CAPTAIN OBVIOUS PREDATOR FREE

He remained a popular member of the club’s alumni, particularly because of his status as an “Original Predator.” Sadly, Johnson took his own life in July of 2019. #NHL100 /eBZTjdpASx- NHL Public Relations February 11, 2017 Predators alumni Greg Johnson and Tomas Vokoun signing autographs during Day 1 of the NHL Centennial Fan Arena's stop in Nashville. Following the 2004-05 lockout, he and the Predators qualified for the playoffs again in his last go-around prior to seeing his contract expire and hit the free-agent market. 31 years old when named as captain after already being an alternate captain for the previous two seasons, it was a natural fit for him to succeed Fitzgerald as the team’s leader.ĭespite missing most of the 2002-03 season due to a major concussion, Johnson remained the designated captain, and the following season helped lead Nashville to their first-ever playoff appearance.

After playing 283 games with three different teams and winning an Olympic silver medal in 1994, Johnson settled into Nashville easily, playing 502 games as a Predator after being claimed in the expansion draft from Chicago. Greg Johnson (2002-06)Īnother seasoned veteran prior to joining Nashville, Johnson slid quickly into the captaincy following Fitzgerald’s trade. After signing on with the New Jersey Devils organization in 2015, he has remained with the team since then and is now in his first season as the team’s full-time general manager. After stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, he retired in 2006 and moved into player personnel with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he worked for the next eight seasons. He held the captaincy for all 307 games as a Predator before being traded in March of 2002 to the Chicago Blackhawks. Never an offensive force, Fitzgerald was a role player who was among the oldest players on that initial roster and seemed to be a natural fit as the team captain. New Jersey Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald was the first captain in Nashville’s history ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) Additionally, he finished second in the league that same season in shorthanded goals with six, and received multiple Selke votes in back-to-back seasons with Florida.

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS PREDATOR FREE

A veteran of 569 games prior to joining Nashville via free agency in July 1998, he had been a part of long playoff runs with both the New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers, including a Stanley Cup Final run with the latter in 1996.

A close examination of the Predators’ initial roster shows Fitzgerald was a logical choice. Tom Fitzgerald (1998-02)Ĭhoosing a franchise’s first captain can be a tricky task, and that’s why the Vegas Golden Knights waited until their fifth season to name their first. From their inception in 1998-99 until today, here is a history of the players who have worn the “C” on their sweater as a Predator. Since that first Predators squad hit the ice, they have had six team captains of varying skillsets on the ice, but all strong leaders in their own right. It wasn’t that long ago, however, that the NHL was still in an aggressive expansion mode, and when the Nashville Predators entered the league in 1998-99, it raised the number of teams playing then to 27. When the Seattle Kraken begin playing in 2021-22, the National Hockey League will officially have 32 teams.

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