The 1998–99 Nashville Predators season was the inaugural season of the Nashville Predators franchise, the first of four NHL teams added to the league between 1998 and 2000. The team accumulated 28 wins and 47 losses, with seven games ending in ties for a total of 63 points, finishing in 4th place in the Central Division and 12th in the Western Conference. The team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Off-season In the expansion draft, the Predators chose five goaltenders, including Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun, who would become their starting goaltenders, and Mike Richter, who was a free agent and chose not to sign with the Predators. In the 1998 NHL entry draft, the Predators chose David Legwand, a center, as their first-ever draft pick, second overall. On July 6, the Predators signed veteran forward Tom Fitzgerald to a three-year contract and immediately named him the franchise's first captain.
Regular season The Predators struggled on the power-play during the regular season, finishing 27th overall in the NHL in power-play goals scored (40). They also had the lowest penalty-kill percentage in the league, at 78.99%.
Season standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 10, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||0–1–0 ||
|2||October 13, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||1–1–0 ||
|3||October 17, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||1–2–0 ||
|4||October 19, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||1–2–1 ||
|5||October 21, 1998||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||1–3–1 ||
|6||October 23, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||1–4–1 ||
|7||October 24, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||1–5–1 ||
|8||October 27, 1998||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||2–5–1 ||
|9||October 31, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||3–5–1 ||
|10||November 4, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||3–6–1 ||
|11||November 6, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||4–6–1 ||
|12||November 7, 1998||3–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||4–7–1 ||
|13||November 10, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1998–99) ||5–7–1 ||
|14||November 12, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||6–7–1 ||
|15||November 14, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||6–8–1 ||
|16||November 17, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||6–9–1 ||
|17||November 19, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||7–9–1 ||
|18||November 21, 1998||3–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1998–99) ||7–10–1 ||
|19||November 24, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||7–11–1 ||
|20||November 25, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||8–11–1 ||
|21||November 27, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||9–11–1 ||
|22||November 29, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1998–99) ||9–12–1 ||
|23||December 1, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||9–13–1 ||
|24||December 5, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||9–14–1 ||
|25||December 8, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||9–14–2 ||
|26||December 10, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1998–99) ||10–14–2 ||
|27||December 12, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) ||10–14–3 ||
|28||December 16, 1998||1–6 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||10–15–3 ||
|29||December 17, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1998–99) ||10–16–3 ||
|30||December 19, 1998||6–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||11–16–3 ||
|31||December 23, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||12–16–3 ||
|32||December 26, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||13–16–3 ||
|33||December 28, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||13–17–3 ||
|34||December 30, 1998||2–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||13–18–3 ||
|35||January 1, 1999||5–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||13–19–3 ||
|36||January 2, 1999||1–4 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||13–20–3 ||
|37||January 4, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||14–20–3 ||
|38||January 7, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1998–99) ||14–21–3 ||
|39||January 9, 1999||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||14–21–4 ||
|40||January 11, 1999||0–8 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||14–22–4 ||
|41||January 14, 1999||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||14–23–4 ||
|42||January 15, 1999||2–0 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||15–23–4 ||
|43||January 18, 1999||1–8 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||15–24–4 ||
|44||January 19, 1999||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||16–24–4 ||
|45||January 21, 1999||2–3 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||16–25–4 ||
|46||January 26, 1999||1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||16–26–4 ||
|47||January 28, 1999||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||17–26–4 ||
|48||January 30, 1999||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||18–26–4 ||
|49||January 31, 1999||1–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||18–27–4 ||
|50||February 4, 1999||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||18–27–5 ||
|51||February 5, 1999||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||18–28–5 ||
|52||February 9, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||18–29–5 ||
|53||February 12, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1998–99) ||19–29–5 ||
|54||February 13, 1999||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||19–30–5 ||
|55||February 15, 1999||4–7 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1998–99) ||19–31–5 ||
|56||February 19, 1999||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||19–31–6 ||
|57||February 20, 1999||4–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||20–31–6 ||
|58||February 23, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||20–32–6 ||
|59||February 24, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||21–32–6 ||
|60||February 27, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||21–33–6 ||
|61||March 2, 1999||1–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||21–34–6 ||
|62||March 4, 1999||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||22–34–6 ||
|63||March 5, 1999||2–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||22–35–6 ||
|64||March 7, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||22–36–6 ||
|65||March 10, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||22–37–6 ||
|66||March 12, 1999||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||23–37–6 ||
|67||March 14, 1999||3–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||24–37–6 ||
|68||March 16, 1999||2–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||24–38–6 ||
|69||March 18, 1999||2–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) ||24–39–6 ||
|70||March 20, 1999||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||24–39–7 ||
|71||March 24, 1999||3–0 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||25–39–7 ||
|72||March 26, 1999||1–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||25–40–7 ||
|73||March 28, 1999||0–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||25–41–7 ||
|74||March 30, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||26–41–7 ||
|75||April 1, 1999||1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||26–42–7 ||
|76||April 3, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||27–42–7 ||
|77||April 7, 1999||1–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||27–43–7 ||
|78||April 9, 1999||4–3 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||28–43–7 ||
|79||April 12, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||28–44–7 ||
|80||April 14, 1999||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||28–45–7 ||
|81||April 15, 1999||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||28–46–7 ||
|82||April 17, 1999||1–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||28–47–7 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only. Player Regular season 7 C 72 18 35 53 −6 40 22 C 68 16 34 50 −8 24 25 RW 70 25 23 48 −5 42 71 C 72 16 24 40 −14 26 24 RW 71 15 25 40 0 103 21 RW 80 13 19 32 −18 48 19 LW 77 11 20 31 −10 26 10 RW 71 11 20 31 −13 24 20 D 63 6 12 18 −24 44 43 LW 55 7 10 17 −10 10 15 D 74 2 15 17 −9 140 28 LW 76 5 11 16 −3 218 42 D 64 4 11 15 −10 60 23 RW 53 8 6 14 −10 16 27 D 46 2 12 14 −12 14 6 D 79 3 10 13 −6 137 44 D 50 4 8 12 −4 30 5 D 55 5 6 11 0 28 16 LW 14 5 5 10 1 2 9 C 40 4 5 9 −11 16 12 RW 19 4 2 6 4 2 18 C 30 0 6 6 −4 4 36 D 35 2 2 4 −4 38 32 LW 9 1 3 4 −1 2 7 C 9 2 1 3 −1 2 17 LW 70 1 2 3 −7 242 4 D 18 0 2 2 2 18 8 LW 2 0 1 1 0 14 40 D 2 0 1 1 0 0 29 G 37 0 1 1 6 7 D 6 0 0 0 −4 4 1 G 44 0 0 0 4 35 G 9 0 0 0 0 47 RW 2 0 0 0 −1 2 2 D 16 0 0 0 −3 12 11 C 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 G 3 0 0 0 0 12 RW 3 0 0 0 −1 6 50 C 2 0 0 0 −1 0 2 D 2 0 0 0 −2 2
Goaltending Player Regular season 1 Mike Dunham 44 16 23 3 1387 127 3.08 .908 1 2472 29 Tomas Vokoun 37 12 18 4 1041 96 2.95 .908 1 1954 35 Eric Fichaud 9 0 6 0 229 24 3.22 .895 0 447 30 Chris Mason 3 0 0 0 44 6 5.22 .864 0 69
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Sergei Krivokrasov
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Rob Valicevic December 8, 1998 Chris Mason December 16, 1998 Kimmo Timonen Mark Mowers January 15, 1999 Karlis Skrastins February 9, 1999 Matt Henderson April 14, 1999 Petr Sykora David Legwand April 17, 1999
Transactions This section will cover signings from May 4, 1998, until the end of the 1998–99 season.
Free agent signings Nashville signed the following free agents between June and September 1998: Jayson More (June 4), Tom Fitzgerald (July 6), David Gosselin (July 9), Jeff Staples (July 16), Brad Smyth (July 16), Jamie Heward (Aug. 6), Andrew Brunette (Sept. 2), Vitali Yachmenev (Sept. 2), Sebastien Bordeleau (Sept. 3) and Sergei Krivokrasov (Sept. 11).
All season trades