Who Is The Greatest #34 In Nashville Predators History?

Adam Hall

Check out our previous post on this Michigan State right winger, who also sported number 18 on his back during his time with the Preds. He only wore #34 for one game, his NHL debut on April 14, 2002. The Preds lost to Phoenix 6-4 that day, but Hall picked up an assist.

Wade Flaherty

An interesting note about “Flats” is he was the last goalie (playing for the Islanders at the time) scored on by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Flaherty came over to the Predators from the Florida Panthers at the 2003 trade deadline and played only one game with the Preds, leading them to a loss. Laherty would never again return to play in the NHL, as he was relegated to the Milwaukee Admirals for the 03-04 season. During his stint with the Ads, he played 36 games with them, winning 21 of them. Flaherty finished with a 2.18 GAA that season. His most important accomplishment came in the offseason, registering a 1.93 GAA, leading the Ads to the 2004 Calder Cup title. He and ultimately being named playoff MVP. The Vancouver Canucks acquired him in the offseason, and by 2009, he had been named as the goaltending coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then, he has migrated north to Winnipeg, serving as goaltending coach of the Jets.

Shane Hnidy

Hnidy was acquired from the Ottawa Senators for Colorado’s third round choice in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (Peter Regin) on March 9, 2004. Upon his arrival in Nashville, Hnidy was a key contributor on the team’s blue line and in their inaugural post season appearance. He played 9 regular season games with the Preds, amassing 2 assists, while registering 0 points in 5 postseason games. The following season, during the NHL lockout, Hnidy played in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers for a fourth-round selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft (Niko Snellman) on July 30, 2005.

Sheldon Brookbank

The Lanigan, Saskatchewan native was signed by the Preds on August 4, 2005 as a free agent. Brookbank spent the majority of his first season with the Predators organization in Milwaukee, notching 9 goals and 35 points in 73 games. Known as a force to be reckoned with on the ice, he also racked up 232 PIM for that season. The following year Brookbank’s game continued to improve, scoring 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games (along with a 176 PIM). To honor his success, he was awarded the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s Oustanding Defenseman and was an AHL First Team All-Star. Brookbank also made his NHL debut for the Predators that year, playing only 3 games in Music City. Though he managed to tally a lone assist, he did manage to accumulate 12 PIM. Brookbank became a free agent in the 2007 offseason before signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets.