2007–08 Nashville Predators season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2007–08
Team=Nashville Predators
Conference=Western
ConferenceRank=8th
Division=Central
DivisionRank=2nd
Record=41–32–9
HomeRecord=20–9–4
RoadRecord=12–14–4
GoalsFor=183
GoalsAgainst=175
GeneralManager=David Poile
Coach=Barry Trotz
Captain=Jason Arnott
AltCaptain=Jean-Pierre Dumont
Steve Sullivan
Arena=Sommet Center
Attendance=14,910 (87.1%)
GoalsLeader=Jean-Pierre Dumont (29)
AssistsLeader=Jason Arnott (44)
PointsLeader=Jason Arnott & Jean-Pierre Dumont (72)
PlusMinusLeader=Jason Arnott (+19)
PIMLeader=Jordin Tootoo (100)
WinsLeader=Dan Ellis (23)
GAALeader=Dan Ellis (2.34)

The 2007–08 Nashville Predators season began October 4, 2007. It was the Nashville Predators ninth season in the National Hockey League.

The 2007 offseason was dominated by the attempted purchase of the Predators by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, [ [http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6560713 Canadian billionaire to buy Predators] , newschannel5.com, May 24, 2007] who signed a letter of intent to purchase the team for at least $220 million.Harless, Bill, [http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=56507 Chamber, other business execs to stump for Predators] , Nashville City Paper, June 5, 2007] The attempted sale led to widespread speculation that Balsillie intended to relocate the team to Hamilton, Ontario if the Predators failed to reach a 14,000 paid average attendance in 2007–08, allowing the team to break its lease. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/05/31/balsillie-hamilton.html?ref=rss Balsillie has deal for Hamilton arena] , cbc.ca, May 31, 2007] Balsillie had already entered negotiations on a lease at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. [Burnside, Scott, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2889504 Balsillie given rights for Hamilton sports complex] , ESPN.com, May 31, 2007] Despite calling the negotiations a "contingency plan", Balsillie petitioned the league to decide on his ability to relocate the franchise at the same time the Board of Governors voted on his purchase of the team. [Tedesco, Theresa, [http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=a7cb8882-2842-42b6-b6ad-bb4bc6ea5f76&k=80881 Balsillie raises NHL move] , National Post, June 13, 2007] However, the deal was ended by Leipold on June 22, as he informed the league that he was pulling out of the agreement due to a lack of a finalized sale agreement, and over concerns that Balsillie would relocate the team to Hamilton. [Glennon, John, [http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/SPORTS02/70622097 Report: Leipold wants Balsillie out of Preds deal] , tennessean.com, June 22, 2007]

On August 1, a group led by local businessman David Freeman issued a letter of intent to purchase the Predators. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/predators/2007-08-01-letter-of-intent_N.htm Predators sign letter of intent to stay local - USATODAY.com ] ] . The sale was approved by the Board of Governors on November 29. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3134834 ESPN - NHL teams will play each other at least once per season - NHL ] ]

In January, it was revealed that former Predators owner Craig Leipold was purchasing the majority share in the Minnesota Wild. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/01/10/wild-sale.html Craig Leipold agrees to buy Wild ] ]

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

*The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio on June 22–23.
*The free agency period began on July 1.

Regular season

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Game log

October

Record: 4–7–0; Home: 4–2–0; Road: 0–5–0

January

Record: 8–3–3; Home: 5–1–1; Road: 3–2–2

April

Record: 2-1-0; Home: 1-0-0; Road: 1-1-0

Goaltenders

"Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average"

Free Agents

Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio. [2007 NHL Entry Draft Results [http://www.nhl.com/futures/2007draft/ nhl.com] ] The Predators possess the 23rd overall pick in the draft. The pick was originally traded to the Philadelphia Flyers when the Predators acquired Peter Forsberg [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2767319 Acquiring Forsberg 'a huge deal' for Preds] , February 20, 2007] . Nashville re-acquired the pick, however, on June 18 in exchange for Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2908120 Flyers acquire Hartnell, Timonen from Preds for pick] , June 18, 2007] .

Farm teams

Milwaukee Admirals

The Milwaukee Admirals are the Predators top affiliate, playing in the American Hockey League in 2007–08.

New Mexico Scorpions

The New Mexico Scorpions remain the Predators affiliate in the Central Hockey League.

ee also

*2006–07 NHL season

Roster

References

*Player stats: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/stats?team=nas Nashville Predators player stats] on espn.com
*Game log: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/schedule?team=nas Nashville Predators game log] on espn.com
*Team standings: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/standings NHL standings] on espn.com