"We look forward to seeing our prospects develop with the Everblades and continue their rich history of winning at the ECHL level," Poile said. "We feel this is a partnership that will continue to benefit the Predators, Admirals and Everblades moving forward."
Based in Estero, Fla., the Everblades are one of the most successful franchises in ECHL history, having qualified for the playoffs in all but one of their 23 seasons. Florida claimed the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions in 2012 and has reached the league's final on four separate occasions, the most recent coming in 2018.
In 2020-21, fifth-year Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph led the Everblades to a 42-19-8 record (92 points) and the top spot in the ECHL's Eastern Conference in the regular season. Among the players signed by the Predators who helped Florida secure a playoff spot included forwards Tanner Jeannot, Cole Smith, Patrick Harper and Tommy Novak and goaltender Devin Cooley. Jeannot and Smith both went on to make their NHL debuts with Nashville during the 2020-21 campaign and were one of just three players last season to play in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.
The previous season - Florida's first as a Nashville affiliate - the team went 43-13-6, claiming second place in the South Division, before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. The 2019-20 campaign saw the Everblades win at least 43 games for the sixth straight season and outscore their opponents by 64 goals.
Founded in 1998 by General Manager Craig Brush and partners Peter Karmanos and Thomas Thewes, the Everblades have called Hertz Arena home since their inaugural season and routinely rank among the ECHL's best in attendance, leading the league five times. Hertz Arena has hosted Nashville rookies on several occasions at the NHL Prospects Showcase, and the Predators held their main training camp at the venue in 2013.
Brush, who served as Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 2003-06, has been at the helm of the Everblades for their entire existence and has seen the club compile a .651 point percentage in the regular season, in addition to a 110-83 playoff record.
In addition to Jeannot and Smith, among the Everblades alumni to move on to the NHL after playing for the team include Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, Carolina Hurricanes forward Steven Lorentz and former Predators players Matt Hendricks, Shane Hnidy and Jason Morgan.
The ECHL is the leading professional developmental league for the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League. The league began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and now spans coast-to-coast, with 27 teams playing in 22 states and provinces. There have been 698 players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including 20 who made their NHL debuts during the 2020-21 season.
