2014–15 Nashville Predators season

The 2014–15 Nashville Predators season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.
==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.http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=714642
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.
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.
==Regular season==
==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.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
=== Suspensions/fines ===
Player 	Explanation 	Length 	Salary 	Date issued
Anton Volchenkov	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
James Neal 	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
Craig Smith 	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
==Schedule and results==
===Pre-season===
2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)	2014 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–3–0 (Home: 3–1–0 ; Road: 0–2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 23 	Nashville 	2–4 	Tampa Bay 	 	Mazanec 	10,442 	0–1–0 	Recap
2 	September 25 	Tampa Bay 	0–1 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	13,107 	1–1–0 	Recap
3 	September 27 	Florida 	1–2 	Nashville 	SO 	Hutton 	12,700 	2–1–0 	Recap
4 	September 27 	Florida 	1–4 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	15,741 	3–1–0 	Recap
5 	September 29 	Columbus 	3–0 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	11,905 	3–2–0 	Recap
6 	October 4 	Nashville 	2–3 	Columbus 	 	Rinne 	14,786 	3–3–0 	Recap
===Regular season===
2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log 	2014–15 Game Log
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October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)	October: 6–2–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 9 	Ottawa 	2–3 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,113 	1–0–0 	2 	Recap
2 	October 11 	Dallas 	1–4 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,113 	2–0–0 	4 	Recap
3 	October 14 	Calgary 	3–2 	Nashville 	SO 	Rinne 	15,654 	2–0–1 	5 	Recap
4 	October 17 	Nashville 	2–0 	Winnipeg 	 	Rinne 	15,016 	3–0–1 	7 	Recap
5 	October 18 	Nashville 	1–2 	Chicago 	OT 	Hutton 	21,640 	3–0–2 	8 	Recap
6 	October 21 	Arizona 	3–4 	Nashville 	SO 	Rinne 	15,694 	4–0–2 	10 	Recap
7 	October 23 	Chicago 	2–3 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,157 	5–0–2 	12 	Recap
8 	October 25 	Pittsburgh 	3–0 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,218 	5–1–2 	12 	Recap
9 	October 29 	Nashville 	4–1 	Edmonton 	 	Rinne 	16,839 	6–1–2 	14 	Recap
10 	October 31 	Nashville 	3–4 	Calgary 	 	Rinne 	18,505 	6–2–2 	14 	Recap
===Playoffs===
2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs 	2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	Central Division First Round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2	
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Series 	Recap 	
1 	April 15 	Chicago 	4–3 	Nashville 	2OT 	Rinne 	17,225 	0–1 	Recap 	
2 	April 17 	Chicago 	2–6 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,208 	1–1 	Recap 	
3 	April 19 	Nashville 	2–4 	Chicago 	 	Rinne 	22,020 	1–2 	Recap 	
4 	April 21 	Nashville 	2–3 	Chicago 	3OT 	Rinne 	22,014 	1–3 	Recap 	
5 	April 23 	Chicago 	2–5 	Nashville 	 	Rinne 	17,238 	2–3 	Recap 	
6 	April 25 	Nashville 	3–4 	Chicago 	 	Rinne 	22,171 	2–4 	Recap 	
==Player stats==
Final Stats 
;Skaters
 Regular Season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	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
 	37	0 	10	10	1 	26
‡ 	26	1 	9 	10	0 	2
 	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
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	6	4	2	6	1 	4
 	6	1	4	5	2 	4
 	6	4	1	5	0 	8
 	6	5	0	5	−1	0
 	6	2	3	5	2 	0
 	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
 	3	0	1	1	1 	0
 	2	0	1	1	0 	2
 	4	1	0	1	2 	0
 	6	1	0	1	−5	0
 	6	1	0	1	4 	2
 	1	0	0	0	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
 Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	6	6	425	2	4	19	2.68	208	.909	0	0	1	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
Player	Award 	Awarded
 	NHL Third Star of the Week 	November 17, 2014
 	NHL Rookie of the Month 	December 1, 2014
 	NHL Third Star of the Month 	December 1, 2014
 	NHL Second Star of the Week 	December 29, 2014
 	NHL All-Star game selection 	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 	February 16, 2015
=== Milestones ===
 Regular Season
Player 	Milestone 	Reached
 	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 Game1st Career NHL Goal1st 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
Player 	Milestone 	Reached
 	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 Game1st Career Playoff Assist1st Career Playoff Point	April 15, 2015
 	1st Career Playoff Game1st Career Playoff Assist1st Career Playoff Point	April 15, 2015
 	1st Career Playoff Assist1st Career Playoff Point 	April 15, 2015
 	1st Career Playoff Game1st Career Playoff Goal1st Career Playoff Point 	April 17, 2015
F. Forsberg	1st Career Playoff Goal1st Career Playoff Assist1st Career Playoff Point	April 17, 2015
 	1st Career Playoff Goal1st 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 Goal1st 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 	Details 	Details
June 27, 2014Nashville Predators Acquire James Neal From Pittsburgh 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Patric HornqvistNick Spaling 	To Nashville Predators James Neal
June 28, 2014Preds Select Two in Second RoundPredators Select Seven at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft	To San Jose SharksDET's 2nd-round pick in 2014 	To Nashville Predators2nd-round pick in 20144th-round pick in 2015
June 28, 2014 	To San Jose Sharks3rd-round pick in 20144th-round pick in 2014 	To Nashville PredatorsFLA's 3rd-round pick in 2014
December 29, 2014Nashville Acquires Arcobello From Edmonton 	To Edmonton OilersDerek Roy 	To Nashville PredatorsMark Arcobello
February 15, 2015Nashville Acquires Franson and Santorelli From Toronto 	To Toronto Maple LeafsOlli JokinenBrendan Leipsic 1st-round pick in 2015	To Nashville PredatorsCody FransonMike Santorelli
=== Free agents acquired ===
Date 	Player 	Former team 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2014 	Olli Jokinen 	Winnipeg Jets 	1 year, $2.5 million 	Predators Sign Olli Jokinen to One-Year Deal
July 7, 2014 	Anton Volchenkov	New Jersey Devils	1 year, $1 million 	Nashville Predators Sign Anton Volchenkov to a One-Year Contract
July 15, 2014	Mike Ribeiro 	Arizona Coyotes 	1 year, $1.05 million 	Nashville Predators Sign Mike Ribeiro to a One-Year Contract
July 15, 2014	Derek Roy 	St. Louis Blues 	1 year, $1 million 	Nashville Predators Sign Derek Roy to a One-Year Contract
April 9, 2015	Steve Moses 	Jokerit 	1 year, $1 million 	Nashville Predators Sign Forward Steve Moses
=== Free agents lost ===
Date 	Player 	New team 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars)	Ref
July 1, 2014 	Patrick Eaves 	Dallas Stars 	1 year, $650,000 	Dallas Stars Sign Right Wing Patrick Eaves
August 5, 2014	Michael Del Zotto	Philadelphia Flyers	1 year, $1.3 million 	
===Claimed via waivers===
Player	Former team	Date claimed off waivers
=== Lost via waivers ===
Player 	New team 	Date claimed off waivers
Mark ArcobelloPenguins Claim Forward Mark Arcobello	Pittsburgh Penguins	January 14, 2015
===Player signings===
Date 	Player 	Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) 	Ref
July 4, 2014 	Joe Piskula 	1 year, $550,000 	Nashville Predators Sign Joe Piskula to a One-Year Contract
July 8, 2014 	Anthony Bitetto 	1 year, $605,000 	Nashville Predators Sign Anthony Bitetto to a One-Year Contract
July 9, 2014 	Mattias Ekholm 	2 years, $2.075 million 	Nashville Predators Sign Mattias Ekholm to a Two-Year Contract
July 15, 2014 	Viktor Arvidsson	3 year, $1.895 million entry-level contract	Nashville Predators Sign 2014 Fourth Round Pick Viktor Arvidsson to an Entry Level Contract
July 15, 2014 	Kevin Fiala 	3 year, $2.775 million entry-level contract	Nashville Predators Sign 2014 First Round Pick Kevin Fiala
September 25, 2014	Ryan Ellis 	5 years, $12.5 million 	Nashville Predators Agree to Terms with Defenseman Ryan Ellis
September 30, 2014	Taylor Beck 	1 year, $550,000 	Nashville Predators Sign Taylor Beck to a One-Year Contract
May 6, 2015 	Marek Mazanec 	1 year, $575,000 	Nashville Predators Sign Mazanec to a One-Year Contract
June 16, 2015 	Juuse Saros 	3 years, entry-level contract 	Nashville Predators Sign 2013 Draftee Juuse Saros
==Draft picks==
The 2014 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	11 	Kevin Fiala 	LW 	 	HV71 (Sweden-Jr.)
2 	42 	Vladislav Kamenev	LW 	 	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
2 	51 	Jack Dougherty 	D 	 	U.S. NTDP (USHL)
3 	62 	Justin Kirkland 	LW 	 	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
4 	112	Viktor Arvidsson 	LW 	 	Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
5 	132	Joonas Lyytinen 	D 	 	KalPa (Finland)
6 	162	Aaron Irving 	D 	 	Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
;Draft notes
*The San Jose Sharks' second-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent Detroit's second-round pick in 2014 (46th overall) to San Jose in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2015 and this pick.
*The Florida Panthers' third-round pick (previously acquired by San Jose) went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent a third and fourth-round pick (72nd and 102nd overall) both in 2014 to San Jose in exchange for this pick.
*The Nashville Predators third-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent Florida's third-round pick in 2014 (62nd overall) to Nashville in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2014 (102nd overall) and this pick.
*The Nashville Predators fourth-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014 that sent Florida's third-round pick in 2014 (62nd overall) to Nashville in exchange for a third-round pick in 2014 (72nd overall) and this pick.
*The St. Louis Blues' fourth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 30, 2013 that sent a fourth-round pick in 2013 to St. Louis in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2013 and this pick.Predators Select 10 at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
*The Nashville Predators' seventh-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as a result of a trade on April 19, 2014 that sent Jaynen Rissling to Nashville in exchange for this pick.Nashville Predators Acquire Jaynen Rissling From Washington
==References==
Category:Nashville Predators seasons
Nashville