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From the Archive: Five Reasons the 2005-2006 Nashville Predators Made 'Smashville' Special

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Preds | Last updated 12/2/23

This season the Nashville Predators are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the franchise, and there have been plenty of big moments, playoff runs, and a Stanley Cup final in the team's history. There is something special about Nashville's 2005-2006 season as well. The signing of star Paul Kariya, the goaltending workhorse Tomas Vokoun, and the talent of Steve Sullivan suddenly helped make this small southern franchise one to watch.

In the November 1, 2005 edition of The Hockey News, writer David Boclair looked at five reasons the Nashville Predators had become "the best little team in the NHL".

NASHVILLE – It’s the start of the third period at Glendale Arena on Oct. 13. The home team, the Phoenix Coyotes, has two players in the penalty box and the visitors, the Nashville Predators, are moving the puck easily about the expanded offensive zone.

It’s a pure “new NHL”moment.

Suddenly Paul Kariya, three days shy of his 31st birthday, ignores all the wide-open space and rifles a pass from the right side of the net, through a crease that’s packed with players, and right on to the stick of Steve Sullivan, already 31, at the far post. It’s a pass few players could make and only a few more could handle, but Sullivan does and converts for a goal.

Meet the 2005-06 Predators. Once poor, young and lacking in high-end skill, they now can afford players as experienced and talented as Kariya and Sullivan…and the rest of the NHL can’t afford to overlook them.

The Preds quickly have cashed in on the new National Hockey League.

They struck it rich in the new business climate when they signed Kariya as a free agent in August. And now, after a consistent and patient approach to building the roster, the injection of new talent and the implementation of rule changes in the wake of the lockout, the 1998 expansion team looks like a legitimate contender in its seventh season of competition. Targeted by many over the past year as a primary reason the NHL was going bust, Nashville earned league-wide attention this season as the last Western Conference team without a defeat.

With that in mind, we offer five reasons to believe the Predators might be finished paying their expansion dues and finally can enjoy the payoff.

TALENT >

Quite simply, these are not the same Preds that finished 12th or below in the Western Conference standings four times in their first five seasons. No longer do they rely on underachieving players such as Sergei Krivokrasov or Sebastien Bordeleau to perform like high-scoring forwards or one-dimensional defensemen such as Jamie Heward or John Slaney to play serious minutes in all situations.

“I can look at our talent level in 1998-99 and we won 28 games,” said coach Barry Trotz. “I look at that eight years later and I’m trying to figure out how we won one game.”

Kariya’s credentials are beyond reproach. Sullivan is a proven scorer. Scott Walker has developed into a well-rounded performer who can contribute 50 points and 100 penalty minutes, if not more. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen played in the last NHL all-star game. And Marek Zidlicky quickly has established himself as an offensive force along the blueline, finishing fifth in scoring among D-men in 2003-04, with 14 goals and 39 points in 82 games.

Some of the lower spots on the depth chart are occupied by blueliners Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Suter and right winger Adam Hall, high draft picks who have lived up to expectations and offer promise for the future.

For evidence of the overall talent level, consider that seven players on the current Predators roster played at this year’s world championship for four different countries…and Kariya and Sullivan were not among them.

SPEED >

From the beginning, Nashville’s forwards have been an undersized bunch with overdrive to spare. They could stretch a defense and dismantle a forecheck, but they also could get bogged down against bigger opponents. Now that Walker, Kariya, Sullivan, Greg Johnson and Martin Erat, among others, have the room and freedom to skate – due to the crackdown on obstruction – that speed is even more of an asset.

“We’ve always been a fast team and finally the rules are in our favor now,” said defenseman Mark Eaton. “The speedy guys on our team have the extra room to turn it up and show their stuff now, and they’re performing. That’s key right now.”

Just as important, though, the team’s speed is not limited to its forwards. Led by Timonen and Zidlicky, the defense corps is more than adequately-equipped to keep pace with the league’s elite skaters. In past seasons, there was a tendency for that group to get run over by burly forwards, but the up-tempo style of play this season has changed that as well.

“Right now you have to move your feet to get back defensively,” Trotz said. “Our team speed allows us to do a few extra things that other teams might not have the ability to do.”

GOALTENDING >

Tomas Vokoun was the fifth goalie in Montreal’s organization when Nashville agreed to select him – as part of a deal with the Canadiens – in the 1998 expansion draft.

It was a little over four seasons before he supplanted Mike Dunham – Nashville’s featured selection in that same expansion draft – as the franchise’s top netminder. This past spring, when he led the Czech Republic to gold at the world championship and was named the tourament’s top goalie, Vokoun undeniably succeeded Dominik Hasek as his country’s pre-eminent netminder.

All that’s left is for him to become the best in the world – and that’s not out of the realm of possibility. He was 7-1-0 with a 1.08 goals-against average at the worlds. In his last two NHL seasons he has shown he can play 70 games and maintain his fitness and performance levels.

On top of all of that, Vokoun is unwaveringly competitive. In April, 2004, during Nashville’s first and only playoff series, he battled the Detroit Red Wings on the ice and in the press.

“I don’t feel any differently now than I felt three years ago going into a game,” he said. “Every time you step on the ice you want to win. You want to go out and not give up any goals. That’s not going to happen every night, but that’s your goal.”

WORK ETHIC >

Trotz is fond of referring to the “culture” that has been established during the previous six seasons, one that stresses humility, team play and hard work.

Opposing teams routinely referred to the Predators as “hard-working” in recent years, but it was almost a backhanded compliment. It was the one nice thing that could be said about them.

That work ethic, combined with the team’s unprecedented skill and ensuing raised confidence, has started to produce results. Nashville came from behind in the third period to win its first two games (against San Jose and Anaheim), then rallied from a 3-0 deficit halfway through its first road game (Oct. 12 at Colorado) and won 5-4.

THE KARIYA EFFECT >

Kariya is the most accomplished player ever to don a Predators sweater and his impact on the ice has been obvious. He delivered the game-deciding goal in each of Nashville’s first two shootouts. His third period goal against San Jose (Oct. 5) tied the score in a game Nashville eventually won. And the power play (seven goals in the first five games) never has been so dangerous.

In the wake of an injury-plagued season with Colorado, a year of inactivity during the lockout, and declining production in recent seasons, Kariya’s rebirth has been all anyone could have wanted. “He plays the game with skill and intelligence and knows how to get to the scoring areas,” said David Legwand, who has centered Kariya’s line. “That’s an exciting thing for me – someone of his stature. What he has done in this league and how he has proved himself over the years is pretty exciting.”

There’s also the fact Kariya chose to come to Nashville as a free agent. His decision was considered validation for the players, coaches and management who have worked to build the franchise from its expansion beginnings to the team that finally made the playoffs in 2003-04.

“I was really impressed playing against them and also watching them during the playoffs,” Kariya said. “They have terrific goaltending, a great work ethic and I think if they lacked anything it was scoring punch up front. I looked at that as a big role that I could fill and I was really excited to come here and do that.”

It was a decision that has paid off…for both sides.

SPECIAL TEAMS, INDEED

Finally, in Year 7, Nashville’s special teams are accurately named. Here’s the Predators’ rank on the power play (PP) and penalty killing (PK) since joining the NHL in 1998-99. Stats for 2005-06 are through Oct. 19.

NASHVILLE’S LITTLE BIG MEN

Eight of Nashville’s 13 forwards are less than 6-feet tall. The other five are big enough to make up for it. Here’s the average height and weight of the Preds’ eight small forwards – and five big ones. NHL average in 2003-04 is at bottom.

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Preds and was syndicated with permission.

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