The Nashville Predators began playing in the NHL in the 1998-99 season. They added quite a bit of talent in their debut campaign. They acquired forward Cliff Ronning from the Phoenix Coyotes and also got significant offensive contributions from other players such as Greg Johnson, Sergei Krivokrasov, Andrew Brunette, and Scott Walker. One of the biggest leaders to join the team in their first season was winger Tom Fitzgerald.
Before becoming an executive who currently serves as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, Fitzgerald was a journeyman forward who played for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche before officially moving to Nashville prior to the 1998-99 season. Before heading to the expansion franchise, Fitzgerald was known as someone who could put up good complementary numbers. Some of his best statistical seasons came while with the Panthers. In 1993-94, he recorded 18 goals, 14 assists and 32 points in 83 games, and in 1995-96, he recorded 13 goals, 21 assists and 34 points in 82 games.
Then-Predators general manager David Poile signed Fitzgerald as a free agent, which proved to be a very wise decision, as his leadership abilities helped establish the team's foundation in its early seasons in the league.
Predators' first captain
Fitzgerald was named the franchise's first captain and finished his first season with the Predators with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 80 games, good enough for sixth on the team in scoring, trailing only Ronning (53 points), Johnson (50), Krivokrasov (48), Sebastien Bordeleau (40) and Walker (40).
As one of the veteran faces in the Predators' locker room, he could serve as a solidifying presence for promising young players such as defensemen Kimmo Timonen (23 at the time of his first campaign with the Predators), Brunet (25) and Bordeleau (23).
RELATED: History of Nashville Predators captains
Fitzgerald's leadership skills set a positive example for teammates like Johnson and Timonen, who served as the team's second captain from 2002-06 and Timonen as captain for the 2006-07 season, respectively, and both players shared the locker room during Fitzgerald's tenure as Predators captain.
Fitzgerald didn't need to be an offensive force.
During Fitzgerald's time with the club, the goal-scoring role was filled by teammates. He didn't have to be the linchpin of the club's offense. He knew his role on the ice and he played it well. During his time with Nashville, Fitzgerald posted the following numbers:
- 1998-99: 13 goals, 19 assists, 32 points in 80 games
- 1999-2000: 13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points in 82 games
- 2000-01: 9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points in 82 games
- 2001-02: 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 63 games
Fitzgerald's offensive output declined with each season in Nashville, but he was still a great leader for the rest of the team. He didn't have to be a great offensive player to be part of the core of the team. Other teammates with the Predators like Ronning, David Legwand, Patrick Kjellberg and Timonen on the back end carried more of the scoring load. Fitzgerald helped get the most out of his teammates who were more productive.
The trade to Chicago, the rest of his playing career, and the Devils GM
Midway through the 2001-02 season, Fitzgerald was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Fitzgerald and a fourth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations. Unfortunately, during Fitzgerald's time with the Predators, they never made the playoffs, but his former teammate in Nashville helped pave the way for them to their first postseason appearance in 2003-04.
Fitzgerald appeared in 15 games with Chicago, scoring one goal and three assists for four points the remainder of the season. He also played two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and finished his career as a member of the Boston Bruins in 2005-06. In 1,097 games, Fitzgerald scored 139 goals and 190 assists for 329 points.
Since retiring as a player in 2006, Fitzgerald has been involved in management roles. He was with the Pittsburgh Penguins before taking over as GM of the Devils after Ray Shero was fired. Since taking over as GM, he has made some impressive signings, including signing defenseman Brett Pesce to a long-term contract and signing blue lineman Brenden Dillon. He also helped acquire Jacob Markstrom in a trade, acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks, and signed Dougie Hamilton to a seven-year contract as a free agent. He continues to work on building the Devils to their fourth Stanley Cup title.
Looking back at the history of the Predators since 1998, there have been many key players in the history of this team. Poile and Barry Trotz are two of the first names that come to mind, with rookies such as Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault likely to be around for the 2024-25 season. However, one of the first players to make his mark in the club's history was Fitzgerald. He was highly regarded for his leadership abilities and did what was asked of him during his time in Nashville. The Predators have had many great captains, such as Shea Weber and Roman Josi, but the first person who started it all will always be Fitzgerald.
