Top Five Enforcers in Nashville Predators History

While Nashville is focusing on getting faster as they start a new chapter, the Predators still appreciate a brawl on Broadway. Here are five of Nashville's most frequent fighters.

There may be debate in the hockey world about the role of the "enforcer", but there is little debate about how much those physical players can change momentum in a game and the energy in an arena. The Nashville Predators have had their share of enforcers in the past and coming up through the pipeline are agitators like Zachary L'Heureux and 2023 Predators draft pick Kalan Lind who may be the future physical players in Nashville. Here's a look back at five of Nashville's most frequent fighters. 

With NSH: 486 games, 725 PIM, 61 fights

When talking about enforcers and the Nashville Predators, Tootoo is inevitably the first name that comes to mind. The Predators selected Tootoo 98th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft, and he made his NHL debut in 2003. The 5-foot-9 winger played an abrasive game that got under the skin of many opponents. In his tenure with the Predators, Tootoo had no fear of dropping the gloves and playing on - or past - the edge. Tootoo still holds the franchise record for penalty minutes with 725 and retired from the league in 2017 with a total of 91 fights to his name.

With NSH: 91 games, 312 PIM, 41 fights

Sheer quantity earns Patrick Côté a spot on this list. In his short two season stint with the Predators from 1998-2000, this Quebec native dropped the gloves 41 times in his 91 games. Two memorable fights came against Stu "The Grim Reaper" Grimson in Côté's first season with the Predators. Côté made an impression in their November 27, 1998 battle summed up by the play by play announcer who remarked, "I said the Predators didn't have an answer for Stu Grimson. I was wrong." 

Côté played 70 games for the Predators in '98-'99 and racked up 242 minutes to think about what he'd done in the penalty box that season. His six year NHL career ended in 2001 with 105 games played and 50 brawls.

With NSH: 306 games, 358 PIM, 33 fights

While Predators fans might say that Watson didn't win a majority of the fights he engaged in, Nashville's 2010 first round draft pick never hesitated to drop the gloves. The Ann Arbor native used playing with physicality and a willingness to go to bat for teammates as a way to earn minutes as a fourth line winger. He has continued his fighting ways since being traded to the Ottawa Senators in October, 2020 where he has recorded another 26 fights. 

With NSH: 498 games, 626 PIM, 26 fights

Scott Hartnell's career began and ended with the Predators, and there were plenty of fisticuffs in between his NHL debut and retirement in Nashville. Drafted sixth overall by the Predators in 2000, Hartnell was the archetypical gritty power forward. The 6-foot-2 Saskatchewan native may not have always won his bouts, but he never hesitated to drop - or throw in later seasons - the gloves. Hartnell racked up over 1800 penalty minutes in his 1249 career games including bouts while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets as well. 

With NSH: 152 games, 217 PIM, 23 fights

Undrafted Tanner Jeannot may not have as many fights under his belt as some other Nashville Predators, but the 26 year old impressed fans with his willingness to engage even a veteran enforcer like Ryan Reaves. The Oxbow, Saskatchewan native is built like a heavyweight and throws punches like one as well earning him the nickname "The Oxbow Ox". The fearlessness Jeannot plays with was one reason General Manager David Poile protected Jeannot in the 2021 Seattle Kraken expansion draft over more finesse players like Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene and also part of why the Tampa Bay Lightning traded away five draft picks and Cal Foote to get that grit and physicality on their roster back in March. 

Honorable Mentions: Mark Borowiecki, Darcy Hordichuk, Richard Clune, Jeremy Stevenson, Wde Belak, Scott Walker.