Nashville Predators 2025-26 Season: A Deep Dive into Penalty Minutes

The Nashville Predators have long been no strangers to the penalty box, and the 2025-26 season was no exception. Over the past decade, they have accumulated the fifth-most penalty minutes in the NHL, totaling 8,534. However, this season marked a significant shift as the Predators showcased their best performance yet, finishing with a record of 38-34-8 and narrowly missing the playoffs, falling just four points short of the Los Angeles Kings for the final Wild Card spot.

Despite their success, the Predators managed to lower their penalty minutes, recording 719 in total— the fewest they have had in an 82-game season since 2018-19. Throughout the season, they committed 308 infractions, resulting in 713 penalty minutes and allowing 42 short-handed goals. Their penalty kill was particularly effective, operating at an impressive efficiency of 85%, marking their fourth-best performance in the past 11 seasons.

Among the most intriguing trends this season was the performance of former Predators center Michael McCarron, who, despite being traded in March, led the team in penalty minutes with 73. His infractions included four for interference, six for roughing, and five for fighting. Notably, McCarron’s seven fights this season were his lowest since 2022-23, yet he was the only player to engage in more than three fights, with Nic Hague and Ozzy Wiesblatt following with three and two fights, respectively. Remarkably, only one of McCarron’s penalties resulted in a goal against the Predators.

Leading the team in penalties called was center Erik Haula, who received 26 penalties throughout the season. He was closely followed by McCarron and Steven Stamkos, each with 25. Haula tied for the team lead in slashing, tripping, and high-sticking calls, while Stamkos also contributed significantly to the penalty count with multiple infractions across several categories.

Defensively, the Predators faced challenges when key players were in the box. Roman Josi and Nic Hague each had significant impacts, with Josi’s 15 penalties resulting in six goals against, the highest on the roster. Hague’s 20 penalties led to five goals against, highlighting the need for discipline in pivotal moments. Specific penalties, such as Josi’s holding call against the Chicago Blackhawks and Hague’s delay-of-game infraction against the Dallas Stars, were particularly costly, leading directly to game-winning goals.

One of the most notable moments of the season occurred during a game against the New Jersey Devils when Matthew Wood’s tripping penalty resulted in a late goal that broke a 2-2 tie, ultimately ending Nashville’s longest winning streak of the season. Despite the challenges, the Predators’ penalty kill unit thrived at times, notably during a five-game stretch where they allowed just four goals on 30 penalties.

Offensively, Nashville found some success while short-handed, ranking fifth in the league with seven goals scored in such situations. Ryan O’Reilly was particularly effective, leading the team with two shorthanded goals. However, their special teams also faced difficulties, such as a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild where they struggled to kill penalties, and their only 0% performance of the season occurred in a loss to the Sharks.

Throughout the season, the Predators were often penalized for common infractions such as slashing, tripping, hooking, and roughing. Less frequent calls, including goaltender interference and kneeing, rounded out their overall penalty picture. As they move forward, the Predators will need to balance their aggressive play with the discipline required to avoid costly penalties in crucial moments.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.