Detroit, Mich. native David Legwand began his professional hockey career in 1997 with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Plymouth Whalers, playing in Plymouth during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. After registering 54 goals and 105 points in his rookie season, the NHL’s Nashville Predators selected Legwand with the second overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Legwand was the first-ever draft pick of the Predators.
Legwand spent 12 of his 16 NHL seasons in Nashville, before stops in Detroit, Ottawa, and Buffalo. In 1,136 career NHL games, Legwand posted 228 goals to go along with 390 assists for 618 points. The longtime Predators forward left his mark in Nashville with numerous records including the franchise leader in points (566), assists (356), game-winning goals (41) and games played (956).
In January 2015, Legwand, along with former NHL player Derian Hatcher, entered an agreement to purchase the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. Legwand announced his retirement from professional hockey on Dec. 22, 2016, and spent the 2016-17 season working alongside Sting co-owner Derian Hatcher and General Manager Nick Sinclair on day-to-day hockey operations.
In 2017, Legwand joined co-owner Derian Hatcher and Assistant Coaches Jeff Barratt and Brad Staubitz behind the bench. Legwand spent three seasons behind the bench before transitioning to his current role as President of Hockey Operations.