as an Official Sports Betting Partner and the Official Free-to-Play Partner of the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. The partnership, which runs through 2025, will grant Nashville Predators intellectual property rights to Bally’s, as well as provide Bally’s with access to team logos, marks and certain content rights.

“From the moment sports betting launched in Tennessee, we’ve wanted to align with dynamic companies that will help us bring the best fans in sports even closer to the game we all love,” says Predators Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Chris Junghans. “We’ve found just that with Bally’s Corporation and Bally Bet, who we’re thrilled to welcome to the pro sports landscape in our state for the first time. Bally’s unique approach to content integration and brand alignment through their broadcast partnerships is going to be a game changer. We are excited to be one of the first teams to partner with Bally on this unique and exciting endeavor.”

As the first offering in this partnership, Bally’s will soon launch Smashville Selector, a free-to-play game that offers fans the chance to compete for unique prizes. Available in Android and iOS app stores, Smashville Selector challenges fans to correctly answer five predictive questions ahead of select Predators games. Prizes will be awarded to the top competitor after each game, with a grand prize distributed to the highest-scoring Predators fan at the end of the season.

“The Nashville Predators occupy a special place in sports fans’ hearts across Tennessee and their Bridgestone Arena provides a unique and electric atmosphere. It will be a great venue in which to market our brand, especially when combined with Predators game broadcasts on Bally Sports South,” says Adi Dhandhania, Chief Operating Officer of Bally Interactive, the company’s digital division.

Smashville Selector is the latest offering in Bally’s product line of dynamic mobile sports apps, following this summer’s release of the free-to-play Bally Sports Trivia and real-money sports betting app Bally Bet in Colorado and Iowa. The Bally Bet sportsbook app is expected to launch in Tennessee in 2022.

The agreement marks Bally’s first partnership with an NHL franchise and its first with a professional sports team in the state of Tennessee.

Predators Tickets For Stadium Series Game At Nissan Stadium On Sale Oct. 21

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The NHL has announced that tickets for the 2021 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series game at Nissan Stadium will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Oct. 21). Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last and will be available through Ticketmaster.

The announcement was made from Nissan Stadium during a news conference on Wednesday, Oct. 20, attended by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Nashville Predators Chief Executive Officer Sean Henry, Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations & General Manager David Poile, Tampa Bay Lightning Chief Executive Officer Steve Griggs, Tennessee Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill, City of Nashville Mayor John Cooper, NHLPA Assistant to the Executive Director Ron Hainsey, Navy Federal Credit Union Manager of Branch Operation Ronald Fletcher, Predators defensemen Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm, and Lightning defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh.

The Stadium Series game, set for Feb. 26, 2022, will feature the Nashville Predators and the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.

This will be the second regular-season outdoor game for the Predators, who were defeated by the Dallas Stars 4-2 in the 2020 NHL Winter Classic in Dallas. The game will be the first-regular-season outdoor game for the Lightning, who will become the 27th NHL team to participate in such a game.

Predators Recall Goaltender Connor Ingram & Forward Tommy Novak

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Connor Ingram. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have recalled goaltender Connor Ingram and forward Tommy Novak from Milwaukee (AHL). The team has assigned forward Cody Glass to Milwaukee and placed goaltender David Rittich on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

In 2020-2021, his second professional season, Novak tied for the lead in points on the AHL’s Chicago Wolves with 32 (8 goals, 24 assists) in 27 games. In addition to leading Chicago in assists, he was fifth among all AHL skaters in the category and tied for 12th in points. Novak recorded eight multi-point performances and concluded the AHL’s regular-season on a 10-game point streak (5 goals, 10 assists) after spending time with the Predators’ taxi squad. Originally drafted by the Predators in the third round (85th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Novak spent four years at the University of Minnesota.

Ingram closed out 2020-21, his fourth professional season, by appearing in five games for Chicago (AHL), going 1-3-1, after beginning the campaign by dressing in nine contests for Björklöven of the Swedish second league. He recorded the best statistical season of his professional career with Milwaukee in 2019-20, going 21-5-5 with a 1.92 goals-against average and .933 save percentage en route to a spot on the AHL’s Second All-Star Team and a nod to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic. His 21 victories in two seasons ago were tied for the third-most in the AHL, and he shared the AHL’s Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, which is presented to the goaltender or goaltenders who allow the fewest goals per game in the regular season.

Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round (88th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Ingram is 56-26-8 in 95 career AHL appearances since making his debut in 2017-18. A two-time AHL All-Star (2019, 2020) he’s also posted 12 career AHL shutouts, two of which came with Milwaukee in 2019-20.

The Predators dropped their first two games of the season to the Seattle Kraken and Carolina Hurricanes, but will be back at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 19 when the face the Los Angeles Kings.

ESPN 102.5 The Game, Nashville Predators Sign Multi-Year Extension

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Pete Webb and Hal Gill. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators and 102.5 The Game have signed a multi-year extension, securing the ESPN radio affiliate as the official flagship station and broadcast partner of the Nashville Predators Radio Network.

“For over ten years the Predators have been the ‘best’ to work with. They’ve brought such excitement to Nashville, and we look forward to continuing our partnership together. We are very proud to be the flagship home of the Nashville Predators Network,” says Cromwell Media President Bud Walters.

The voice of the Nashville Predators Radio Network, Pete Weber, will be returning for his 23rd season with the organization. Former Predators defenseman Hal Gill is entering his fifth season as the color analyst with the network, and Darren McFarland will continue to host the pre- and post-game shows held in the former Patron Platinum Club.

“We are proud of being ESPN’s No. 1 franchise in all of sports. Working alongside Nashville’s best sports talk radio station we feel we can continue to grow our dedicated Smashville fan base,” says Chris Junghans, Nashville Predators Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. “As we work to ‘Paint the Town Preds’ in 2021-22 and beyond, we are thrilled to have Cromwell Media and its entire family of radio stations at our side.”

ESPN 102.5 The Game is currently in its 11th season as the official station of the Nashville Predators, dating back to the 2011-12 NHL season. The Game is the first radio station in Nashville to clear all pre-season, regular-season and post-season games on one frequency.

Mattias Ekholm Inks Four-Year, $25 Million Deal With The Predators

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Mattias Ekholm. Photo: Courtesy of the NHL

Nashville Predators veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm has signed a four-year $25 million deal, earning him $6.25 a year until the 2025-26 season.

Ekholm, 31, has played his entire eight-season, 586-game NHL career with the Predators after making his League debut during the 2011-12 campaign.

“When you think about foundational pieces on our hockey team, Mattias Ekholm is certainly at the top of the list, and we couldn’t be happier to get this deal done with the start of the regular season upon us,” says Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager David Poile. “An alternate captain who leads both vocally and by example, Mattias brings stability and size to our defense corps and has embraced serving as a mentor to the younger players on our team. We have a group of young, right-shot defensemen that includes Alexandre Carrier, Philippe Myers, Dante Fabbro and Matt Benning who all have the opportunity to learn from and play with Mattias on the side opposite him, and we’re excited about the stability that will provide us on the blue line.”

Ekholm was drafted by the Predators in the fourth round (102nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft and has gone on to suit up in 71 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He reached the 20-point mark for the sixth consecutive season in 2020-21, tallying 23 (6 goals, 17 assists), the second-most among Predators defensemen; he also was third among all Nashville skaters in assists with 17. Ekholm led the Predators and was tied for 16th among all NHL defensemen in plus-minus at +19, the third-highest total of his NHL career.

Ekholm, who served as an alternate captain for Nashville last season, also notched two game-winning goals and recorded his first career multi-goal game on Feb. 27 against Columbus. In six Stanley Cup Playoff games, Ekholm recorded three assists, including two in Nashville’s Game 4 victory versus. Carolina, and averaged a career-high 26:27 of ice time, the second-best total on the team.

“Staying with this organization and in this city was a priority for me and my family, and I’m so excited to be able to sign this contract,” says Ekholm. “Nashville is home for us – it’s where we want to be. I believe in the future of this team and I’m looking forward to the chance at competing for the Stanley Cup here in the next five seasons.”

NHL Drops 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Logo To Be Hosted In Las Vegas

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The National Hockey League and Las Vegas Golden Knights have unveiled the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star logo as the city of Las Vegas prepares to host the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at T-Mobile Arena in February.

The 2022 Honda NHL All-Star logo is inspired by the neon lights and marquee signs on the historic Las Vegas Strip. The logo itself takes the form of the many classic marquee signs on Las Vegas’ hotels and casinos, combined with the shape of the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The All-Star type is inspired by the mid-century modern typography familiar to many casinos on the Strip.

The color palette also pays homage to the host team, using the black, red and gold of the Vegas Golden Knights. The dark background also portrays how Vegas comes to life at night, with the red and gold acting as the neon lights against the dark sky. The logo also features a pair of hockey sticks at the very bottom.

Honda is celebrating 14 years as the Official Vehicle of the National Hockey League and will support the NHL throughout the 2021-22 season as the exclusive automotive partner of the NHL.

The 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend will include the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills on Friday, Feb. 4 and the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Predators Promote Scott Nichol To Assist General Manager

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Scott Nichol. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have promoted Scott Nichol to Assistant GM. He will also continue to serve as GM of the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators AHL affiliate, and will be the organization’s Director of Player Development.

“I’m proud to announce Scott’s deserved promotion to Assistant General Manager,” says President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile. “In the last few years, he has taken on more and more responsibility–from running our player development, to being in charge of our team in Milwaukee–and I feel this next step is right for both Scott and our organization. When you combine Scott’s work ethic and foundational understanding of what it takes to work in the NHL, you can see why he has been able to be successful at this level. With Scott joining our two other Assistant General Managers in Jeff Kealty, who oversees our pro and amateur scouting, and Brian Poile, who runs our hockey operations, I’m proud of the homegrown management staff we have assembled.”

The 2021-22 season will be Nichol’s 13th with the Predators organization, serving as Director of Player Development since 2013, GM of the Admirals since 2018, and a player from 2005-09. During his eight season as Director of Player Development, Nichol has helped players secure full-time spots in the NHL with the Predators, including Filip Forsberg, Colton Sissons, Eeli Tolvanen, Alexandre Carrier, Yakov Trenin, Tanner Jeannot and Mathieu Olivier.

“I’m very excited and honored by this announcement,” comments Nichol. “I think we have a really good management team here in Nashville, and we each bring a different skillset. I’d like to thank David for sharing his experience and knowledge with me – he has helped me work toward this point in my career, and he runs a team that has an inclusive environment with a lot of communication and trust. I’ve been very lucky to have been able to join the Predators organization after the end of my playing career and I’m excited to see what the future has in store.”

In the 2019-20 season, the Edmonton, Akberta native engineered a Milwaukee club that went 41-14-5-3 (90 points) and won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular-season champions. The Admirals had the AHL’s best defense, allowing just 2.24 goals per game, and the team’s offense ranked seventh in scoring (3.35).

Nichol rejoined the Predators organization in May 2013 after completing a 20-season professional career that spanned from 1994-2012. He played four seasons with the Predators, posting 47 points in 209 games. A veteran of 662 career NHL games, he played with Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Nashville, San Jose and St. Louis.