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Legwand, first pick in Predators history, calls it a career

David Legwand

27 Jun 1998: First round pick David Legwand of the Nashville Predators poses during the 1998 NHL Entry Draft at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

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David Legwand, the veteran center that appeared in over 1,100 games with the Predators, Red Wings, Senators and Sabres has announced his retirement from the NHL.

“What a great ride this was,” Legwand said in a release through the NHLPA. “Especially having the chance to play nearly 1,000 games for my drafting club in Nashville, and seeing the growth of the game there; to fulfilling a dream of playing for my hometown Red Wings; to experiencing the positive vibe of playing in Canada’s capital of Ottawa; and to end with the talented players of the Buffalo Sabres in my final season.”

Though Legwand played for four different teams, he’s most closely associated with the Predators -- for a variety of reasons. Taken second overall at the 1998 draft, he became one of the first faces of the franchise and would later cement his status as one of Nashville’s most prominent players.

Nobody played more games in a Preds uniform. And Legwand retires as the club’s all-time leader in in goals (210), assists (356), points (566) and game-winning goals (41).

Legwand’s best year in Nashville came in 2006-07, when he posted career-highs in goals (27) and points (63), earning a handful of Selke votes in the process.

He was also front and center for the franchise’s first playoff series win -- beating Anaheim in 2011 -- and had a terrific postseason all told, finishing with six goals and nine points in 12 games.