Twenty-five years ago David Poile built the first Nashville Predators team in the expansion draft. Here is how The Hockey News predicted it would go. How close were they?
Twenty-five years ago David Poile built the first Nashville Predators team in the expansion draft. Here is how The Hockey News predicted it would go. How close were they?
2023 marked a brand new chapter for the Nashville Predators franchise. The only GM in the team's history announced his retirement in February, passed the General Manager reins to Nashville's inaugural head coach Barry Trotz who went on to hire one of the Predators' expansion drafts picks Andrew Brunette to become the new head coach.
Turning the page for the Predators after twenty-five years brings up a bit of nostalgia for how it all started back in 1998. Hindsight is, of course, 20/20. In Volume 51, Issue 37 of The Hockey News, the staff took a swing at predicting the Predators' expansion draft picks.
You heard it here first. When Garth Brooks is crooning the national anthem for the Nashville Predators’ home opener next October, these five players will be standing on the blueline: Pat LaFontaine at center, Brent Gilchrist at left wing and Dino Ciccarelli on the right. Sean O’Donnell and Sean Hill on defense and Mike Dunham in goal. Some creaky bones up front, but altogether not too shabby.
Two shifts later, out skates a third unit of Craig Darby, Radek Bonk and Mike Sullivan with Craig Rivet and Rob Zettler on defense. Well…they’ll work hard.
Of course, providing a home for the in-firm, elderly and unproven is what building an expansion team is all about. We know that now from first-hand experience. We window-shopped for Dominik Hasek and ended up with Tony Hrkac. Somewhere in here is a wistful country ditty just waiting to be written.
Nevertheless, Nashville GM David Poile remains undaunted in his career choice and unmoving in his insistence on battle plan secrecy. We believe his first task-the expansion draft-is all but taken care of, and told him as much. Fax over the team, said the GM, then we can talk.
We did. And what did Poile give us back? Vague generalities. He wouldn’t tell us which of the Phoenix Coyotes’ Jims he would prefer if both were available-Cummins or McKenzie (we like J.C.)-or even if there’d be a run for Scott Walker. We know junior center Marian Cisar, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings June 1, is the first Predator, but Poile wouldn’t name names of other game he’s hunting. “I think it’s very representative of what’s available,” Poile said of the THN list. “There are some things 1 know that you don’t necessarily know that would change things a little bit.”
Such as? Well, contract legalese, for one. Certain players we anticipate being exposed for the expansion draft may in fact become unrestricted free agents due to fine print in con-tracts. Some may be released outright. Then there’s the matter of trades. All rosters are frozen 48 hours after the last game of the Stanley Cup final. Before then, good teams will trade players they can’t protect to weaker teams, who deal a draft pick or prospect in return. For Nashville, it means they may get even more bottom-of-the barrel fish than the list you see here.
When choosing our Predators, we first predicted who would be available after teams submit protected lists, then tried to stay away from players with high salaries and give priority to youth over experience.
Nashville must draft one player from each team, including eight defensemen, 13 forwards and three goalies, plus two others at any position. They will likely be goalies.
THN EXPANSION PICKS
Nashville must select one player from each NHL team in the June 26 expansion draft-a total of three goalies, eight defensemen, 13 forwards and two others at any position (they will likely be goalies). We thought we’d give it a try first.
ANAHEIM MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV
Anaheim won’t have much else to offer (read forward J.F. Jomphe or defenseman Doug Hou-da) and Shtalenkov is a serviceable No. 2 goalie. Former Pittsburgh rookie star Patrick Lalime is Ducks’ property and will be available.
G Anaheim 13-18-5,3.22 GAA
BOSTON MIKE SULLIVAN
Defenseman Grant Ledyard is another option, but at 36 he doesn’t have much gas left. Don’t be overly shocked if Boston protects two goalies-By-ron Dafoe and yes, Jim Carey. In this case, Ted Donato or Steve Heinze would go.
C Boston 77-5-13-18-34
BUFFALO STEVE SHIELDS
If the Sabres do choose to protect Shields-we say they won’t-defenseman Jason Woolley (or, less likely, Bob Boughner) is a goner. Or. they could offer Nashville a bone in the form of Derek Plante not to take Shields.
G Buffalo 3-6-4,2.83 GAA
CALGARY JOEL BOUCHARD
Bouchard is a good, quick skater and skilled with the puck, but his reluctance to hit hard and hit often means he doesn’t have much of a future with Brian Sutter. He’d be a better addition than forwards Todd Hlushko, Jim Dowd or Ed Ward.
D Calqary 44-5-7-12-57
CAROLINA SEAN HILL
The choice between veterans Hill or Kevin Dineen is almost a toss-up. The best-case scenario for the Predators would be for Carolina to expose tough guy Stu Grimson, but it’s unlikely he’ll be available.
D Carolina 55-1-6-7-54
CHICAGO GREG JOHNSON
Johnson has speed and some offensive ability going for him, but not a whole lot else. In Nashville, that just might be enough. The Hawks’ biggest fear is losing backup goaltender Chris Terreri.
C Chicago 74-12-22-34-40
COLORADO ALEXEI GUSAROV
Although 34, Gusarov still has value, but not likely enough for the Avs to protect him over Aaron Miller, 26. If Colorado is forced to expose one of young forwards Rene Corbet, Stephane Yelle or Sean Donovan, Nashville would jump.
D Colorado 72-4-10-14-42
DALLAS GREG ADAMS
The Stars have the option on Adams’ contract next year, which they may be reluctant to pick up. If he stays healthy, he can contribute for Nashville. Minor league goalie Manny Fernandez or forward Dave Reid are other options.
LW Dallas 49-14-18-32-20
DETROIT BRENT GILCHRIST
Goalie Kevin Hodson will also be exposed and will merit consideration, but Gilchrist can provide some offense in the right role. Elder defenseman Jamie Macoun wouldn’t be as effective on a poor team as he can be with the Wings.
LW Detroit 61-13-14-27-40
EDMONTON TONY HRKAC
He’s old (32), but still has some offensive spark and creativity. He’ll only be available because of Edmonton’s numbers problems; to protect him, it would have to expose-and lose-young center Rem Murray.
C Edmonton 49-13-14-27-10
FLORIDA DINO CICCARELLI
Florida will expose a number of high-priced veterans including Ciccarelli, who could be a good asset for Nashville come the 1999 trade deadline Selecting one of defensemen Jeff Norton or Ter ry Carkner wouldn’t be unpalatable.
RW Florida 62-16-17-33-7C
Los ANGELES SEAN O’DONNELL
The Kings will lose a top-six defenseman because they’ll protect both Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr. Nashville’s real choice-a relatively pleasant one-is between tough customers O’Donnell and Doug Zmolek.
D Los Angeles 80-2-15-17-179
MONTREAL CRAIG RIVET
Rivet is young and has potential, but likely not enough for the Habs to protect him ahead of Peter Popovic. Although goalie Andy Moog has said he isn’t moving anywhere, the Predators could gain a draft pick by promising not to take him.
D Montreal 61-0-2-2-93
Yes, Al Maclnnis could be a Predator this summer. Bv the time autumn rolls around, he’ll be long qone.
EXPANSION DREAM TEAM
Goalies: Mike Dunham. Wade Flaherty, Steve Shields, Mikhail Shtalenkov, Peter Skudra.
Defensemen: Joel Bouchard, Enrico Ciccone, Alexei Gusarov, Scan Hill. Al Maclnnis, Sean O’Donnell, Craig Rivet. Rob Zettler.
Forwards: Greg Adams. Radek Bonk, Andrew Brunette. Dino Ciccarelli, Jim Cummins, Craig Darby, Brent Gilchrist, Stephen Guolla, Tony Hrkac, Greg Johnson. Pat LaFontaine, Mike Sullivan, Scott Walker.
THN EXPANSION PICKS
Teams can protect one goalie and either six defensemen and nine forwards or five defensemen and 10 forwards. If they decide to protect two goalies, the numbers fall to four and seven or three and eight We picked only players whom we believe will be exposed.
NEW JERSEY MIKE DUNHAM
A potential No. 1 goalie on a light contract is too good to pass up. The Devils have too many good forwards and defensemen to protect two goalies, though they’d be foolish not to try to get something back for Dunham in a deal first
G New Jersey 5-5-3,2.25 GAA
ISLANDERS WADE FLAHERTY
Flaherty proved in 16 games with the islanders this season that he could still play and he shone in the minors. The other options are defenseman J.J. Daigneault, who could easily be a top-six man on Nashville’s blueline, or forward Tom Chorske.
G Islanders 4-4-3,1.99
RANGERS PAT LAFONTAINE
Our longshot, pending LaFontaine’s health. Nashville needs a marquee player. If he retires because of concussion problems or can’t play, insurance will pay the big salary. If he does play, he’ll score some and put fannies in the seats.
C Ranqers 67-23-39-62-36
OTTAWA RADEK BONK
Odds are the third overall pick in 1994 has too much potential not to be chosen if left exposed. The change of scenery could only do him good. Don’t count goalie Ron Tugnutt out of the mix, either, or captain Randy Cunney worth.
C Ottawa 65-7-9-16-16
PHILADELPHIA CRAIG DARBY
Scouts are high on the high-scoring Philadelphia Phantom. He’s 25. talented, has never been given much of a chance and is better value for money than Joel Otto, Paul Coffey or other older Flyers likely to be exposed.
LW Philadelphia (AHL) 77-42-45-87-34
PHOENIX JIM CUMMINS
If tough guy Cummins isn’t left open, tough guy Jim McKenzie will be. One of them is almost certain to be nabbed. Then again, there’s always Michel Petit, ready and willing (wc can only assume) to make Nashville Team No. 11.
LW Phoenix 75-0-2-2-225
PITTSBURGH PETER SKUDRA
Skudra’s two-way contract may makes him more valuable to Nashville than veteran Ken Wregget. If Wregget is traded before then, it’s beside the point. If a goalie isn’t taken from the Pens, defenseman Neil Wilkinson will be.
G Pittsburgh 6-4-3,1.83 GAA
ST. LOUIS AL MACINNIS
Is an early second round pick better than Mike Eastwood? Yes, for an expansion team. Maclnnis, an unrestricted free agent, will sign elsewhere, but Nashville gets the compensatory pick. The same goes if the Predators take Brett Hull.
LW St. Louis 71-19-30-49-80
SAN JOSE STEPHEN GUOLLA
Guolla, the second leading American League scorer. is one of the top skill players who should be available. San Jose may try to protect him, even though he only played 11 NHL games in 1997-98. In any case, he’s deserving of a chance in the bigs.
LW Kentucky (AHL) 69-37-63-100-45
TAMPA BAY ENRICO CICCONE
Ciccone is a loose cannon, but he still has more value around the league than does defenseman Yves Racine. Goalie Daren Puppa will be left exposed, but salary, age and injury troubles are all working against him escaping the Bolts.
D Tampa Bay 39-0-4-4-175
TORONTO ROB ZETTLER
The Leafs have only five defensemen eligible, which means Zettler is odd man out. A physical, hard-working veteran. Zettler would be a good addition. Toronto could make a trade first to acquire another blueline body to expose.
D Toronto 59-0-7-7-108
VANCOUVER SCOTT WALKER
Walker, a third or fourth liner, has more than enough grit, drive and feistiness to compensate for skill deficiencies…and to make him more valuable than the other option at forward, David Roberts. Goalie Corey Hirsch is a longshot.
C Vancouver 59-3-10-13-164
WASHINGTON ANDREW BRUNETTE
Brunette spent most of the season in the American League because the Caps consider him too slow. On the plus side, he has scored wherever he has played and the Predators know him well; he was originally a David Poile draft pick.
LW Portland (AHL) 43-21-46-67-64 ■