On the eve of the playoffs, the Nashville Predators have earned an accolade. BMO Capital Markets' Doug Porter analyzed the return-on-investment for each of the NHL's 30 clubs, determining which earned the most points per million spent in payroll.

Number one?

The Nashville Predators are the Hockey Cents champions this year. Nashville earned more than two points for every million spent, finishing with more than 100 points, even with one of the lowest outlays in the league. Nashville made it to the Conference semi-finals last year, and ended the regular season on a strong note.

The Preds finished the season with a salary cap number of roughly $51.6 million, an actual salary outlay of $54 million and with a record of 48-26-8, good for 104 points, fourth place in the Western Conference, earning home-ice advantage for the first time.

Read the PDF of the full report here.

The year-old North American Soccer League on Tuesday renewed the contract of its commissioner and said it is talking to prospective owners in no fewer than 20 cities about expanding beyond its eight-team base. SBNation says Nashville is among them.

We all know the Nashville Predators prize longevity and the franchise's ownership group proved so again Monday, extending the contract of General Manager David Poile through the 2014-15 campaign. Poile, who has been in his job since the Predators hit the ice 14 years ago, will have at his side Assistant GM Paul Fenton, who also has been given a new deal.

“The consistent success of the Predators on the ice is directly attributed to his ability to assemble and lead a team of management, coaches, scouts and administrators who continually identify, draft, develop and motive an exceptional group of experienced and young players. The ownership group believes that under his leadership, the Nashville Predators will soon achieve its goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

The Nashville Predators have renewed their minor-league affiliation agreement with the Milwaukee Admirals through the 2013-'14 season. The clubs, which have been partners since the Preds' inaugural season in 1998, also have an option for the 2014-'15 campaign.

The Milwaukee Admirals have cultivated a winning tradition, as evidenced by their nine consecutive trips to the playoffs – including a Calder Cup Championship in 2004 and another appearance in the Calder Cup Finals in 2006. Led by Harris Turer, the Milwaukee ownership group has assembled a bright and dedicated staff headed by President Jon Greenberg, that has created a major league environment for our prospects.