Tom Fitzgerald, one of the original Predators and the first captain in franchise history, wore this navy road jersey during Nashville’s second season in the National Hockey League.
Fitz and the second year Preds did not have anywhere near the success that we’ve seen recently from the Vegas Golden Knights. The team won just 28 of their 82 games and ultimately finished with just 70 points. It was the fourth worst points total in the NHL in the 1999-2000.
The captain himself contributed 13 goals and 22 points, which was a 10 point drop from his previous season despite matching his 1998-1999 goal total.
Tom Fitzgerald shown here in one of the only pictures of him in the navy jersey from the 1999-2000 season.
Fitzgerald’s jersey is a beaut with quite a bit of wear.
Both sleeves have marks, burns, and repairs up and down the arms. Most of the sleeve repairs appear to have been done with glue, though there are some sewn repairs including a very prominent one on the right shoulder near the shoulder patch.
The body of the jersey has some signs of wear but most of it is not visible due to the dark navy color. The crest has two visible puck or stick marks. The silver corners/edges of the jersey on the hem also have puck and stick marks.
The back of the jersey shows a few marks on #21, and the back of the sleeves also have several marks that are visible in the white areas.
The NHL2000/2NHL patch.
An important reason for acquiring this piece is emblazoned on the right breast; the NHL 2000/2NHL patch.
Having acquired this jersey, the only patch the team has worn for more than one game that I don’t have a captain’s jersey from is a Stanley Cup Final patch from 2016.
Tom Fitzgerald continued to serve as captain for the Predators for another season and a half before he was shipped to Chicago at the trade deadline in the 2001-2002 season.
While he wasn’t a tremendously productive player, Fitz is considered one of the strongest leaders the team has had in it’s 20+ year history.