Game of Numbers: Nashville Predators Edition

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The Game of Numbers is an exclusive THW series looking at upcoming milestones around the NHL. Each team will be looked at individually in three parts – individual player milestones, franchise player milestones, and players that rank in the top 100 in NHL history in any big statistical category.

Under the direction of a new coach for the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators are looking like a different team in 2014-15. No longer is the main focus defensive coverage, but an all-around game that Peter Laviolette brought with him from Philadelphia.

Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators
Peter Laviolette has changed the focus in Nashville – for the better. (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

Along with the coaching change, the team’s youth movement has proven successful with the likes of Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. On top of that, the leadership of Matt Cullen and Shea Weber has pushed this team towards the top of the Western Conference – with the hopes of a long playoff run. With success, comes the ability to improve statistical numbers – and that’s where the Game of Numbers series comes in.

Nashville Predators Individual Milestones

With more focus on offence, players donning the Predators’ logo have had the opportunity to improve their career stats. While the team seems to have found the equation for success – a mixture of young and veteran skill throughout their lineup – the players have also taken the next step in improving the image of hockey in Nashville. With that in mind, here’s a look at the team’s upcoming individual milestones.

Games Played:

  • 700 games played: Anton Volchenkov (692), Shea Weber (679), Paul Gaustad (655)
  • 500 games played: James Neal (476)
  • 400 games played: Cody Franson (391), Pekka Rinne (373), Colin Wilson (359)
  • 300 games played: Craig Smith (267)
  • 200 games played: Ryan Ellis (192)
  • 100 games played: Filip Forsberg (90), Calle Jarnkrok (76), Taylor Beck (75), Carter Hutton (57)

Goals:

  • 200 goals: James Neal (183)
  • 100 goals: Paul Gaustad (86), Colin Wilson (77), Eric Nystrom (68), Craig Smith (64), Viktor Stalberg (61), Mike Santorelli (54)

Assists:

  • 500 assists: Mike Ribeiro (495)
  • 200 assists: James Neal (167)
  • 300 assists: Mike Fisher (274)
  • 100 assists: Colin Wilson (99), Roman Josi (88), Craig Smith (76), Viktor Stalberg (67), Mike Santorelli (63)

Points:

  • 400 points: Shea Weber (391), James Neal (350)
  • 200 points: Colin Wilson (176), Cody Franson (168)
  • 100 points: Gabriel Bourque (71), Ryan Ellis (65), Filip Forsberg (61)

Nashville Predators Franchise Milestones

For the longest time, David Legwand was the face of the Nashville Predators. A second overall draft pick by the Preds in 1998, he carried the franchise before joining the Red Wings in 2013-14. Now, his name sits atop most of the team’s all-time statistical categories with current players in the midst of chasing down history.

Games Played:

  • Shea Weber (679) needs 45 games played to pass Martin Erat (723) for 2nd on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (359) needs 5 games played to pass Patric Hornqvist (363) for 14th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Pekka Rinne (373) needs 11 games played to pass Tomas Vokoun (383) for 1st on the team’s all-time goalie list.
  • Carter Hutton (56) needs 55 games played to pass Dan Ellis (110) for 5th on the team’s all-time goalie list.
  • Marek Mazanec (27) needs 12 games played to pass Anders Lindback (38) for 7th on the team’s all-time goalie list.
  • Magnus Hellberg (1) needs 1 game played to pass Michael Leighton and Mark Dekanich (1) for 13th on the team’s all-time goalie list.

Goals:

  • Shea Weber (146) needs 18 goals to pass Martin Erat (163) for 2nd on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (77) needs 3 goals to pass Kimmo Timonen (79) for 12th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Mike Fisher (75) needs 3 goals to pass Colin Wilson (77) for 13th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Craig Smith (64) needs 12 goals to pass Mike Fisher (75) for 14th on the team’s all-time list.

Assists:

  • Shea Weber (245) needs 74 assists to pass Martin Erat (318) for 2nd on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (99) needs 8 assists to pass Paul Kariya (106) for 16th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Mike Fisher (93) needs 7 assists to pass Colin Wilson (99) for 17th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Roman Josi (88) needs 6 assists to pass Mike Fisher (93) for 18th on the team’s all-time list.

Points:

  • Shea Weber (391) needs 91 points to pass Martin Erat (481) for 2nd on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (176) needs 36 points to pass Scott Hartnell (211) for 13th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Mike Fisher (168) needs 8 points to pass Marek Zidlicky (175) for 15th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Craig Smith (140) needs 22 points to pass Dan Hamhuis and Paul Kariya (161) for 17th on the team’s all-time list.

Powerplay Goals:

  • Craig Smith (21) needs 1 powerplay goal to pass J.P. Dumont (21) for 14th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Mike Fisher (17) needs 3 powerplay goals to pass Paul Kariya (19) for 16th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (15) needs 2 powerplay goals to pass Patric Kjellberg (16) for 18th on the team’s all-time list.

Game-Winning Goals:

  • Shea Weber (23) needs 4 game-winning goals to pass Martin Erat (26) for 2nd on the team’s all-time list.
  • Colin Wilson (19) needs 1 game-winning goal to pass Scott Hartnell (19) for 6th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Mike Fisher (13) needs 2 game-winning goals to pass Greg Johnson (14) for 10th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Craig Smith (9) needs 1 game-winning goal to pass Cliff Ronning (9) for 16th on the team’s all-time list.

Wins:

  • Carter Hutton (26) needs 24 wins to pass Dan Ellis (49) for 5th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Marek Mazanec (8) needs 9 wins to pass Anders Lindback (16) for 7th on the team’s all-time list.

Shutouts:

  • Carter Hutton (2) needs 7 shutouts to pass Mike Dunham (8) for 5th on the team’s all-time list.
  • Marek Mazanec (2) needs 1 shutout to pass Anders Lindback and Carter Hutton (2) on the team’s all-time list.

‘Top 100’ Milestones

A second-round pick of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1996, Matt Cullen has played for seven teams over his lengthy career. He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and has played in nearly 70 playoff games. But it’s his regular season number in that category that has placed him among the NHL’s all-time best.

  • Cullen (1,207) needs 7 games played to pass Patrik Elias (1,213) for 98th on the NHL’s all-time list.
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators, NHL, Hockey, Milestones
An eighth-round pick, Pekka Rinne has developed into one of the best goalies in the game. (Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE)

No one could’ve guessed that an eighth-round pick – a goalie drafted so late – could change the direction of a franchise. Yet, Pekka Rinne is one of the cornerstones to this developing franchise. At 32, he’s won 200 games and sits amongst the NHL’s best in multiple all-time statistical categories.

  • Rinne (200) needs 2 wins to pass Lorne Chabot (201) for 75th on the NHL’s all-time list.
  • Rinne (35) needs 1 shutout to pass Patrick Lalime, Olaf Kolzig and Ryan Miller (35) for 44th on the NHL’s all-time list.

More from the ‘Game of Numbers’ series:

Eastern Conference: BOS | BUF | CAR | CLB | DET | FLA | MTL | NJD | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | TBL | TOR | WSH
Western Conference: ANA | ARZ | CAL | CHI | COL | DAL | EDM | LAK | MIN | NSH | SJS | STL | VAN | WPG

NOTE: The ‘Game of Numbers’ series is subject to updates as the 2014-15 season progresses. Individual marks will only appear if the player is within 50 of the specific statistical milestone, while franchise marks only recognize the top 20 in club history.

For more, follow Andrew on Twitter at @AndrewGForbes or his THW column at @Tape2TapeTHW.