The next three teams the Nashville Predators play will have familiar faces with former teammates on the roster and behind the opposing bench.
The Nashville Predators have been focused on the future through the offseason, training camp, and the first week of the 2023-24 regular season, but this week the team will meet back up with some faces from the past as they play the Oilers, Rangers, and Sharks.
Mattias Ekholm - Edmonton Oilers
Many Nashville Predators fans have had Tuesday's game circled on their calendar since the NHL schedule was released as it marks the first time Matias Ekholm will return to Bridgestone Arena to face his former team. The Predators drafted the defenseman in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL draft and Ekholm became part of the Nashville-develops-defensemen history.
In his twelve season with the Predators, Ekholm played 719 games, scored 62 goals, and recorded 268 points and developed into a leader on and off the ice for the franchise. His defensive partnership with P.K. Subban provided a backbone for the 2017 Stanley Cup run, while the 2018-2019 season was a career best with 44 points.
Ekholm quietly became a fan favorite in Nashville, but his value on the ice made him a target for teams when it became obvious in March that the Predators were in "sell" mode. Ekholm was traded to the Oilers in exchange for defenseman Tyson Barrie, prospect Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first round pick, and a 2024 fourth round pick.
Barrie has become an important piece for the Predators' blue line and a valuable piece on the new Nashville power play while Reid Schaefer highlighted his skill set at the Rookie Showcase and training camp and is playing with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators used the 2023 first round pick to select another potential future defenseman, Tanner Molendyk.
Peter Laviolette - New York Rangers
Peter Laviolette was the head coach of the Predators from 2014-early 2020. Laviolette was brought in to replace Preds current GM Barry Trotz after Trotz served fifteen season behind the bench. Laviolette coached 451 games as the Nashville head coach and finished his tenure with a record of 248-143-60.
Laviolette coached the team to their best postseason performance, the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. The Predators, an eighth seed in the playoffs, lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals. The following season, Laviolette lead the team to the Presidents Trophy.
Laviolette was fired by then GM David Poile is a surprising mid season move on January 6, 2020 as the Predators fell to 19-15-7 in the first half of the 2019-20 season. Laviolette went on to coach the Washington Capitals for three seasons before that franchise and Lavy mutually agreed to part ways after the 2022-23 season ended. On June 13, Laviolette was announced as the new head coach of the New York Rangers.
Mikael Granlund and Luke Kunin - San Jose Sharks
The Nashville Predators traded Kevin Fiala for Mikael Granlund at the deadline in 2019. Granlund played 268 games as a Predator and scored 51 goals and 162 points. Granlund may not have earned the stats, but he was a major part of Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene's record setting seasons in 2022. The Predators traded Granlund to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline in exchange for a 2023 second round draft pick that the Preds used to select spunky winger Kalan Lind who currently plays for the Red Deer Rebels in the WHL.
In the offseason, Granlund found himself involved in a three way trade that sent him to San Jose. Granlund was injured in the first game of the season for the Sharks and won't take the ice against his former team at Bridgestone Arena Saturday. Luke Kunin, who played for the Predators for two season from 2020-2022 will return to Nashville on the Sharks roster for the game this weekend.