The Nashville Predators are gearing up for another exciting NHL season, and several players are on the brink of reaching personal milestones that could define their careers. Last season, the Predators celebrated remarkable achievements from their captain Roman Josi and star forward Steven Stamkos, both of whom marked significant milestones that added to their legacies.
Stamkos made headlines on December 31 when he became the 22nd player in NHL history to score 600 goals, achieving this feat with a power play goal against the Vegas Golden Knights. This moment was particularly special for Stamkos, as the majority of his career goals—555 to be exact—were scored while playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His teammates celebrated this achievement with him on the ice at T-Mobile Arena, highlighting the camaraderie within the team.
Just a few weeks later, on January 22, Josi reached a milestone of his own by playing in his 1,000th career game, making him the first player in franchise history to accomplish this feat entirely with the Predators. His teammates honored him by wearing No. 59 jerseys during warmups, and the celebration continued throughout the game, which ended in a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. These milestones were anticipated, with both players needing only a few games or goals to reach their goals, yet the celebrations were heartfelt and significant.
As the current season unfolds, the Predators have several players poised to achieve their own career milestones. One of the most notable is Filip Forsberg, who is currently the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 358 goals. Forsberg is aiming to reach the 400-goal mark this season, which would require him to score 42 goals. This is a challenging yet achievable target, as he has reached this milestone twice in previous seasons. Achieving this goal would not only solidify his status within the Predators but also among Swedish NHL players, joining the ranks of Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson, the only other Swedes to reach 400 goals.
Another player to watch is Luke Evangelista, who is on the verge of reaching 200 career points. After signing a two-year contract worth $6 million in the summer of 2025, Evangelista had a breakout season, tallying 12 goals and 44 assists. If he can maintain his performance and reach 58 points this season, he will become the first Predators draft pick to achieve 200 points since Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala in 2014.
Steven Stamkos continues to climb the all-time goal-scoring list, currently sitting at 624 goals. This season, he has the opportunity to surpass several notable players, including Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic, who both have 625 goals. Additionally, with eight power play goals, he would become the fifth player in NHL history to reach 250 career power play goals.
Goaltender Juuse Saros is also nearing a significant milestone, requiring just 20 more wins to reach 250 career victories. Since becoming the Predators' full-time starter in 2021, Saros has consistently won at least 20 games each season, making this target seem achievable.
Other milestones to keep an eye on include Ryan O'Reilly, who is just two points shy of reaching 900 career points, and Josi, who is 24 assists away from 600. Defenseman Nicolas Hague is approaching 500 games played, needing 74 more, while Jonathan Marchessault is looking to score his 300th career goal, needing 37 more goals to hit that mark.
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