The Nashville Predators decided when awarded a franchise beginning in 1998-99 to build the team through the draft and to develop players through a strong minor league system.  The team had been promising their fans ever since that playing and developing their young players was the only way to build a successful franchise.  This year the Nashville Predators philosophy was put to the test by having 10 rookies suit up over the course of 2003-04.

Dan Hamhuis

Age: 21
HT: 6-0 WT: 205
Drafted by Nashville in 2001 (1^st round/12^th overall).

Dan Hamhuis has been one of the most highly regarded prospects for several years since being named a Western Hockey League first team all-star in 2000-01 and the Canadian Hockey League defenseman of the year in 2001-02.  After spending the entire 2002-03 season in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals, Hamhuis was a good bet to be on the opening night roster for the Predators.   Having made the Predators out of training camp, it became apparent that Hamhuis was not being slated for a minor role with the Predators.  He immediately was given a top 6 position on the club with power play and penalty kill duties. 

He didn’t disappoint scoring his first NHL goal and point on October 16^th, 2003 against Chris Osgood of the St. Louis Blues.  Hamhuis’ solid play did not go unnoticed as Head Coach Barry Trotz gained more confidence in the rookie, his ice time increased throughout the season finishing with a rookie best 22:07 per game ice time which ranked Hamhuis second overall on the hockey club.  Hamhuis finished the season ranked first in the NHL in rookie defensemen games played, fourth in goals, third in assists, fourth in points, second in shots on goal, and second in average time on ice.  There is no doubt that Hamhuis had a very solid rookie campaign by any measure, which he will look to build upon in 2004-05.

Jordin Tootoo

Age: 21
HT: 5-9 WT: 195
Drafted by Nashville in 2001 (4^th round/98^th overall).

Jordin Tootoo was one of the most well known rookies this season for several reasons.  Not only was he the first Inuit to ever play in the NHL, but he plays a style of hockey based on energy and hitting.  The Rankin Inlet native not only had to deal with the internal pressures of being a freshman in the best hockey league on the planet, he had far more media pressure than most of the NHL’s rookie class.  After making the Predators out of training camp, Tootoo provided the team with an energy that hadn’t been displayed in the first five years of their existence.  Many observers said that Tootoo was one of the catalysts in the change in the Predators style of play, vaulting them to one of the most physical teams in the league. 

Tootoo scored his first NHL point on October 16, 2003 with an assist on Dan Hamhuis’ power play goal against St. Louis’ Chris Osgood.  He scored his first goal on October 23^rd, 2003 with a slap shot that got past Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Pasi Nurminen.  Tootoo brought his physical play to the Predators this season to much success, but did not bring his offensive prowess that he displayed in Brandon of the Western Hockey League.  Tootoo has made the first big step towards a long NHL career but unless he upgrades the offensive and defensive areas of his game, he will be pigeonholed into a fourth line banger.  Expect to see Tootoo on the opening night roster of the 2004-05 Nashville Predators.

Robert Schnabel

Age: 25
HT: 6-5 WT: 230
Claimed off waivers from Phoenix in 2001.

After getting a one-game audition in the last two seasons for the Nashville Predators the hulking 6’6, 230-pound blueliner made the opening night roster.  Disappointment struck Schnabel early in the campaign injuring his wrist against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth game of the season.  After missing 25 games with the injury, Schnabel returned to the line up to provide the Predators something they lacked in a tough, crease clearing defenseman.  Schnabel fills a significant need for the Predators who have a line up full    off skilled puck-moving defensemen in Timonen, Zidlicky, York and Hamhuis.  

He performed well in his 20 games of action between injury and rotating in and out of the line up registering the highest plus/minus of Predator rookies, +6.  The deficiency in Schnabel’s game is that he lacks the foot speed of an NHL defensemen and is prone to being beating by good skating forwards.   If Schnabel works on his skating in the off-season, he will again compete for a spot on the Predators 2004-05 opening night roster.

Andrew Hutchinson

Age: 24
HT: 6-2 WT: 204
Drafted by Nashville in 1999 (2^nd round/54^th overall).

Andrew Hutchinson knew after last season that to be an NHL player, his game would have to improve dramatically.  Last season Hutchinson struggled so mightily that he was demoted to the ECHL for a ten-game stretch.  Hutchinson had a very strong camp but eventually lost out to Mark Eaton and fellow rookies Dan Hamhuis and Robert Schnabel for spots on the big club.  He quickly established himself as the first call up in Milwaukee, being called up and reassigned six times.  Although he performed strongly in many of his 18 appearances, Hutchinson only appeared in more than three consecutive games once. (A six game stretch from February 26, 2004 to March 6, 2004)  He was also an offensive catalyst in his call-ups providing 4 goals and 4 assists from the blueline.  Hutchinson will be in tough to earn a regular spot in 2004-05 with the late season additions of Shane Hnidy and Brad Bombadir.

Vernon Fiddler

Age: 23
HT: 5-11 WT: 197
Signed as a free agent by Nashville in 2002.

Vernon Fiddler surprised quite a few people by being on the Nashville Predators opening night roster for the 2003-04 season.  A poor training camp by Scottie Upshall coupled with Jim McKenzie starting the season on injured reserve gave Fiddler all of the opening he needed to take a 4^th line spot.  The 2002 free agent signee played two games for the Predators before giving way to tough guy Wade Brookbank.  Fiddler played one more game before being reassigned to Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.  After seven games in Milwaukee, Fiddler was recalled to Nashville to replace Upshall who was being returned to Milwaukee for further development.  As a center, Fiddler provided Nashville with further options down the middle.  Fiddler is a decent two-way center that is solid in the faceoff circle.  The one flaw that Fiddler has is that he lacks offensive upside and has to develop his defensive game a little further before becoming an NHL regular.

Simon Gamache

Age: 23
HT: 5-9 WT: 185
Acquired in a trade with Atlanta in 2003 with Kirill Safronov for Tomas Kloucek and Ben Simon.

Simon Gamache was a player that was deemed too small and frail in the 2000 draft to be considered.  The Atlanta Thrashers took Gamache with the fourth to last selection in the draft.  The Nashville Predators acquired the diminutive former Quebec Major Junior scoring sensation on December 2^nd, 2003 along with Kirill Safronov for Tomas Kloucek and Ben Simon.  Gamache as a pure goal scorer is something that the Predators lacked in their system.  The knocks on Gamache were that along with his small size, he didn’t have the skating ability to make up for the deficiency.

Gamache was recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL on December 27^th, 2003 shortly after the trade, and played seven games with the Predators (Gamache also earned a two game call up with Atlanta in November) up until January 15^th, 2004 when he was reassigned to Milwaukee.  Gamache scored his first career NHL goal on January 8^th, 2004 against the Colorado Avalanche.  Gamache played with solid intensity and skill in his call up, giving the Predators the opportunity to see what they had in their newly acquired prospect.  Gamache will have to continue to work on his strength and skating to be an NHL regular. His progression as a player has been an upward curve, which bodes well for his future.

Scottie Upshall

Age: 20
Date of birth: October 7, 1983
Place of Birth: Fort McMurray, Alta., Canada
HT: 6-0 WT: 187
Shoots: L
Drafted by Nashville in 2002 (1^st round/6^th overall)

Scottie Upshall has been called one of the future cornerstones of the Nashville Predators franchise.  The problem was he didn’t bring the passion and intensity to training camp in 2003-04 that made the Predators select him sixth overall in 2002.  After being sent down to the Milwaukee Admirals, Upshall got out of the gate quick with 5 points in his first four games in the AHL.  He was called on October 27^th after Andreas Johansson was diagnosed with a concussion.  Upshall was in and out of the line up playing four games between October 30^th and November 10^th when he was reassigned to Milwaukee. 

His second call up of the season was on December 18^th but ended abruptly after three games when Upshall suffered a knee injury that kept him out of nine games.  He was reassigned to Milwaukee for the remainder of the season on January 9^th, 2004.  Upshall was originally called up to try to add some offense to the Predators but didn’t provide much only tallying one assist over seven games with the Predators.  Upshall still needs to develop a complete understanding of the game at the NHL level including maintaining a high level of intensity over the long term.  He also needs to add strength to endure the gruelling NHL season.  Upshall is expected to be a roster player on the 2004-05 Nashville Predators.

Timofei Shishkanov

Age: 20
HT: 6-1 WT: 213
Drafted by Nashville in 2001 (2^nd round/33^rd overall).

Timofei Shiskanov represents an important part of the Nashville Predators’ future.  He is the forward prospect  with the highest offensive upside.  Shishkanov was recalled on December 21, 2003 to replace an injured Scotty Upshall.  He gave a strong effort and played an intelligent defensive game in limited action over two games against the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.  Shishkanov didn’t register a point in the two games but did show the glimpses of skill that made him All Rookie in the American Hockey League in the 2003-04 season.  The talented left-winger will be penciled in for a spot with the NHL club for the 2004-05 season.

Libor Pivko

Age: 24
HT: 6-2 WT: 195
Drafted by Nashville in 2000 (3^rd round/89^th overall).

Libor Pivko is another player that had a one game call up due to an injury.  With Scott Walker unable to play, Pivko got his only NHL game action on November 24, 2003 against the Colorado Avalanche.  Pivko didn’t reach the score sheet in his 6:50 of ice time, registering two shots on goal.  He is a strong defensive player but with limited offensive upside.  His decent skating ability and good size will provide him with the opportunity to challenge for a third/fourth line defensive forward in the upcoming season.

Michael Farrell

Age: 25
HT: 6-0 WT: 222
Acquired in a trade with Washington in 2003 for Alexander Riazantsev.

Michael Farrell is a utility forward who is known as a physical, energy player and received an early season call up due to an injury to forward Jim Mackenzie and blueliners Robert Schnabel, Mark Eaton and Tomas Kloucek.  At the Predators 2003-04 training camp, Farrell lost out due to the solid play of Jordan Tootoo.  Farrell played his one game on October 19, 2003 against Chicago and did not reach the score sheet in any fashion. He was demoted before the next game.  He has several things going for him that might give him a chance to make it as an NHL regular.  A decent skater with some size, Farrell also has good hockey sense.  He also has the ability to line up at defense or right wing.  Farrell will again compete for a third/fourth line spot with the Nashville Predators in 2004-05.

With their first ever playoff appearance, the Nashville Predators would have to consider the 2003-04 season a success.  The contributions of first year players like Jordan Tootoo and Dan Hamhuis were catalysts for this goal to come to fruition. The long term benefit of developing young players and have them grow into the line up will be seen in Music City for years to come.  This young franchise has done well at developing their youngsters and giving them roles that not only suit them but also fulfill needs within the club.  The success of the first year players in 2003-04 makes it easy to understand GM David Poile stated commitment to building through the draft.