2014–15 Nashville Predators season explained

League:NHL
Season:2014–15
Year:2014
Team:Nashville Predators
Conference:Western
Conferencerank:3rd
Division:Central
Divisionrank:2nd
Record:47–25–10
Homerecord:28–9–4
Roadrecord:19–16–6
Goalsfor:232
Goalsagainst:208
Generalmanager:David Poile
Coach:Peter Laviolette
Captain:Shea Weber
Altcaptain:Mike Fisher
James Neal
Arena:Bridgestone Arena
Attendance:16,854[1]
(41 games)
Goalsleader:Filip Forsberg (26)
Assistsleader:Mike Ribeiro (47)
Pointsleader:Filip Forsberg (63)
Plusminusleader:Colin Wilson (+21)
Pimleader:Shea Weber (70)
Winsleader:Pekka Rinne (39)
Gaaleader:Pekka Rinne (2.08)

The 2014–15 Nashville Predators season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.[2]

Off-season

The day after the end of the Predators' 2013–14 season, where the team missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second-straight year, it was announced that after 17 years at the helm of the Nashville Predators, Barry Trotz was relieved of his duties as head coach.[3]

On May 6, 2014, it was announced that Peter Laviolette, former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, was hired to replace Trotz as the new head coach of the Predators. The team also hired Kevin McCarthy as an assistant coach.[4]

On June 27, 2014, during the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Predators traded right winger Patric Hornqvist and restricted free agent Nick Spaling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for right winger James Neal.

Playoffs

See also: 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Nashville Predators entered the playoffs as the Central Division's second seed. They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the first round.

Suspensions/fines

PlayerExplanationLengthSalaryDate issued
Illegal check to the head of Calgary Flames forward Micheal Ferland during NHL Game No. 151 in Calgary on Friday, October 31, 2014, at 19:06 of the second period. 4 games $21,505.36 November 2, 2014[5]
Diving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 447 in San Jose on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at 19:39 of the third period. $2,000.00 December 17, 2014[6]
High-sticking on Buffalo Sabres forward Jerry D'Amigo during NHL Game No. 1075 in Nashville on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 17:50 of the first period. $5,000.00 March 22, 2015[7]

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

2014–15 Game Log
Legend:

Playoffs

Player stats

Final stats[8]

Skaters

Regular Season
Playerdata-sort-type="number"
82 26 37 63 15 24
82 15 47 62 11 52
81 15 40 55 15 26
78 15 30 45 15 72
82 23 21 44 11 44
77 20 22 42 19 22
59 19 20 39 4 39
67 23 14 37 12 57
58 9 18 27 8 27
82 8 19 27 3 20
62 7 18 25 8 16
80 7 11 18 12 52
74 7 11 18 2 18
62 8 8 16 −4 18
73 4 10 14 7 60
69 3 10 13 −13 10
60 7 5 12 0 15
25 2 8 10 0 18
26 1 9 10 0 2
37 0 10 10 1 26
46 0 7 7 4 14
48 3 3 6 2 26
22 1 3 4 −7 6
23 1 3 4 0 2
1 1 0 1 1 0
†‡ 4 1 0 1 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 −1 2
7 0 0 0 −1 7
1 0 0 0 −1 0
6 0 0 0 0 0
Playoffs
Playerdata-sort-type="number"
6 4 2 6 1 4
6 5 0 5 −1 0
6 4 1 5 0 8
6 2 3 5 2 0
6 1 4 5 2 4
6 0 4 4 −6 6
6 1 2 3 1 0
6 0 3 3 4 2
6 1 1 2 −1 4
5 0 2 2 1 0
6 0 2 2 −2 0
4 1 0 1 2 0
6 1 0 1 −5 0
6 1 0 1 4 2
1 0 0 0 0 2
3 0 1 1 1 0
2 0 1 1 0 2
6 0 0 0 −1 22
4 0 0 0 0 2
5 0 0 0 −2 2
5 0 0 0 −3 2
1 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders

Regular Season
Player
64 64 3,851 41 17 6 140 2.18 1807 .923 4 0 1 8
18 17 1010 6 7 4 44 2.61 450 .902 1 0 0 0
2 1 106 0 1 0 4 2.26 47 .915 0 0 0 0
Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular Season
PlayerAwardAwarded
NHL Third Star of the Week[9] November 17, 2014
NHL Rookie of the Month[10] December 1, 2014
NHL Third Star of the Month[11] December 1, 2014
NHL Second Star of the Week[12] December 29, 2014
NHL All-Star game selection[13] January 10, 2015
NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015
NHL All-Star game rookie selection January 10, 2015
NHL Third Star of the Week[14] February 16, 2015

Milestones

Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
200th Career NHL Game October 18, 2014
600th Career NHL Game October 29, 2014
300th Career NHL Game October 29, 2014
500th Career NHL Game November 6, 2014
500th Career NHL Point November 18, 2014
100th Career NHL Game November 29, 2014
200th Career NHL Game December 11, 2014
1,200th Career NHL Game December 20, 2014
900th Career NHL Game December 27, 2014
900th Career NHL Game December 29, 2014
100th Career NHL Game December 29, 2014
20,000 Career NHL Minutes December 30, 2014
1st Career NHL Game
1st Career NHL Goal
1st Career NHL Point
January 8, 2015
R. Josi 100th Career NHL Point January 8, 2015
1st Career NHL Game January 17, 2015
M. Fisher 500th Career NHL Point January 29, 2015
M. Ribeiro 700th Career NHL Point February 7, 2015
100th Career NHL Game February 10, 2015
200th Career NHL Game February 26, 2015
400th Career NHL Assist February 26, 2015
M. Cullen 1,200th Career NHL Game March 3, 2015
P. Rinne 200th Career NHL Win March 14, 2015
1st Career NHL Game March 24, 2015
C. Wilson 100th Career NHL Assist March 24, 2015
M. Ribeiro 500th Career NHL Assist April 4, 2015
200th Career NHL Game April 7, 2015
400th Career NHL Game April 9, 2015
100th Career NHL Game April 11, 2015
Playoffs
PlayerMilestoneReached
1st Career Playoff Game April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game
1st Career Playoff Assist
1st Career Playoff Point
April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game
1st Career Playoff Assist
1st Career Playoff Point
April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Assist
1st Career Playoff Point
April 15, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game
1st Career Playoff Goal
1st Career Playoff Point
April 17, 2015
F. Forsberg 1st Career Playoff Goal
1st Career Playoff Assist
1st Career Playoff Point
April 17, 2015
1st Career Playoff Goal
1st Career Playoff Point
April 17, 2015
1st Career Playoff Goal April 17, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game April 19, 2015
M. Ekholm 1st Career Playoff Goal
1st Career Playoff Point
April 19, 2015
1st Career Playoff Game April 21, 2015
F. Forsberg 1st Career Playoff Hat-Trick April 23, 2015

Transactions

The Predators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season.

Trades

Date
June 27, 2014[15] To Pittsburgh Penguins
Patric Hornqvist
Nick Spaling
To Nashville Predators
James Neal
June 28, 2014
[16] [17]
To San Jose Sharks
DET's 2nd-round pick in 2014
To Nashville Predators
2nd-round pick in 2014
4th-round pick in 2015
June 28, 2014
To San Jose Sharks
3rd-round pick in 2014
4th-round pick in 2014
To Nashville Predators
FLA's 3rd-round pick in 2014
December 29, 2014[18] To Edmonton Oilers
Derek Roy
To Nashville Predators
Mark Arcobello
February 15, 2015[19] To Toronto Maple Leafs
Olli Jokinen
Brendan Leipsic
1st-round pick in 2015
To Nashville Predators
Cody Franson
Mike Santorelli

Free agents acquired

Date Player Former team Contract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
July 1, 20141 year, $2.5 million[20]
July 7, 20141 year, $1 million[21]
July 15, 20141 year, $1.05 million[22]
July 15, 20141 year, $1 million[23]
April 9, 20151 year, $1 million[24]

Free agents lost

Date Player New team Contract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
July 1, 20141 year, $650,000 [25]
August 5, 2014 1 year, $1.3 million [26]

Player signings

Date Player Contract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
July 4, 2014 1 year, $550,000 [28]
July 8, 2014 Anthony Bitetto 1 year, $605,000 [29]
July 9, 2014 2 years, $2.075 million [30]
July 15, 2014 3 year, $1.895 million entry-level contract [31]
July 15, 2014 3 year, $2.775 million entry-level contract [32]
September 25, 2014 5 years, $12.5 million [33]
September 30, 2014 1 year, $550,000 [34]
May 6, 2015 1 year, $575,000 [35]
June 16, 2015 3 years, entry-level contract [36]

Draft picks

See also: List of Nashville Predators draft picks. The 2014 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[37]

RoundPlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
111Kevin FialaLWHV71 (Sweden-Jr.)
242Vladislav KamenevLWMetallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
251Jack DoughertyDU.S. NTDP (USHL)
362Justin KirklandLWKelowna Rockets (WHL)
4112Viktor ArvidssonLWSkellefteå AIK (SHL)
5132Joonas LyytinenDKalPa (Finland)
6162Aaron IrvingDEdmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Draft notes

[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014–2015 NHL Attendance – National Hockey League – ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20081214165302/http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance. live. December 14, 2008. ESPN.
  2. Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. 2013. Diamond Sports Data, Inc.. 81. 978-1-894801-26-3.
  3. Web site: Trotz out as Predators coach after 15 years.
  4. Web site: New Era. 6 May 2014.
  5. Web site: Predators' Volchenkov suspended four games. NHL. November 2, 2014.
  6. Web site: Predators' Neal fined $2,000 for diving/embellishment. NHL. December 17, 2014.
  7. Web site: Predators' Smith fined for high-sticking. NHL. March 22, 2015.
  8. Web site: 2014–2015 Regular Season Stats – Points – Nashville Predators – Statistics. Nashville Predators. April 16, 2015.
  9. Web site: Lehtera, Price and Forsberg named stars of the week. NHL. November 17, 2014.
  10. Web site: Predators' Forsberg named NHL Rookie of Month. NHL. December 1, 2014.
  11. Web site: Giordano, Tarasenko, Rinne named stars of November. NHL. December 1, 2014.
  12. Web site: Gaudreau, Wilson, Gagner named 'Three Stars'. NHL. December 29, 2014.
  13. Web site: 2015 NHL All-Star selections highlighted by three Columbus Blue Jackets. NHL. January 10, 2015.
  14. Web site: Hossa, Toffoli and Rinne named stars of the week. NHL. February 16, 2015.
  15. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=724236 Nashville Predators Acquire James Neal From Pittsburgh
  16. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=724357 Preds Select Two in Second Round
  17. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=724433 Predators Select Seven at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
  18. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=746120 Nashville Acquires Arcobello From Edmonton
  19. Web site: Nashville Acquires Franson and Santorelli From Toronto . February 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215185641/http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=753452 . February 15, 2015 . dead .
  20. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725234 Predators Sign Olli Jokinen to One-Year Deal
  21. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725597 Nashville Predators Sign Anton Volchenkov to a One-Year Contract
  22. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=726244 Nashville Predators Sign Mike Ribeiro to a One-Year Contract
  23. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=726243 Nashville Predators Sign Derek Roy to a One-Year Contract
  24. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=762178 Nashville Predators Sign Forward Steve Moses
  25. http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=724983 Dallas Stars Sign Right Wing Patrick Eaves
  26. Web site: Flyers, Del Zotto agree to one-year contract . . August 5, 2014 . August 5, 2014.
  27. http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=748628 Penguins Claim Forward Mark Arcobello
  28. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725453 Nashville Predators Sign Joe Piskula to a One-Year Contract
  29. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725717 Nashville Predators Sign Anthony Bitetto to a One-Year Contract
  30. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=725751 Nashville Predators Sign Mattias Ekholm to a Two-Year Contract
  31. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=726281 Nashville Predators Sign 2014 Fourth Round Pick Viktor Arvidsson to an Entry Level Contract
  32. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=726334 Nashville Predators Sign 2014 First Round Pick Kevin Fiala
  33. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=731815 Nashville Predators Agree to Terms with Defenseman Ryan Ellis
  34. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=732433 Nashville Predators Sign Taylor Beck to a One-Year Contract
  35. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=766669 Nashville Predators Sign Mazanec to a One-Year Contract
  36. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=770942 Nashville Predators Sign 2013 Draftee Juuse Saros
  37. Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL.com. June 29, 2014.
  38. Web site: 2014 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions. Pro Sports Transactions. June 29, 2014.
  39. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=675951 Predators Select 10 at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
  40. http://predators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=715589 Nashville Predators Acquire Jaynen Rissling From Washington