Martin Erat
A crafty Czech winger whose playmaking vision and two-way consistency made him a foundational piece for the Nashville Predators during their rise.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Czech ice hockey player·Birthday: August 29·Millennials
Biography
Martin Erat's NHL story is one of quiet, understated excellence. Drafted in the seventh round, he far exceeded expectations to become a model of reliability for the Nashville Predators. In an era where the Predators were built on defense and structure, Erat was the offensive catalyst on their top line, a clever passer with a sneaky-good shot. He wasn't the flashiest player, but his hockey sense and ability to protect the puck along the boards made him incredibly effective. For nearly 11 seasons in Nashville, he was a constant, topping 50 points multiple times and becoming the franchise's all-time leader in assists. A late-career trade to Washington was less fruitful, but his legacy is cemented as part of the core that established Nashville's identity—a skilled, hard-working forward who exemplified the team's blue-collar ethos with a touch of European finesse.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Martin was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the Nashville Predators' all-time leader in assists (318) and games played (723), records later broken.
- Recorded four consecutive seasons of 49 or more points for the Predators from 2006 to 2010.
- Won a bronze medal with the Czech Republic at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
- Scored the first playoff goal in Nashville Predators franchise history in 2004.
Did You Know?
He was selected 191st overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, making him a major late-round success story.
He and his wife named their son after former Predators teammate David Legwand.
He played his final professional seasons back in the Czech Extraliga for HC Kometa Brno.
He served as an alternate captain for the Predators for several seasons.
“I was a seventh-round pick; I had to prove my worth every single shift.”
