# 2007–08 Nashville Predators season

The 2007–08 Nashville Predators season began October 4, 2007. It was their tenth season in the National Hockey League.
The 2007 off-season was dominated by the attempted purchase of the Predators by Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie, who signed a letter of intent to purchase the team for at least $220 million. The attempted sale led to widespread speculation that Balsillie intended to relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario, if the Predators failed to reach a 14,000 paid average attendance in 2007–08, allowing the team to break its lease. Balsillie had already entered negotiations on a lease at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. Despite calling the negotiations a "contingency plan," Balsillie petitioned the NHL to decide on his ability to relocate the franchise at the same time the NHL Board of Governors voted on his purchase of the team. However, the deal was ended by Predators Owner Craig Leipold on June 22, as he informed the NHL that he was pulling out of the agreement due to a lack of a finalized sale agreement and over concerns that Balsillie would relocate the team to Hamilton.
On August 1, a group led by local businessman David Freeman issued a letter of intent to purchase the Predators. The sale was approved by the Board of Governors on November 29.
In January, it was revealed that former Predators Owner Craig Leipold was purchasing the majority share in the Minnesota Wild.
Key dates prior to the start of the season:
* The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23.
* The free agency period began on July 1.

## Regular season

On November 15, 2007, Martin Erat scored just 19 seconds into the overtime period to give the Predators a 5–4 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Thrashers' Marian Hossa would tie that mark in overtime on December 23, 2007, in a 3–2 Atlanta road win over the St. Louis Blues. Both goals would prove to be the fastest overtime goals scored during the 2007–08 regular season.

### Divisional standings

Central Division :
| | | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 54 | 21 | 7 | 257 | 184 | 115 |
| 2 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 230 | 229 | 91 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 40 | 34 | 8 | 239 | 235 | 88 |
| 4 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 193 | 218 | 80 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 33 | 36 | 13 | 205 | 237 | 79 |

### Conference standings

Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Detroit Red Wings | CE | 82 | 54 | 21 | 7 | 257 | 184 | 115 |
| 2 | y – San Jose Sharks | PA | 82 | 49 | 23 | 10 | 222 | 193 | 108 |
| 3 | y – Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 44 | 28 | 10 | 223 | 218 | 98 |
| 4 | Anaheim Ducks | PA | 82 | 47 | 27 | 8 | 205 | 191 | 102 |
| 5 | Dallas Stars | PA | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 242 | 207 | 97 |
| 6 | Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 44 | 31 | 7 | 231 | 219 | 95 |
| 7 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 42 | 30 | 10 | 229 | 227 | 94 |
| 8 | Nashville Predators | CE | 82 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 230 | 229 | 91 |
| 8.5 ||||||||||
| 9 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 235 | 251 | 88 |
| 10 | Chicago Blackhawks | CE | 82 | 40 | 34 | 8 | 239 | 235 | 88 |
| 11 | Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 39 | 33 | 10 | 213 | 215 | 88 |
| 12 | Phoenix Coyotes | PA | 82 | 38 | 37 | 7 | 214 | 231 | 83 |
| 13 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CE | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 193 | 218 | 80 |
| 14 | St. Louis Blues | CE | 82 | 33 | 36 | 13 | 205 | 237 | 79 |
| 15 | Los Angeles Kings | PA | 82 | 32 | 43 | 7 | 231 | 266 | 71 |
Divisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner

### Game log
#### October

Record: 4–7–0; Home: 4–2–0; Road: 0–5–0
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 4 | Colorado | 0 – 4 | Nashville | Mason | 16,363 | 1–0–0 | 2 |
| 2 | October 6 | Dallas | 1 – 5 | Nashville | Mason | 13,079 | 2–0–0 | 4 |
| 3 | October 10 | Nashville | 1 – 4 | St. Louis | Mason | 19,150 | 2–1–0 | 4 |
| 4 | October 11 | Phoenix | 6 – 3 | Nashville | Mason | 12,155 | 2–2–0 | 4 |
| 5 | October 13 | Calgary | 7 – 4 | Nashville | Mason | 13,152 | 2–3–0 | 4 |
| 6 | October 17 | Nashville | 1 – 3 | Anaheim | Mason | 17,174 | 2–4–0 | 4 |
| 7 | October 20 | Nashville | 0 – 3 | San Jose | Mason | 17,496 | 2–5–0 | 4 |
| 8 | October 23 | Nashville | 0 – 6 | Los Angeles | Mason | 14,026 | 2–6–0 | 4 |
| 9 | October 25 | Atlanta | 0 – 3 | Nashville | Ellis | 13,383 | 3–6–0 | 6 |
| 10 | October 27 | Florida | 3 – 4 | Nashville | Ellis | 15,767 | 4–6–0 | 8 |
| 11 | October 30 | Nashville | 1 – 5 | Calgary | Mason | 19,289 | 4–7–0 | 8 |

#### November

Record: 8–2–2; Home: 3–1–1; Road: 5–1–1
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 12 | November 1 | Nashville | 3 – 0 | Vancouver | | Ellis | 18,630 | 5–7–0 | 10 |
| 13 | November 2 | Nashville | 4 – 1 | Edmonton | | Ellis | 16,839 | 6–7–0 | 12 |
| 14 | November 4 | Nashville | 5 – 2 | Chicago | | Mason | 12,086 | 7–7–0 | 14 |
| 15 | November 7 | Nashville | 3 – 2 | Detroit | SO | Mason | 16,885 | 7–7–1 | 15 |
| 16 | November 10 | Columbus | 4 – 3 | Nashville | SO | Mason | 15,947 | 8–7–1 | 17 |
| 17 | November 12 | Nashville | 4 – 1 | Columbus | | Mason | 12,554 | 9–7–1 | 19 |
| 18 | November 15 | Chicago | 4 – 5 | Nashville | OT | Mason | 15,353 | 10–7–1 | 21 |
| 19 | November 17 | St. Louis | 3 – 2 | Nashville | SO | Mason | 15,246 | 10–7–2 | 22 |
| 20 | November 19 | Nashville | 1 – 2 | St. Louis | | Mason | 15,239 | 10–8–2 | 22 |
| 21 | November 22 | Detroit | 2 – 3 | Nashville | | Mason | 14,346 | 11–8–2 | 24 |
| 22 | November 24 | Minnesota | 4 – 3 | Nashville | | Mason | 12,639 | 11–9–2 | 24 |
| 23 | November 29 | Nashville | 6 – 5 | Ottawa | | Ellis | 19,538 | 12–9–2 | 26 |

### December

Record: 6–9–0; Home: 3–4–0; Away: 4–5–0
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 24 | December 1 | Nashville | 5 - 4 | Montreal | SO | Ellis | 21,273 | 13-9-2 | 28 |
| 25 | December 4 | Nashville | 1 - 3 | Toronto | | Mason | 19,400 | 13-10-2 | 28 |
| 26 | December 6 | Vancouver | 5 - 2 | Nashville | | Ellis | 15,918 | 13-11-2 | 28 |
| 27 | December 8 | Anaheim | 2 - 4 | Nashville | | Mason | 13,469 | 14-11-2 | 30 |
| 28 | December 10 | Detroit | 2 - 1 | Nashville | | Ellis | 15,056 | 14-12-2 | 30 |
| 29 | December 13 | Colorado | 2 - 1 | Nashville | | Mason | 12,456 | 14-13-2 | 30 |
| 30 | December 15 | Nashville | 1 - 3 | Colorado | | Mason | 16,582 | 14-14-2 | 30 |
| 31 | December 18 | Nashville | 2 - 3 | Minnesota | | Ellis | 18,568 | 14-15-2 | 30 |
| 32 | December 19 | Nashville | 2 - 5 | Chicago | | Ellis | 14,151 | 14-16-2 | 30 |
| 33 | December 22 | Los Angeles | 3 - 4 | Nashville | | Ellis | 15,698 | 15-16-2 | 32 |
| 34 | December 23 | Nashville | 3 - 1 | Columbus | | Mason | 15,481 | 16-16-2 | 34 |
| 35 | December 26 | Nashville | 2 - 5 | Chicago | | Mason | 20,511 | 16-17-2 | 34 |
| 36 | December 27 | Columbus | 3 - 4 | Nashville | | Mason | 14,331 | 17-17-2 | 36 |
| 37 | December 29 | San Jose | 5 - 2 | Nashville | | Mason | 13,298 | 17-18-2 | 36 |
| 38 | December 31 | Nashville | 1 - 0 | Dallas | | Ellis | 18,584 | 18-18-2 | 38 |

#### January

Record: 8–3–3; Home: 5–1–1; Road: 3–2–2
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 39 | January 3 | Edmonton | 2 – 5 | Nashville | | Ellis | 12,676 | 19–18–2 | 40 |
| 40 | January 5 | Minnesota | 1 – 4 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 20–18–2 | 42 |
| 41 | January 7 | Nashville | 2 – 5 | Anaheim | | Ellis | 17,174 | 20–19–2 | 42 |
| 42 | January 8 | Nashville | 7 – 0 | Los Angeles | | Mason | 14,751 | 21–19–2 | 44 |
| 43 | January 12 | Nashville | 1 – 2 | Columbus | SO | Mason | 16,230 | 21–19–3 | 45 |
| 44 | January 13 | Chicago | 3 – 2 | Nashville | SO | Ellis | 12,484 | 21–19–4 | 46 |
| 45 | January 15 | Calgary | 0 – 3 | Nashville | | Mason | 11,764 | 22–19–4 | 48 |
| 46 | January 17 | Anaheim | 2 – 1 | Nashville | | Mason | 14,193 | 22–20–4 | 48 |
| 47 | January 19 | Nashville | 5 – 2 | St. Louis | | Mason | 19,275 | 23–20–4 | 50 |
| 48 | January 21 | St. Louis | 3 – 6 | Nashville | | Mason | 13,642 | 24–20–4 | 52 |
| 49 | January 22 | Nashville | 4 – 0 | Colorado | | Ellis | 15,235 | 25–20–4 | 54 |
| 50 | January 24 | Nashville | 3 – 4 | Phoenix | OT | Mason | 12,622 | 25–20–5 | 55 |
| 51 | January 29 | Nashville | 1 – 3 | Boston | | Mason | 14,150 | 25–21–5 | 55 |
| 52 | January 31 | Columbus | 2 – 4 | Nashville | | Mason | 13,745 | 26–21–5 | 57 |

#### February

Record: 6–4–3; Home: 5–2–2; Road: 1–2–1
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Record | Pts |
| 53 | February 2 | Phoenix | 2 – 3 | Nashville | | Ellis | 27–21–5 | 59 |
| 54 | February 5 | Carolina | 0 – 1 | Nashville | | Ellis | 28–21–5 | 61 |
| 55 | February 7 | Tampa Bay | 2 – 1 | Nashville | OT | Ellis | 28–21–6 | 62 |
| 56 | February 9 | Nashville | 3 – 4 | San Jose | | Ellis | 28–22–6 | 62 |
| 57 | February 10 | Nashville | 6 – 3 | Phoenix | | Ellis | 29–22–6 | 64 |
| 58 | February 12 | Detroit | 2 – 4 | Nashville | | Ellis | 30–22–6 | 66 |
| 59 | February 14 | Chicago | 6 – 1 | Nashville | | Mason | 30–23–6 | 66 |
| 60 | February 16 | St. Louis | 1 – 2 | Nashville | | Ellis | 31–23–6 | 68 |
| 61 | February 17 | Nashville | 4 – 5 | Minnesota | OT | Ellis | 31–23–7 | 69 |
| 62 | February 19 | Edmonton | 4 – 5 | Nashville | | Ellis | 32–23–7 | 71 |
| 63 | February 21 | Vancouver | 3 – 2 | Nashville | OT | Ellis | 32–23–8 | 72 |
| 64 | February 23 | Dallas | 6 – 3 | Nashville | | Ellis | 32–24–8 | 72 |
| 65 | February 27 | Nashville | 4 – 8 | Buffalo | | Mason | 32–25–8 | 72 |

#### March

Record: 7-6-1; Home: 2-4-0; Road: 5-2-1
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 66 | March 1 | Nashville | 3 – 1 | Dallas | | Ellis | 18,584 | 33–25–8 | 74 |
| 67 | March 4 | Nashville | 5 – 1 | Edmonton | | Ellis | 16,839 | 34–25–8 | 76 |
| 68 | March 6 | Nashville | 2 – 6 | Vancouver | | Ellis | 18,630 | 34–26–8 | 76 |
| 69 | March 7 | Nashville | 2 – 1 | Calgary | | Ellis | 19,289 | 35–26–8 | 78 |
| 70 | March 9 | Nashville | 3 – 4 | Detroit | | Mason | 20,066 | 35–27–8 | 78 |
| 71 | March 11 | San Jose | 2 – 1 | Nashville | | Ellis | 14,965 | 35–28–8 | 78 |
| 72 | March 13 | Los Angeles | 4 – 1 | Nashville | | Ellis | 15,853 | 35–29–8 | 78 |
| 73 | March 15 | Nashville | 3 – 1 | Detroit | | Ellis | 20,066 | 36–29–8 | 80 |
| 74 | March 18 | Washington | 4 – 2 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 36–30–8 | 80 |
| 75 | March 20 | Detroit | 6 – 3 | Nashville | | Mason | 17,113 | 36–31–8 | 80 |
| 76 | March 22 | Chicago | 1 – 2 | Nashville | SO | Ellis | 17,113 | 37–31–8 | 82 |
| 77 | March 25 | Columbus | 0 – 3 | Nashville | | Ellis | 16,330 | 38–31–8 | 84 |
| 78 | March 28 | Nashville | 2 – 0 | Columbus | | Ellis | 15,595 | 39–31–8 | 86 |
| 79 | March 30 | Nashville | 0 – 1 | Detroit | OT | Ellis | 20,066 | 39–31–9 | 87 |

#### April

Record: 2-1-0; Home: 1-0-0; Road: 1-1-0
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 80 | April 1 | Nashville | 4 – 3 | St. Louis | OT | Mason | 17,357 | 40–31–9 | 89 |
| 81 | April 3 | St. Louis | 2 – 3 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 41–31–9 | 91 |
| 82 | April 4 | Nashville | 1 – 3 | Chicago | | Mason | 21,929 | 41–32–9 | 91 |

## Playoffs
### Western Conference Quarter-finals: Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Nashville Predators (8)

Red Wings win series 4–2.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Series |
| 1 | April 10 | Nashville | 1 – 3 | Detroit | | Ellis | 20,066 | 0 – 1 |
| 2 | April 12 | Nashville | 2 – 4 | Detroit | | Ellis | 20,066 | 0 – 2 |
| 3 | April 14 | Detroit | 3 – 5 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 1 – 2 |
| 4 | April 16 | Detroit | 2 – 3 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 2 – 2 |
| 5 | April 18 | Nashville | 1 – 2 | Detroit | 1OT | Ellis | 20,066 | 2 – 3 |
| 6 | April 20 | Detroit | 3 – 0 | Nashville | | Ellis | 17,113 | 2 – 4 |

## Player stats
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Jason Arnott | 79 | 28 | 44 | 72 | 54 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Jean-Pierre Dumont | 80 | 29 | 43 | 72 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Alexander Radulov | 81 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Martin Erat | 76 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| David Legwand | 65 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Marek Zidlicky | 79 | 5 | 38 | 43 | 63 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Vernon Fiddler | 79 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 47 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Suter | 76 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 71 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Radek Bonk | 79 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Dan Hamhuis | 80 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 66 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |

### Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA |
| Chris Mason | 51 | 2692 | 18 | 22 | 6 | 130 | 4 | .898 | 2.90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.00 |
| Dan Ellis | 44 | 2229 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 87 | 6 | .924 | 2.34 | 6 | 357 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 0 | .938 | 2.52 |
| Pekka Rinne | 1 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.00 |

## Awards and records
### Records

On March 30, goaltender Dan Ellis had a 233:39 long shutout streak snapped in a 1–0 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. This was the fifth longest shutout streak in league history

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Jason Arnott | 700th NHL Point | October 4, 2007 |
| Ville Koistinen | 1st NHL Game | October 6, 2007 |
| Martin Erat | 200th NHL Point | October 11, 2007 |
| Jason Arnott | 900th NHL Game | October 23, 2007 |
| Dan Ellis | 1st NHL Shutout | October 25, 2007 |
| Kevin Klein | 1st NHL Assist | October 25, 2007 |
| Jason Arnott | 400th NHL Assist | October 27, 2007 |
| David Legwand | 500th NHL Game | November 10, 2007 |
| David Legwand | 300th NHL Point | November 15, 2007 |
| Chris Mason | 200th NHL Game | November 19, 2007 |
| Jed Ortmeyer | 200th NHL Game | December 1, 2007 |

## Transactions

The Predators were involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

### Trades

| June 18, 2007 | To Philadelphia Flyers Kimmo Timonen Scott Hartnell | To Nashville Predators Nashville's 1st-round pick in 2007 |
| June 22, 2007 | To Florida Panthers Tomas Vokoun | To Nashville Predators 1st-round pick in 2008 2nd-round pick in 2007 conditional 2nd-round pick |
| February 26, 2008 | To Tampa Bay Lightning 7th-round pick in 2008 | To Nashville Predators Jan Hlavac |
| February 26, 2008 | To Anaheim Ducks Future considerations | To Nashville Predators Brandon Bochenski |

### Free agents

| Player | Former team | Contract Terms |
| Jed Ortmeyer | New York Rangers | 2 years, $1.5 million |
| Radek Bonk | Montreal Canadiens | 2 years, $2.95 million |
| Greg de Vries | Atlanta Thrashers | 2 years, $5 million |
| Shane Willis | Carolina Hurricanes | 1 year, $475,000 |
| Dan Ellis | Dallas Stars | 1 year, $500,000 |
| Martin Gelinas | Florida Panthers | 1 year, $1.25 million |
| Josh Langfield | Detroit Red Wings | 1 year, $575,000 |
| Player | New team |
| Paul Kariya | St. Louis Blues |
| Sheldon Brookbank | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Vitaly Vishnevski | New Jersey Devils |

## Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio. The Predators possess the 23rd overall pick in the draft. The pick was originally traded to the Philadelphia Flyers when the Predators acquired Peter Forsberg. Nashville re-acquired the pick, however, on June 18 in exchange for Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team (League) |
| 1 | 23 | Jonathon Blum | D | United States | Vancouver Giants (WHL) |
| 2 | 54 | Jeremy Smith | G | United States | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) |
| 2 | 58 | Nick Spaling | C | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 3 | 81 | Ryan Thang | LW | United States | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) |
| 4 | 114 | Ben Ryan | C | United States | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) |
| 4 | 119 | Mark Santorelli | C | Canada | Chilliwack Bruins (WHL) |
| 5 | 144 | Andreas Thuresson | W | Sweden | Malmo Redhawks (SEL) |
| 6 | 174 | Robert Dietrich | D | Germany | DEG Metro Stars (DEL) |
| 7 | 204 | Atte Engren | G | Finland | Lukko (SM-liiga) |

## Farm teams
### Milwaukee Admirals

The Milwaukee Admirals are the Predators' top affiliate, playing in the American Hockey League in 2007–08.

### New Mexico Scorpions

The New Mexico Scorpions were a Predators' affiliate, playing in the Central Hockey League in 2007–08. On July 2, 2009, the Scorpions ceased operations.