Eric Stromgren

estromgren@tennessean.com

Predators chairman and governor Thomas Cigarran delivered his annual preseason message to players and coaches after Thursday's practice at Centennial Sportsplex.

He also shared a message to the fans.

"We are determined — this franchise — to win the Stanley Cup," he said. "Not a Stanley Cup, but the Stanley Cup. And win it more than once."

Cigarran is part of Predators Holdings LLC — the investing group that owns the franchise and Powers Management, the company that operates Bridgestone Arena. He talked about the long-term vision for the franchise and the team assembled for this season, which begins Oct. 9 against Ottawa at Bridgestone Arena.

"What we're about is building a franchise where every year, we're competing at the very highest level to win the Cup," Cigarran said. "Not just to do it one time. Not to engineer a team. Not just one time where you can go over the goal line and then you're terrible for five years. That's not how we're going about it."

The Predators enter the season with the second coach in franchise history in Peter Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup in 2006 as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Many NHL observers consider goalie Pekka Rinne and defensemen Shea Weber among the best at their positions. The Predators also invested in some noteworthy free agents, including playmaking center Mike Ribeiro and goal scorer James Neal.

"We are the most excited we've been, maybe ever, about this team," Cigarran said. "We think this is going to be a special season."

Joining Cigarran were team president Sean Henry, chief operating officer Jeff Cogen and general manager David Poile.

Cigarran thanked the team for its community outreach and the work it does to help raise money for the Predators Foundation. The non-profit organization raised $900,000 in 2013-14. That money was awarded in grants to Nashville and Middle Tennessee area charities and community service organizations.

Country music star Vince Gill and Laviolette's wife, Kristen, were named to the foundation's board of directors on Thursday.

Cigarran also talked with the players about three points that will allow the franchise to compete for the Stanley Cup every season: hockey operations, business operations and an ownership group.

"We are in great shape in all of those three areas," Cigarran said. "We are growing our fan base. We have more season tickets sold this year than we did the year before, and more than the year before, and more than the year before. Our sponsorships are up, so the business side is really going well."

Cigarran pointed to the success of Bridgestone Arena's Lexus Lounge. The private, 450-member luxury area located on the event level is sold out. The players skate on to the ice after walking through the members in attendance, much like how the Dallas Cowboys enter the field at AT&T Stadium.

"All of those things contribute on a financial side to our ability to be able to field a team that is going to be competitive," Cigarran said.

As far as the ownership group, he said it has two responsibilities: "Make sure we have the very best people running this organization and make sure the finances are sound and solid, so that we can afford to do the things that we know will lead us eventually to the Stanley Cup."

Reach Eric Stromgren at 615-259-8325 and on Twitter @estromgren.