2018–19 Nashville Predators season

The 2018–19 Nashville Predators season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. They entered the season as the defending Presidents' Trophy winners, which was won by the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 18, 2019. The Predators clinched a playoff spot on March 25, after a 1–0 win over the Minnesota Wild. They were later defeated by the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round. 
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Preseason===
The preseason schedule was published on June 12, 2018.
2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (Home: 0–2–0 ; Road: 3–1–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 17 	Nashville 	5–0 	Florida 	 	Saros 	5,806 	1–0–0 	Recap
2 	September 17 	Nashville 	5–3 	Florida 	 	Grosenick 	7,671 	2–0–0 	Recap
3 	September 21 	Tampa Bay 	5–1 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,342 	2–1–0 	Recap
4 	September 22 	Nashville 	2–5 	Tampa Bay 	 	Saros 	14,457 	2–2–0 	Recap
5 	September 25 	Carolina 	4–1 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,188 	2–3–0 	Recap
6 	September 30 	Nashville 	5–4 	Carolina 	OT 	Saros 	18,640 	3–3–0 	Recap
===Regular season===
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.
2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log 	2018–19 game log
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October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)	October: 9–3–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 5–0–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 4 	Nashville 	3–2 	NY Rangers 	 	Rinne 	17,117 	1–0–0 	2 	Recap
2 	October 6 	Nashville 	4–3 	NY Islanders 	 	Saros 	12,163 	2–0–0 	4 	Recap
3 	October 9 	Calgary 	3–0 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,209 	2–1–0 	4 	Recap
4 	October 11 	Winnipeg 	0–3 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,228 	3–1–0 	6 	Recap
5 	October 13 	NY Islanders 	2–5 	Nashville 	 	Saros 	17,208 	4–1–0 	8 	Recap
6 	October 15 	Minnesota 	2–4 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,165 	5–1–0 	10 	Recap
7 	October 19 	Nashville 	5–3 	Calgary 	 	Saros 	18,725 	6–1–0 	12 	Recap
8 	October 20 	Nashville 	3–0 	Edmonton 	 	Saros 	18,347 	7–1–0 	14 	Recap
9 	October 23 	San Jose 	5–4 	Nashville 	 	Saros 	17,159 	7–2–0 	14 	Recap
10 	October 25 	Nashville 	4–3 	New Jersey 	OT 	Saros 	15,164 	8–2–0 	16 	Recap
11 	October 27 	Edmonton 	5–3 	Nashville 	 	Saros 	17,248 	8–3–0 	16 	Recap
12 	October 30 	Vegas 	1–4 	Nashville 	 	Saros 	17,367 	9–3–0 	18 	Recap
===Playoffs===
The Predators faced the Dallas Stars in the First Round of the playoffs, and were defeated in six games.
2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs
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Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars: Dallas won 4–2
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Series 	Recap
1 	April 10 	Dallas 	3–2 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,458 	0–1 	Recap
2 	April 13 	Dallas 	1–2 	Nashville 	OT 	Rinne 	17,611 	1–1 	Recap
3 	April 15 	Nashville 	3–2 	Dallas 	 	Rinne 	18,532 	2–1 	Recap
4 	April 17 	Nashville 	1–5 	Dallas 	 	Rinne 	18,532 	2–2 	Recap
5 	April 20 	Dallas 	5–3 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,633 	2–3 	Recap
6 	April 22 	Nashville 	1–2 	Dallas 	OT 	Rinne 	19,025 	2–4 	Recap
==Player statistics==
As of April 22, 2019
===Skaters===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	80	14	50	64	7 	42
 	82	15	41	56	9 	42
 	64	28	22	50	8 	26
 	58	34	14	48	12	26
 	80	8 	36	44	27	47
 	82	7 	34	41	21	20
 	76	21	17	38	11	20
 	81	17	18	35	27	18
‡ 	64	10	22	32	 	26
 	63	9 	22	31	5 	60
 	75	15	15	30	20	23
 	79	10	16	26	13	12
 	55	7 	16	23	 	33
‡ 	64	10	10	20	7 	44
 	37	7 	9 	16	11	39
 	53	5 	8 	13	 	10
 	62	2 	6 	8 	7 	18
 	37	3 	4 	7 	5 	8
 	44	1 	6 	7 	5 	38
† 	26	5 	0 	5 	 	16
† 	16	1 	4 	5 	 	4
 	57	0 	5 	5 	 	28
 	55	3 	1 	4 	1 	2
† 	17	1 	2 	3 	4 	9
 	23	1 	2 	3 	1 	20
‡ 	18	0 	3 	3 	1 	8
 	4 	1 	1 	2 	2 	0
 	4 	1 	0 	1 	 	0
 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0 	2
† 	7 	0 	0 	0 	 	7
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	 	0
 	3 	0 	0 	0 	 	0
 	6 	0 	0 	0 	 	2
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	2
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	6	2	2	4	 	4
 	5	3	0	3	1	0
 	6	1	2	3	 	0
 	6	0	3	3	 	0
 	6	1	1	2	 	2
 	6	1	1	2	 	6
 	6	1	1	2	2	2
 	6	1	1	2	 	6
 	6	1	1	2	1	2
 	6	0	2	2	 	2
 	6	0	2	2	1	2
 	3	0	2	2	4	2
 	6	0	2	2	 	12
 	6	1	0	1	0	2
 	2	0	1	1	0	0
 	6	0	1	1	2	0
 	6	0	0	0	2	0
 	6	0	0	0	 	2
 	6	0	0	0	 	6
 	2	0	0	0	1	0
===Goaltenders===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	56	55	3,219:44	30	19	4	130	2.42	1,581	.918	4	0	0	4
 	31	27	1,696:13	17	10	2	74 	2.62	870 	.915	3	0	0	0
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	6	6	329:38	2	4	17	3.09	179	.905	0	0	0	0
 	1	0	45:29 	0	0	1 	1.32	21 	.952	0	0	0	2
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
==Transactions==
The Predators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To Florida Panthers3rd-round pick in 2018 	To Nashville Predators3rd-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Buffalo SabresJack Dougherty 	To Nashville PredatorsNicholas Baptiste 	
 	To New York RangersConnor Brickley 	To Nashville PredatorsCole Schneider 	
 	To New Jersey Devils2nd-round pick in 2019 	To Nashville PredatorsBrian Boyle 	
 	To New York Rangers7th-round pick in 2020 	To Nashville PredatorsCody McLeod 	
 	To Arizona CoyotesEmil Pettersson 	To Nashville PredatorsLaurent DauphinAdam Helewka	
 	To Toronto Maple LeafsNicholas Baptiste 	To Nashville PredatorsFuture considerations 	
 	To Minnesota WildKevin Fiala 	To Nashville PredatorsMikael Granlund 	
 	To Philadelphia FlyersRyan HartmanConditional 4th-round pick in 2020	To Nashville PredatorsWayne Simmonds 	
 	To Tampa Bay Lightning7th-round pick in 2021 	To Nashville PredatorsConnor Ingram 	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Connor Brickley 	from Florida Panthers 	1-year 	
 	Rocco Grimaldi 	from Colorado Avalanche 	1-year 	
 	Mark McNeill 	to Boston Bruins 	1-year 	
 	John Ramage 	to New Jersey Devils 	1-year 	
 	Jarred Tinordi 	from Pittsburgh Penguins 	1-year 	
 	Zac Rinaldo 	from Arizona Coyotes 	1-year 	
 	Colin Blackwell 	from Rochester Americans (AHL) 	2-year 	
 	Zachary Magwood 	from Barrie Colts (OHL) 	3-year 	
 	Harry Zolnierczyk	to Springfield Falcons (AHL) 	Unknown 	
 	Dan Hamhuis 	from Dallas Stars 	2-year 	
 	Trevor Smith 	to San Antonio Rampage (AHL) 	Unknown 	
 	Alexei Emelin 	to Avangard Omsk (KHL) 	3-year 	
 	Anders Lindback 	to Davos (NL) 	1-year 	
 	Matt Donovan 	from Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) 	2-year 	
 	Tom McCollum 	from Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Lukas Craggs 	from Bowling Green Falcons (WCHA) 	2-year 	
 	Brandon Fortunato	from Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC Hockey)	2-year 	
 	Josh Wilkins 	from Providence Friars (Hockey East) 	2-year 	
 	Mathieu Olivier 	from Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) 	2-year 	
===Waivers===
Date	Player 	Team 	Ref
 	Phillip Di Giuseppe	from Carolina Hurricanes	
 	Anthony Bitetto 	to Minnesota Wild 	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Tyler Moy 	Mutual termination	
 	Carl Persson 	Mutual termination	
 	Joonas Lyytinen 	Mutual termination	
 	Miroslav Svoboda	Mutual termination	
 	Filip Pyrochta 	Mutual termination	
===Retirement===
Date	Player 	Ref
 	Mike Fisher 	
 	Scott Hartnell	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Ryan Hartman 	1-year 	
 	Juuse Saros 	3-year 	
 	Miikka Salomaki	1-year 	
 	Ryan Ellis 	8-year 	
 	Pekka Rinne 	2-year 	
 	Laurent Dauphin	1-year 	
 	Adam Helewka 	1-year 	
 	Troy Grosenick 	1-year 	
 	Rem Pitlick 	2-year 	
 	Dante Fabbro 	3-year 	
==Draft picks==
Below are the Nashville Predators' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
4 	1111	Jachym Kondelik 	C 	 	Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
5 	1312	Spencer Stastney 	D 	 	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
5 	151 	Vladislav Yeryomenko	D 	 	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
7 	213 	Milan Kloucek 	G 	 	Dynamo Pardubice (ELH)
Notes:
# The Columbus Blue Jackets' fourth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on February 25, 2018, that sent Mark Letestu to Columbus in exchange for this pick.
# The Chicago Blackhawks' fifth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on February 26, 2018, that sent Victor Ejdsell and a first and fourth-round pick both in 2018 to Chicago in exchange for Ryan Hartman and this pick.
==References==
Category:Nashville Predators seasons
Nashville Predators