While the Nashville Predators aren't the oldest franchise in the NHL, they have a lot of history of picking in the first round of the NHL Draft.
In its 27-year history, the Predators have selected 25 times in the first round. Amongst those first-round selections, some have had massive success in Nashville, others have found it elsewhere, and a few have been busts.
With the Predators picking fifth, 23rd and 26th overall in this year's draft, we take a look back at every first-round pick by Nashville.
1998: David Legwand (center, 2nd overall)
The original Nashville Predator, center David Legwand, was the organization's first-ever draft pick at second overall in 1998.
As one of the top prospects in his draft class, Legwand scored 105 points in 59 games for the OHL's Playmouth Whalers during the 1997-98 season.
He contracted mononucleosis during Predators training camp and ended up playing an extra season in the OHL, recording 80 points in 55 games.
Legwand spent the bulk of his career with the Predators, playing in 956 games and scoring 566 points. Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings at the end of the 2013-14 season, which coincided with the expiration of his contract with Nashville.
He'd play 1,136 games in the NHL and score 618 points.
1999: Brian Finley (goalie, 6th overall)
It's always a risk to take a goalie so high, but the Predators took the jump in selecting Barrie Colts goaltender Brian Finley with the sixth overall pick.
It should be noted that the Predators passed on goalie Ryan Miller in this draft, who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres 138th overall and would go on to win the Vezina Trophy in 2010.
During the 1998-99 season, Finley posted a 23-14-1 record with the Colts, holding a 2.92 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He'd play three more seasons in the OHL before joining the Predators during the 2002-03 season.
He'd played one game that season with the Predators, coming in relief of Tomas Vokoun. Finley allowed three goals on 13 shots. He'd spend some time with the Milwaukee Admirals, winning the Calder Cup in 2004.
Finley got his second shot with the Predators during the 2005-06 season, where he'd allow seven goals on 41 shots in a loss to the Florida Panthers. He signed with the Boston Bruins during the 2006 offseason, playing two games before retiring in 2007.
2000: Scott Hartnell (forward, 6th overall)
One of the most notable "tough guys" in NHL history, Prince Albert Raiders forward Scott Harnell got his NHL start with the Predators.
Amounting 230 penalty minutes in 128 games played in the Western Hockey League, Hartnell also proved that he could find the back of the net, scoring 91 points in that stretch.
He quickly made an impact as one of the Predators' heavy hitters, recording 48 penalty minutes in 75 games in his rookie year. Hartnell had three seasons with the Nashville Predators, during which he accumulated 100+ penalty minutes.
Hartnell still found ways to be productive. During the 2006-07 season, he had a plus/minus of 19. To the Predators' misfortune, he really hit his stride when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.
With the Flyers, Hartnell eclipsed 140 penalty minutes in four straight seasons and had a career high 67 points in 82 games during the 2010-11 season. He also helped the Flyers reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
He'd play over 1,200 NHL games, score 707 points and log 1,809 penalty minutes.
Hartnell returned to Nashville for the 2017-18 season, which was his final year. He recorded 24 points in 62 games and 82 penalty minutes.
2001: Dan Hamhuis (defenseman, 12th overall)
The first defenseman to be selected by the Predators in the first round, Prince George Cougars defenseman Dan Hamhuis put up some impressive junior numbers.
During the 2000-01 season, he had 59 points in 62 games. His second season with the Predators, coming out of the 2005 NHL lockout, was the best of his career. Hamhuis had 38 points in 82 games and a plus/minus of 11.
He was a consistent producer with the Predators, but, similar to Harnell, he found his stride when he left for another team. Hamhuis signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2010 and the following season made a run to the Stanley Cup Final.
In back-to-back seasons with Vancouver, he had a plus/minus of 29 and just his second 30+ point season of his career in 2011-12. Hamhuis would also win a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Hamhuis returned to Nashville to play his final two seasons in 2018. He recorded 13 points in 117 games.
2002: Scottie Upshall (forward, 6th overall)
Six seems to be the magic number for the Predators, as three of five picks in the first round from 1998 to 2002 have been at the number six spot.
This time, the Predators went for Kamloops Blazers forward Scottie Upshall, who put up 83 points in 61 games in his draft season. He was also known for his tougher style of play, racking up 139 penalty minutes during the 2001-02 season.
Upshall struggled to find a consistent spot on the Predators' roster. Between 2002 and 2007, he bounced back and forth between Nashville and Milwaukee. His best season was in 2005-06, where he scored 34 points in 48 games and had a plus/minus of 14.
He still found himself back in Milwaukee the following season before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007 for two draft picks and Peter Forsberg.
Upshall found a permanent spot in the NHL playing 759 games between the Predators, Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues. His best season came in 2013-14, when he had 37 points in 76 games.
He played his final game in the NHL during the 2017-18 season with the St. Louis Blues. Upshall played one more professional season with Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss-A hockey league before retiring.
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