A Nashville legend hit an incredible milestone Thursday night.
Roman Josi stepped onto the ice against the Ottawa Senators for his 1,000th NHL game – all of them wearing Predators gold. He’s the first player in team history to reach that mark with Nashville.
For 15 seasons, the Swiss defenseman has been the heart and soul of hockey in Music City.
“It’s pretty special,” Josi said before the game. “When I first came here, I never thought I’d be here this long. Nashville’s become home.”
He’s not just any player hitting a big number. Josi has become one of hockey’s elite defensemen, racking up 752 points along the way – a Predators record.
The journey started back in 2011, when he was just a rookie learning from stars like Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. But Josi quickly showed he belonged.
His biggest moment came in 2017, helping lead Nashville to its first Stanley Cup Final. Though they fell to Pittsburgh, it put both Josi and the Predators on the hockey map.
The personal accolades kept coming. In 2020, he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman after putting up 65 points in 69 games. Two years later, he nearly hit 100 points in a single season, finishing with 96.
Some other impressive numbers:
– 554 career assists (team record)
– 198 goals (third in team history)
– 37 game-winning goals
– 2,937 shots on goal (another team record)
Even as the Predators have struggled recently, Josi has remained the face of the franchise. At 33, he’s still playing some of his best hockey and leading a young team that’s trying to return to contender status.
“He’s everything you want in a captain,” said Predators head coach Andrew Brunette. “The way he plays, the way he leads – he’s the perfect example for our younger guys.”
