Puck Prose
Fansided

Nashville Predators: Cody McLeod is Back

By Tyler Samson

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Cody McLeod #55 of the Nashville Predators skates to the penalty box after a bout with Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Cody McLeod #55 of the Nashville Predators skates to the penalty box after a bout with Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

On February 6, the Nashville Predators acquired forward Cody McLeod from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round draft pick.  

The Nashville Predators were able to acquire an elite enforcer and fan-favorite Cody McLeod from the New York Rangers. McLeod is returning to the Predators after playing 54 games in two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18) with Nashville before getting claimed off of waivers by the Rangers during the 2017-18 season.

McLeod was a long-time forward for the Colorado Avalanche spending ten seasons with the team he was signed by in 2006.  With Colorado, McLeod scored 66 goals, registered 51 assists and racked up 1,359 penalty minutes in 659 games played.  In the middle of the 2016-17 season with the Avalanche, McLeod was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Felix Girard.

More from Puck Prose

On January 14, 2017, McLeod played his first game with the Predators, which happened to be against the Avalanche in Colorado.  In the game, McLeod scored a goal and fought former teammate, Jarome Iginla.  McLeod’s physical presence and offensive contribution with the Predators sparked a 3-2 win that night and would carry on the rest of the season.

It was during the 2016-17 season with Nashville that McLeod played a big role in helping the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the playoffs, McLeod faced off against the opponents’ tough guys like St. Louis’ Ryan Reaves and the Anaheim Ducks’ main enforcer Jared Boll. The Predators would bow out of the Stanley Cup Final in six games, but Cody McLeod left his mark on Predators’ fans and hockey fans everywhere.

During the 2017-18 season with Nashville, McLeod saw his playing time and his role slowly diminish, thus leading to the Predators placing him on waivers.  On January 25, 2018, McLeod was claimed off of waivers by the New York Rangers.  In parts of two seasons with the Rangers, McLeod played 56 games scoring one goal, tallying two assists and recording 99 penalty minutes.

Needing a physical presence in the lineup, the Nashville Predators re-acquired McLeod on February 6, 2019, from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round draft pick.

With Nashville’s tough guys like Zac Rinaldo (out the rest of the season with a shoulder injury) and Austin Watson (suspended) out of the lineup, the Predators need a physical presence and McLeod fills that role.  Teammates adore the 34-year-old forward who serves as their protector, making McLeod not just an on-ice leader, but an off-ice leader as well.

Next. Every Team's Mount Rushmore. dark

With the Predators focusing in on assembling a team that will be fit to go deep in the playoffs, McLeod will serve as a vital piece.  During the 2017-18 playoffs, the Predators got bullied by Winnipeg who was much bigger and physical.  Cody McLeod will be a physical presence that will keep opposing teams in check, which in turn will give McLeod’s teammates more room and ease to operate.

Home/Nashville Predators