Predators open season Oct. 4

The Predators, who will be celebrating their 10th year as a franchise and ninth on the ice this season, are up for sale by original owner Craig Leipold. He thought he had the team sold to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie in May for $220 million.

California businessman William ‘Boots’ Del Biaggio III and a group of Nashville businessmen also have rival bids for the team still controlled by Leipold with no binding agreement yet in place.

The Predators must average 14,000 in paid attendance this season or their arena lease in Nashville will be voided. The schedule won’t help the team much with 14 Saturday home games compared with 17 games on Thursday night and seven on Tuesday night when attendance usually is much lower.

Nashville again starts the season with a road-heavy slate. Nine of the first 15 and 14 of the first 25 will be on the road, but the Predators will enjoy nine home games in February and seven each in December and January.

The Predators will host St. Louis and former top scorer Paul Kariya four times in Nashville with Kariya’s first return game Nov. 17. Former goalie Tomas Vokoun, who was traded to Florida last month, will visit with the Panthers on Oct. 27.

But Nashville fans will get their first chance to watch Alex Ovechkin on March 18 when the Washington Capitals visit.

The Anaheim Ducks, the Stanley Cup champs, visit Dec. 8 and Jan. 17. The San Jose Sharks, who beat Nashville in the playoffs for a second straight season, visit Dec. 29 and March 11.

The Predators continue what’s becoming a Thanksgiving tradition by hosting Detroit on Nov. 22 in the first of four games between the Central Division rivals in Nashville. The Red Wings also visit Dec. 10, Feb. 12 and March 20.

The schedule also features two home games on Mondays and one on Sunday.

The Predators’ longest road trip will feature six games Feb. 27 to March 9, but Nashville will not host Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, New Jersey, either New York team, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Toronto.