2016 FNHL Cup Champions

Nashville Predators

Led By GM: Adam Harris

Row 1: Ray Emery, Thomas McCullom

Row 2: S cott Hartnell,  Alexander Semin, Mikko Koivu, Joni Pitkanen, Zdeno Chara

Row 3: Patrick White, Evgeni Malkin, Loui Eriksson, Ryan McDonaugh, Matt Lashoff

Row 4: Simon Hjarlmasson, Shane Doan, Konstantin Koltsov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steve Eminger

Row 5: Jiri Cetkovsky, Moises Gutierrez, Jiri Fischer

Back-To-Back Championships Bought Or Earned?

Last season was the first season that Nashville GM Adam Harris has ever won a cup in this league. I was extremely happy for him because he has earned himself a title after being so patient for so long. Going into this season, it was assumed that Nashville would not win again since no team has ever won back-to-back cups. We were all wrong though as the Predators ran through the postseason and have achieved a FNHL first.... back to back titles.

This title will ALWAYS have controversy littered all over it as this was the first season that teams actually used the soft salary cap for what it was worth. Nashville along with Anaheim and Colorado all violated the cap numerous times and paid the fine associated with it. Nashville was the most extreme of all violators and at times had his payroll almost $40 million over the cap. One can say he cheated but hedid not. He did play within the rules of the league. One can also say that he had such a huge advantage that it wasn't fair to the league. That is debatable since two other cap violators (Colorado and Anaheim) both lost in the first round. The only thing we don't know is if Nashville would have won had they played within the cap. Regardless of that answer, winning back-to-back cups is a HUGE achievement that Adam Harris should be proud of.

Congrats to Adam Harris and the Nashville Predators for winning back to back cups. There will be a rule change towards the cap penalties next season so we will see if Nashville can three-peat.