2008–09 Nashville Predators season

Professional ice hockey team season

2008–09 Nashville Predators
Division5th Central
Conference10th Western
2008–09 record40–34–8
Home record24–13–2
Road record16–21–4
Goals for213
Goals against233
Team information
General managerDavid Poile
CoachBarry Trotz
CaptainJason Arnott
Alternate captainsJean-Pierre Dumont
Shea Weber
ArenaSommet Center
Average attendance15,011 (87.7%)
Total: 615,439

The 2008–09 Nashville Predators season began on October 10, 2008. It was the Nashville Predators' 11th season in the National Hockey League. The Predators ended up missing the playoffs for the first time since 2002-03 season

Pre-season

2008 Pre-season Game Log: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap
1 September 25 Atlanta 4–2 Nashville Rinne 10,558 0–1–0 [1]
2 September 26 Nashville 3–4 Columbus MacIntyre 11,964 0–2–0 [2]
3 September 27 Columbus 1–3 Nashville Ellis 12,078 1–2–0 [3]
4 October 2 Carolina 4–2 Nashville Ellis 12,903 1–3–0 [4]
5 October 3 Nashville 6–4 Atlanta Rinne 6,753 2–3–0 [5]
6 October 5 Nashville 0–2 Carolina Ellis 11,313 2–4–0 [6]

Regular season

Divisional standings

Central Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 y – Detroit Red Wings 82 51 21 10 295 244 112
2 Chicago Blackhawks 82 46 24 12 264 216 104
3 St. Louis Blues 82 41 31 10 233 233 92
4 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 41 31 10 226 230 92
5 Nashville Predators 82 40 34 8 213 233 88

Conference standings

Western Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 p – San Jose Sharks PA 82 53 18 11 257 204 117
2 y – Detroit Red Wings CE 82 51 21 10 295 244 112
3 y – Vancouver Canucks NW 82 45 27 10 246 220 100
4 Chicago Blackhawks CE 82 46 24 12 264 216 104
5 Calgary Flames NW 82 46 30 6 254 248 98
6 St. Louis Blues CE 82 41 31 10 233 233 92
7 Columbus Blue Jackets CE 82 41 31 10 226 230 92
8 Anaheim Ducks PA 82 42 33 7 245 238 91
8.5
9 Minnesota Wild NW 82 40 33 9 219 200 89
10 Nashville Predators CE 82 40 34 8 213 233 88
11 Edmonton Oilers NW 82 38 35 9 234 248 85
12 Dallas Stars PA 82 36 35 11 230 257 83
13 Phoenix Coyotes PA 82 36 39 7 208 252 79
14 Los Angeles Kings PA 82 34 37 11 207 234 79
15 Colorado Avalanche NW 82 32 45 5 199 257 69

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner
CE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division


Game log

2008–09 Game Log
October: 5–4–1 (Home: 4–1–0 ; Road: 1–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
1 October 10 Nashville 2–5 St. Louis Ellis 19,150 0–1–0 0 [7]
2 October 11 Dallas 1–3 Nashville Ellis 17,113 1–1–0 2 [8]
3 October 13 Nashville 3–2 Chicago SO Ellis 21,712 2–1–0 4 [9]
4 October 15 Nashville 4–6 Dallas Ellis 16,899 2–2–0 4 [10]
5 October 17 Nashville 3–5 Columbus Ellis 17,930 2–3–0 4 [11]
6 October 18 Columbus 3–6 Nashville Ellis 13,259 3–3–0 6 [12]
7 October 23 Calgary 5–3 Nashville Ellis 12,042 3–4–0 6 [13]
8 October 25 Los Angeles 4–5 Nashville Ellis 14,704 4–4–0 8 [14]
9 October 28 Nashville 3–4 Washington SO Ellis 17,011 4–4–1 9 [15]
10 October 30 Edmonton 1–3 Nashville Rinne 11,294 5–4–1 11 [16]
November: 6–6–1 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 5–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
11 November 1 Florida 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 14,909 6–4–1 13 [17]
12 November 4 Nashville 0–4 Vancouver Ellis 18,630 6–5–1 13 [18]
13 November 6 Nashville 6–7 Calgary Ellis 19,289 6–6–1 13 [19]
14 November 8 Nashville 0–1 Colorado Ellis 18,007 6–7–1 13 [20]
15 November 11 Nashville 4–3 San Jose OT Ellis 17,496 7–7–1 15 [21]
16 November 14 Nashville 4–3 Anaheim OT Ellis 16,485 8–7–1 17 [22]
17 November 15 Nashville 3–1 Los Angeles Ellis 14,135 9–7–1 19 [23]
18 November 17 San Jose 4–1 Nashville Ellis 13,312 9–8–1 19 [24]
19 November 21 Nashville 1–4 Tampa Bay Ellis 16,444 9–9–1 19 [25]
20 November 23 Nashville 5–2 Carolina Ellis 13,042 10–9–1 21 [26]
21 November 25 St. Louis 1–0 Nashville SO Ellis 13,825 10–9–2 22 [27]
22 November 28 Nashville 4–3 Atlanta OT Rinne 15,022 11–9–2 24 [28]
23 November 29 Minnesota 6–2 Nashville Ellis 13,990 11–10–2 24 [29]
December: 6–6–1 (Home: 5–1–0 ; Road: 1–5–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
24 December 1 Nashville 2–0 Buffalo Rinne 18,690 12–10–2 26 [30]
25 December 4 Colorado 2–3 Nashville Rinne 12,717 13–10–2 28 [31]
26 December 6 Minnesota 0–1 Nashville Rinne 14,408 14–10–2 30 [32]
27 December 8 Nashville 3–6 St. Louis Rinne 14,537 14–11–2 30 [33]
28 December 9 Vancouver 3–1 Nashville Ellis 12,441 14–12–2 30 [34]
29 December 11 Nashville 1–2 Columbus SO Ellis 13,484 14–12–3 31 [35]
30 December 13 Dallas 0–3 Nashville Ellis 15,426 15–12–3 33 [36]
31 December 18 Nashville 1–2 Phoenix Ellis 14,193 15–13–3 33 [37]
32 December 20 NY Islanders 0–1 Nashville Rinne 16,457 16–13–3 35 [38]
33 December 23 Nashville 0–3 Florida Rinne 14,703 16–14–3 35 [39]
34 December 26 Detroit 2–3 Nashville Ellis 17,113 17–14–3 37 [40]
35 December 28 Nashville 2–5 Edmonton Ellis 16,839 17–15–3 37 [41]
36 December 29 Nashville 1–5 Colorado Rinne 15,643 17–16–3 37 [42]
January: 4–8–0 (Home: 2–5–0 ; Road: 2–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
37 January 1 Vancouver 2–1 Nashville Rinne 16,502 17–17–3 37 [43]
38 January 3 Calgary 3–2 Nashville Ellis 14,321 17–18–3 37 [44]
39 January 6 Colorado 2–1 Nashville Rinne 13,598 17–19–3 37 [45]
40 January 8 Pittsburgh 3–5 Nashville Rinne 14,297 18–19–3 39 [46]
41 January 10 Chicago 1–4 Nashville Rinne 16,802 19–19–3 41 [47]
42 January 11 Nashville 1–3 Chicago Ellis 21,666 19–20–3 41 [48]
43 January 13 Nashville 2–0 Toronto Rinne 19,223 20–20–3 43 [49]
44 January 15 Nashville 2–3 Montreal Rinne 21,273 20–21–3 43 [50]
45 January 17 Atlanta 7–2 Nashville Ellis 17,113 20–22–3 43 [51]
46 January 19 New Jersey 3–1 Nashville Rinne 14,848 20–23–3 43 [52]
47 January 28 Nashville 5–3 Vancouver Rinne 18,630 21–23–3 45 [53]
48 January 30 Nashville 1–3 Calgary Rinne 19,289 21–24–3 45 [54]
February: 10–4–1 (Home: 7–2–1 ; Road: 3–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
49 February 1 Nashville 2–1 Edmonton Rinne 16,839 22–24–3 47 [55]
50 February 3 Phoenix 1–2 Nashville Rinne 13,195 23–24–3 49 [56]
51 February 5 Anaheim 2–4 Nashville Rinne 14,877 24–24–3 51 [57]
52 February 6 Nashville 2–0 Minnesota Ellis 18,568 25–24–3 53 [58]
53 February 8 Nashville 1–4 Dallas Ellis 17,689 25–25–3 53 [59]
54 February 10 Detroit 5–3 Nashville Rinne 15,077 25–26–3 53 [60]
55 February 12 St. Louis 3–4 Nashville SO Rinne 14,307 26–26–3 55 [61]
56 February 14 Boston 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 27–26–3 57 [62]
57 February 16 Ottawa 2–0 Nashville Rinne 14,681 27–27–3 57 [63]
58 February 18 Nashville 2–6 Detroit Ellis 20,066 27–28–3 57 [64]
59 February 19 St. Louis 2–1 Nashville OT Rinne 15,037 27–28–4 58 [65]
60 February 21 Nashville 1–0 St. Louis OT Rinne 19,250 28–28–4 60 [66]
61 February 24 Chicago 3–5 Nashville Rinne 15,075 29–28–4 62 [67]
62 February 26 Phoenix 1–4 Nashville Rinne 14,954 30–28–4 64 [68]
63 February 28 Detroit 0–8 Nashville Rinne 17,113 31–28–4 66 [69]
March: 7–3–4 (Home: 4–1–2 ; Road: 3–2–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
64 March 3 Edmonton 5–6 Nashville OT Rinne 14,194 32–28–4 68 [70]
65 March 5 Columbus 2–4 Nashville Rinne 13,064 33–28–4 70 [71]
66 March 7 Nashville 1–4 Philadelphia Rinne 19,611 33–29–4 70 [72]
67 March 10 Washington 2–1 Nashville OT Ellis 16,064 33–29–5 71 [73]
68 March 12 NY Rangers 4–2 Nashville Ellis 16,241 33–30–5 71 [74]
69 March 14 Nashville 2–0 Phoenix Rinne 13,197 34–30–5 73 [75]
70 March 16 Nashville 4–3 Los Angeles Rinne 17,810 35–30–5 75 [76]
71 March 18 Nashville 3–4 Anaheim OT Rinne 16,181 35–30–6 76 [77]
72 March 19 Nashville 2–3 San Jose SO Rinne 17,496 35–30–7 77 [78]
73 March 24 Anaheim 2–1 Nashville SO Rinne 16,418 35–30–8 78 [79]
74 March 26 San Jose 2–3 Nashville Rinne 16,562 36–30–8 80 [80]
75 March 28 Los Angeles 3–4 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 37–30–8 82 [81]
76 March 29 Nashville 4–3 Detroit Rinne 20,066 38–30–8 84 [82]
77 March 31 Nashville 1–2 Columbus Rinne 14,495 38–31–8 84 [83]
April: 2–3–0 (Home: 1–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
78 April 3 Nashville 1–3 Chicago Rinne 21,628 38–32–8 84 [84]
79 April 4 Columbus 4–5 Nashville SO Rinne 16,750 39–32–8 86 [85]
80 April 7 Chicago 4–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 39–33–8 86 [86]
81 April 9 Nashville 4–3 Detroit SO Rinne 20,066 40–33–8 88 [87]
82 April 10 Nashville 4–8 Minnesota Rinne 18,568 40–34–8 88 [88]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Nashville Predators failed to qualify for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, making it the first time that the Predators missed the playoffs since 2003.

Player stats

Skaters

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals 
Regular season
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Jean-Pierre Dumont 82 16 49 65 +1 20
Jason Arnott 65 33 24 57 +2 49
Shea Weber 81 23 30 53 +1 80
Martin Erat 71 17 33 50 -7 48
Ryan Suter 82 7 38 45 -16 73
David Legwand 73 20 22 42 -3 32
Joel Ward 79 17 18 35 +1 29
Steve Sullivan 41 11 21 32 +2 30
Dan Hamhuis 82 3 23 26 -4 67
Radek Bonk 66 9 16 25 -12 34
Vernon Fiddler 78 11 6 17 -13 24
Ryan Jones 46 7 10 17 +1 22
Jordin Tootoo 72 4 12 16 -15 124
Jerred Smithson 82 4 9 13 -6 49
Kevin Klein 63 4 8 12 -2 19
Greg Zanon 82 4 7 11 +8 38
Ville Koistinen 38 3 8 11 0 14
Scott Nichol 43 4 6 10 0 41
Rich Peverley‡ 27 2 7 9 -3 15
Patric Hornqvist 28 2 5 7 -3 16
Antti Pihlstrom 53 2 5 7 -1 10
Greg de Vries 71 1 4 5 -15 65
Cal O'Reilly 11 3 2 5 +2 2
Wade Belak† 38 0 2 2 -1 54
Nick Tarnasky‡ 11 0 1 1 +1 17
Jed Ortmeyer 2 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Santorelli 7 0 0 0 -5 2

Goaltenders

Note:  Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO
Pekka Rinne 52 2999 29 15 4 119 2.38 1435 1316 .917 7
Dan Ellis 35 1964 11 19 4 96 2.93 963 867 .900 3

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Patric Hornqvist 1st NHL Game October 10, 2008
Ryan Jones 1st NHL Game October 10, 2008
Joel Ward 1st NHL Goal October 10, 2008
Jean-Pierre Dumont 600th NHL Game October 15, 2008
Patric Hornqvist 1st NHL Goal
1st NHL Point		 October 15, 2008
Ryan Jones 1st NHL Goal
1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point		 October 15, 2008
Jean-Pierre Dumont 400th NHL Point October 18, 2008
Patric Hornqvist 1st NHL Assist October 25, 2008
Jason Arnott Franchise Single Season Goal Record (33) April 10, 2009

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
4th-round pick in 2008 – Dale Weise 		To St. Louis Blues
Chris Mason
June 20, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
1st-round pick (7th overall) in 2008 – Colin Wilson 		To New York Islanders
1st-round pick (9th overall) in 2008 – Josh Bailey
2nd-round pick in 2008 – Aaron Ness
June 20, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
1st-round pick (18th overall) in 2008 – Chet Pickard
3rd-round pick in 2009 – Taylor Beck 		To Ottawa Senators
1st-round pick (15th overall) in 2008 – Erik Karlsson
September 29, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
Nick Tarnasky 		To Tampa Bay Lightning
Conditional 6th-round pick in 2009 – Jaroslav Janus
October 30, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
Hugh Jessiman 		To New York Rangers
Future Considerations
October 30, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
Tim Ramholt 		To Philadelphia Flyers
Josh Gratton
November 27, 2008
 To Nashville Predators
Wade Belak 		To Florida Panthers
Nick Tarnasky

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms
Player New team
Alex Henry Montreal Canadiens
Darcy Hordichuk Vancouver Canucks

Claimed via waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers

Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 7 (from Toronto via NY Islanders) Colin Wilson (C)  United States Boston University (Hockey East)
1 18 (from Ottawa) Chet Pickard (G)  Canada Tri-City Americans (WHL)
2 38 (from Toronto via Phoenix) Roman Josi (D)  Switzerland SC Bern (NLA)
5 136 Taylor Stefishen (LW)  Canada Langley Chiefs (BCHL)
6 166 Jeff Foss (D)  United States Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
7 201 (from NY Rangers) Jani Lajunen (C)  Finland Espoo Blues (Finland Jr.)
7 207 (from San Jose) Anders Lindback (G)  Sweden Brynäs IF (Elitserien)

See also

Farm teams

References