Pekka Rinne Returns To Predators Organization As Special Alumni Advisor

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Pekka Rinne is back with the Predators, but his role will be off the ice as he joins the organization as a Special Alumni Advisor.

In this role, Rinne will learn from and observe alongside Predators Goaltending Coach Ben Vanderklok and Goaltending Development Coach Dave Rook with the team’s goalie prospects in Nashville, Milwaukee and overseas. Additionally, he will participate in alumni activities throughout Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area, and continue to serve as an ambassador and representative for the Nashville Predators Foundation.

“Since his retirement from playing, we’ve reminisced fondly about all the memories Pekka provided not only everyone in our organization but Predators fans worldwide, so we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him back in this capacity,” says President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile. “In addition to being such an impactful person in our community, we have no doubt that he will be a valuable resource for all the goaltenders in our system. Having his experience and presence will deeply benefit our entire organization both on and off the ice.”

Rinne, who served as Goaltending Coach for Finland’s silver-medal team at the 2022 World Junior Championship, retired in July 2021 as the franchise leader in nearly every goaltending category, including games played (683), wins (369), goals-against average (2.43), total TOI (39,413:29), shutouts (60) and saves (17,627). In NHL history, he sits 19th in shutouts and is tied for 19th in victories.

He retired following the 2020-21 season after being one of the top goaltenders in the NHL for over a decade. The winner of the 2018 Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender, Rinne was also a finalist for the award three other times (2011, 2012 and 2015). He was a four-time NHL All-Star (2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and he was twice voted to the NHL’s year-end All-Star Teams, including a First Team nod in 2017-18.

Rinne’s career goals-against average of 2.43 is tied for the fifth-best mark among goaltenders with at least 350 wins in NHL history, trailing only Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Jacques Plante and Jonathan Quick. Further signifying his impact on the NHL’s record books, Rinne is one of 12 goaltenders in League history to notch at least 350 wins and 60 shutouts, with eight members of that group enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Off the ice, Rinne won the 2021 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, an appropriate recognition of a career spent dedicated to the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities and the Predators Foundation.

Nashville Predators Honor Terry Crisp With Ice Rink Dedication Ceremony

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Terry Crisp with Preds mascot Gnash at the newly named Terry Crisp Rink. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have dedicated and renamed Rink One at Ford Ice Center Bellevue to the “Terry Crisp Ice Rink,” on Tuesday, Sept. 20, honoring the recently retiring Terry Crisp.

The rink dedication, which also featured Preds play-by-play announcer Pete Weber and Preds President and CEO Sean Henry, honored Crisp’s service to the Nashville Predators over the last two decades.

The ceremony included a presentation which highlighted Crisp’s career and announced the implementation of the Terry Crisp Scholarship fund. The Terry Crisp Scholarship fund will help an incoming freshman attending a public college in the state of Tennessee. The scholarship total will be $5,000 and will be spread out across the student’s entire college career. They must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA from sophomore to senior year to be eligible as well as display traits of leadership, hard work, perseverance and outstanding character. As a part of the application process, students will submit a two-to-three-page essay that details what they are passionate about.

Applications for the scholarship will be live in January of 2023 and close in late February of 2023. The selection committee – which will be members of the Nashville Predators staff – will pick their top five students with the winner being chosen by Terry and Sheila Crisp. The winner of the scholarship will be invited to a game in March of 2023 and will be honored on the Ford Bandstage with Crisp, his wife Sheila and Gnash.

Crisp, who retired after the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, served as an in-game analyst for 16 seasons with Weber before shifting to Predators LIVE pre and postgame shows as a studio analyst for the last seven seasons with host Lyndsay Rowley.

Nashville Predators Announce Single Game Ticket Promotions & Theme Nights For 2022-23 Season

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators organization has announced their single game ticket promotions and theme nights for the 41 home games during the 2022-23 season.

All fans–including students, families and hometown heroes–will be able to take advantage of the Preds’ full slate of single game ticket promotions offered during the upcoming season.

The Predators and Twice Daily have partnered to make 100 tickets available for $15 for each home contest at 10 a.m. CT the day of the game. To access these tickets, fans can go to the Twice Daily page in the Digital Preds Press to find that night’s Ticketmaster code. Fans can also sign up for Preds Golden Ticket to receive exclusive last-minute ticket offers.

Additionally, the Preds and MTSU are partnering once again to offer all men and women who serve in our armed services, as first responders, or 9-1-1 telecommunicators a 20 percent discount when verified by GovX. Super Tuesday specials will also be available where fans get two tickets, two hot dogs, two small sodas and a $5 Assembly Food Hall gift card for every Tuesday game during the 2022-23 season.

Families can also join in on these promotions with the Hunt Brothers Pizza Family 4-Pack, which includes four tickets, four Hunk A Pizza, four sodas and four Ford Ice Center Skate passes. Meanwhile, local university students can qualify for cheap tickets every Monday through Thursday home games exclusively through Golden U. Golden U members also receive Bridgestone Arena concert offers, and must have an .edu email address to join.

Nashville Predators Theme Nights:

  • Hispanic Heritage Night – Sept. 30 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Opening Night pres. by Nissan – Oct. 13 vs. Dallas Stars
  • Halloween Night pres. by Mars – Oct. 20 vs. Washington Capitals
  • Hockey Fights Cancer pres. by Vanderbilt – Nov. 19 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
  • NASCAR Night pres. by Hunt Brothers Pizza – Nov. 29 vs. Anaheim Ducks
  • Preds PixMob Holiday Light Show – Dec. 19 vs. Edmonton Oilers & Dec. 23 vs. Colorado Avalanche
  • Hockey is For Everyone – Jan. 16 vs. Calgary Flames
  • Celebrating Black History Month – Feb. 7 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
  • Mardi Gras – Feb. 21 vs. Vancouver Canucks
  • Ford Military Salute Week – March 14 vs. Detroit Red Wings, March 16 vs. Chicago Blackhawks, March 18 vs. Winnipeg Jets
  • Hockey Fights Cancer pres. by Vanderbilt – March 25 vs. Seattle Kraken

Theme Ticket Packs:

  • Oktoberfest – Oct. 18 vs. Los Angeles Kings
    • Celebrate Oktoberfest with a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded stein.
  • Law Enforcement Night – Nov. 15 vs. Minnesota Wild 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded Law Enforcement themed hat.
  • Top Gun Maverick Night – Nov. 21 vs. Arizona Coyotes 
    • Fans can purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a co-branded Preds x Top Gun Maverick t-shirt featuring Juice and Duchene.
  • Star Wars Night – Dec. 10 vs. Ottawa Senators 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for Star Wars Night on Dec. 10 vs. the Ottawa Senators and receive a limited edition “Filip Forceberg” bobblehead.
  • Healthcare Industry Appreciation Night – Dec. 13 vs. Edmonton Oilers 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded bento box.
  • Teacher Appreciation Night – Dec. 19 vs. Edmonton Oilers 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded bento box.
  • Firefighter Appreciation Night – Jan. 16 vs. Calgary Flames 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded Firefighter themed hat.
  • Yoga Night – Jan. 21 vs. Los Angeles Kings 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds branded yoga towel with your purchase.
  •  Margaritaville Night – Jan. 26 vs. New Jersey Devils
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds-branded Hawaiian shirt.
  • Golf Night – Feb. 28 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a Preds-branded ball marker with your purchase.
  • Pride Night – April 4 vs. Golden Knights 
    • Purchase a special theme ticket for this night and receive a limited-edition Pride Night T-shirt.

College Night Series:

  • College Night Series ticket package includes a Predators game ticket and a limited-edition co-branded Preds hat. Participating schools include:
    • University of Mississippi  on Nov. 17
    • Mississippi State University on Nov. 21
    • University of Alabama on Nov. 29
    • Middle Tennessee State University on Dec. 13
    • University of Tennessee on Jan. 3
    • University of Kentucky on Jan. 24
    • Vanderbilt University on Jan. 26
    • Tennessee State University on Feb. 7
    • Austin Peay State University on Feb. 13
    • Auburn University on March 14
    • University of Georgia on March 18
    • Belmont University on April 6

Former Nashville Predator P.K. Subban Retiring After 13 Seasons

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P.K. Subban. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Former Nashville Predator defenseman P.K. Subban has announced his retirement from the NHL via social media after 13 seasons.

The 33-year-old has accumulated 467 points throughout his career (115 goals, 352 assists) in 834 games for the Montreal Canadiens, Predators and New Jersey Devils, as well as 62 points (18 goals, 44 assists) in 96 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He won the 2013 Norris Trophy as he was voted best defenseman in the NHL and is a three-time NHL All-Star, making the First Team twice (2012-13, 2014-15) and the Second Team once (2017-18). He also won the 2022 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

“To all my fans that have supported me and continue to support me since the first day I stepped on the ice, thank you!” Subban shared in a statement on social media. “You picked me up when I was down, supported me through tough times and had my back through it all!”

Subban, chosen by the Canadiens in the second round (No. 43) of the 2007 NHL Draft, was traded to the Predators for defenseman Shea Weber in 2016. He had 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 22 playoff games to help Nashville advance to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.

Subban played one more season for the Predators before he was traded to the Devils in 2019, and had 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 77 games for the Devils last season.

Predators Announce Appointments To Hockey Operations Staff

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Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations & General Manager David Poile announced several appointments to the team’s hockey operations staff ahead of the 2022-23 season.

“I’m proud to announce the latest additions to our ever-growing hockey operations staff prior to the start of this season’s training camp,” says Poile. “Alongside our homegrown management staff of Assistant General Managers Jeff Kealty, Scott Nichol and Brian Poile, these individuals all bring different, valuable and innovative skillsets to a group that is dedicated each day to bringing a Stanley Cup to Nashville. We are excited to see how they complement each other and work on and off the ice to make our entire organization better.”

Joining head Coach John Hynes’ staff as a Skills Coach is Sebastien Bordeleau. Entering his fourth season with the organization, he previously served as Forward Development Coach from 2019-22, aiding Nichol in following and evaluating forward prospects drafted and signed by Nashville. He also assisted with their maturation process into NHL players by focusing on nutrition, off-ice workouts and conditioning, practice habits and game performance. Bordeleau spent three seasons with the Predators as a forward from 1998-01 where he tallied 68 points in 146 games. Since 2014, he has also worked as a skills and skating coach for the Canadian Women’s National Hockey Team.

Nathan Gerbe has been hired to replace Bordeleau as the team’s Forward Development Coach. He will assist Nichol in following and evaluating forward prospects drafted and signed by Nashville. A veteran of 13 professional seasons, Gerbe played parts of 11 campaigns in the NHL with Buffalo, Carolina and Columbus, tallying 151 points (63 goals, 88 assists) in 435 games. He closed out his playing career with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters from 2017-21, serving as captain for two seasons. He also skated two seasons in the Swiss league from 2016-18.

Former NHL player Brett Carson has joined Kealty’s staff as a North American Amateur Scout, working in the western part of the United States and Canada. The 36-year-old played 16 seasons of professional hockey from 2006-22, including parts of five campaigns in the NHL with Carolina and Calgary, tallying 13 points and in 90 games. A defenseman from Regina, Sask., Carson spent the previous nine years in Europe, skating four seasons in the Finnish Liiga, three in Austria, and one in the Swedish Hockey League, Slovakian league and German second league.

Ronda Engelhardt has also joined the scouting staff as a North American Amateur Scout based out of Minnesota. The first female scout in team history, she comes to the Predators organization after serving as head coach of the Premier Hockey Federation’s Minnesota Whitecaps for four seasons from 2018-22, where she won the Isobel Cup as league champions in 2018-19. Prior to her time with the Whitecaps, Engelhardt was the women’s hockey head coach at the Breck School, a Minnesota high school, from 2013-18, and was an assistant coach on the women’s team at the University of St. Thomas (Division III) for four seasons from 2003-07.

After spending the previous 17 seasons as strength coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, Jason Nordby will move to the Predators to become the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach and Biometrics Coordinator. Working under Predators Strength & Conditioning Coach David Good, he will assist with the team’s strength and conditioning programs and track player biometric performance during games, practices and off-ice workouts. During his time with Milwaukee, the team made the Calder Cup Playoffs 13 times, finishing first in their division on five occasions.

Michael Bingham joins the Predators’ equipment staff as Equipment Coordinator under Head Equipment Manager Pete Rogers and Assistant Equipment Manager Brad Peterson. This will be his first season with the NHL team after working the 2021-22 campaign as Milwaukee’s assistant equipment manager. The season before, Bingham served as equipment manager for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.

Rounding out the additions in Nashville, the 2022-23 season will mark Jon Sherman’s first with the organization as the Hockey Operations Coordinator and Analyst. He will work alongside Hockey Operations Coordinator Alexis Bazydola, who was hired last season out of the University of Connecticut after previously interning in the Predators’ hockey operations department.

Along with his primary duties, which involve player research and database management, Sherman will assist Hockey Analytics and Operations Manager Matt Hamann and Research and Data Development Engineer Dalton Linkus in Nashville’s analytics department and help in an administrative capacity. Sherman previously worked in various roles with the Washington Capitals, Arizona Coyotes, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), Dartmouth University (ECAC) and Boston University (Hockey East).

Nashville Predators To Be Featured In NHL Network Preseason Docuseries

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The National Hockey League and NHL Network will partner with the Nashville Predators for the third season of its all-access preseason docuseries Behind The Glass.

Premiering Friday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. CT and produced by NHL Network in association with NHL Original Productions, the Behind The Glass: Nashville Predators Training Camp four-part series will take a behind-the-scenes look at the NHL preseason through the lens of the Predators, who are looking to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.

Beginning Sept. 14, players will be mic’d up throughout training camp as the series captures unparalleled content. The series will provide an inside look at players undergoing endurance and skill tests, the intense process behind who will make the final roster, playing in the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge exhibition game in Switzerland, and ultimately preparing for the 2022 NHL Global Series season opener in Prague against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 7.

“The stakes are raised and expectations are high for the Nashville Predators and that makes this team the perfect candidate for Behind The Glass,” says NHL Chief Content Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Steve Mayer, who is the executive producer of this series. “Behind The Glass will help answer your questions and maybe confirm or dispel your theories on the inner workings of building a competitive NHL team. And it’s nice to be back producing this show after two years of protocol restrictions.”

Behind The Glass will shadow Predators general manager David Poile and recently extended head coach John Hynes for insight into their evaluations on the more than 50 players competing for 23 roster spots. Exclusive access to Roman Josi as he returns to his hometown of Bern, Switzerland will also be featured. Additionally, newly acquired Predators Ryan McDonagh, who brings two-time Stanley Cup Championship experience to the team, and long-time NHL winger Nino Niederreiter will be profiled. Mic’d up sound from recently extended mainstay Filip Forsberg, along with Juuse Saros, who finished third in Vezina Trophy voting last season, will also be shown.

“We love partnering with the league on their events and programming and there’s no better way to combine our participation in the Global Series Games with the all-access content that Behind the Glass provides,” notes Predators President/CEO Sean Henry. “Not only will this give the fans of Smashville the peak behind the curtain they crave, but will also prove to be a valuable way to chronicle our first trip to play games in Europe.”

The first season of Behind The Glass in 2018 offered fans a detailed look inside the NHL preseason of the New Jersey Devils. The Philadelphia Flyers were featured in the 2019 edition of the series.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Behind The Glass and provide fans an unprecedented look at how an NHL team prepares for the gauntlet of a new season,” adds NHL Network Vice President of Production Josh Bernstein. “The Predators have so many compelling storylines and fascinating players that we’re excited to unpack. Our production team is ready to film unfiltered, honest, and compelling content that our fans constantly crave.”

Behind The Glass: Nashville Predators Training Camp Episode Schedule:

  • Friday, Sept. 30: Episode 1, 9 p.m. CT
  • Tuesday, Oct. 4: Episode 2, 9 p.m. CT
  • Tuesday, Oct. 11: Episode 3, 7 p.m. CT
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18: Episode 4, 8 p.m. CT

Nashville Predators, Bally Sports South Renew Media Rights Agreement

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The Nashville Predators and Bally Sports South have agreed on terms to renew their local media rights agreement to keep the regional sports network as the team’s exclusive local media partner.

Bally Sports South has been the home of the Nashville Predators since the team’s inaugural season in 1998-99 and, under the new agreement, will continue to produce every regionally available regular season games, as well as the team’s first round games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The network’s pre- and postgame show, Predators Live, will continue to air before and after every game on Bally Sports South.

“By extending our media rights agreement, we are excited to continue one of the first relationships the Predators ever forged, because as long as we have played, our games have been brought to life through our incredible partnership,” says Predators President and CEO Sean Henry. “We are fortunate that Bally Sports South continually shows a desire to invest in and improve all features surrounding our broadcast throughout the year. As we enter the new season, Bally Sports South’s direct-to-consumer streaming product is the latest example of its commitment to our fan base in making our broadcast and Predators games even more readily available and accessible.”

“We have a longstanding relationship with the Nashville Predators and are excited to continue to collaborate on new, innovative ways to bring Predators games to fans,” says Jeff Genthner, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Bally Sports South. “Our new Bally Sports+ streaming product adds another viewing option to our linear distribution channels this season, giving fans an option to pay directly for Bally Sports South.”

Bally Sports+ is a new streaming platform that will offer live Predators games on a direct-to-consumer basis within the Predators’ local territory. Subscriptions for Bally Sports+ will be available on a monthly or annual basis beginning Sept. 26.

Predators, Vanderbilt Athletics To Host Smashville Showdown On Sept. 19

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Pictured (L-R): Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi and Vanderbilt baseball outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators players and student-athletes from Vanderbilt University will take part in the inaugural Smashville Showdown at Hawkins Field on Monday, Sept. 19, prior to the start of the team’s training camp and ahead of the 2022-23 NHL season.

The charity event, which kicks off at at 6 p.m. CT, will be comprised of two different events–a home run derby followed by a softball game with mixed teams of Predators players and Vanderbilt student-athletes. Predators Head Coach John Hynes and Vanderbilt Baseball Head Coach Tim Corbin will serve as the official coaches for the two softball teams, with mascots GNASH and Mr. C standing in as their assistants.

Tickets to attend the inaugural event are on sale now, with proceeds benefitting the Predators Foundation, the Vandy United Fund, and several local charitable organizations. Afterwards, the Predators Foundation will also auction off items worn and used by the participants in the event, including shirts, hats and bats.

“We are incredibly excited to collaborate with Vanderbilt University and bring our two organizations together for a unique project benefitting the local community,” says Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for Predators fans to see their favorite players trade their hockey helmets for batting helmets and step up to the plate alongside Vanderbilt student-athletes, all while helping a great cause. We hope this event will make a big impact in our community and be a staple of our preseason schedule for years to come.”

“Needless to say, we are thrilled to collaborate with the Nashville Predators on what we both hope to make an annual event for the community,” says Vanderbilt Baseball General Manager and Chief of Staff Brooks Webb. “This has been a vision for several years now, and it will be an exciting evening watching some of the best from the Predators and Vanderbilt on Hawkins Field become a reality.”

Additionally, Predators broadcasters Chris Mason and Lyndsay Rowley, along with in-arena host Wayne D, will be live from Hawkins Field bringing fans closer to the action with on-field interviews during the event.

More information about the Smashville Showdown will be released in the coming weeks.