Who Is the Greatest #33 in Nashville Predators History?

Marc Moro

More of a career minor-leaguer, Moro played 30 games in the late 90’s and early 2000’s in the NHL, including portions of three seasons with Nashville right around the turn of the millennium. During the first two of those, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, he bore the #33 as a depth defenseman, playing 14 games in total with no goals or assists.

During that 1999-2000 season, however, he did make an impact in one area statistically: despite playing only 8 games for the Preds, he racked up 40 penalty minutes, due in part to a fight he instigated with Philadelphia’s Rick Tocchet which earned him an instigating minor and a 10-minute misconduct:

Vladimir Orszagh

Orszagh was best known for adding some movement to The Vowel Line (together with Martin Erat and Denis Arkhipov), and had the best three years of his NHL career in Nashville, from 2001 (when he was signed as a free agent) to 2004 (he played in Slovakia during the Great Lockout, then was claimed by St. Louis for 2005-2006). Personally, I dig the way his name looks like something out of the Black Speech of Mordor.

He left Nashville after having played 239 games, scoring 47 goals and adding 58 assists. His biggest highlight came on November 29, 2003, when he recorded a hat trick and assisted on another score in a 4-1 win over Buffalo.

Colin Wilson

Taken with the 7th pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Willy represents Nashville’s highest selection since Ryan Suter also went 7th in 2003. At times he has shown the ability to create scoring chances for himself and others, but occasional defensive lapses have cost him dearly in Barry Trotz’s eyes, resulting in occasional trips to the doghouse. Just keep working on moves like these, kid:

After three seasons, Wilson has played in 185 regular season games, with 39 goals and 45 assists. As he begins a new 3-year contract with the team (at a very affordable $6 million in total), Wilson stands at a pivotal point in his career. Will he be forever relegated to a specialist’s role, deployed in only those situations in which he can best succeed then relegated to the press box when the playoffs begin, or can he seize the reins and take a leading position on a contending squad?