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P.K. Subban didn't need long to endear himself to Nashville. USATSI

Despite relatively strong regular season attendance, the Nashville Predators had never sold out a preseason game before. It's not much of a surprise. Most teams aren't going to sell out their preseason games anywhere very often.

However, for Saturday night's preseason contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, there wasn't an empty seat.

For the first time in franchise history, the Predators played before a sold out Bridgstone Arena in a game that ultimately does not count. So why did 17,113 people file through the turnstiles this time? You only need two letters to understand.

P.K.

After overcoming a minor injury, P.K. Subban was in a Predators uniform for the first time, in game action at least. Nasvhille's biggest offseason acquisition had finally arrived and Preds fans were ready to get an up-close look.

Subban, wearing his familiar No. 76 in unfamiliar colors, was introduced as part of the starting lineup, receiving a loud, lengthy ovation.

It was an incredibly warm welcome for a player who was acquired by the Preds trading away their captain and longtime face of the franchise, Shea Weber. When a fan-favorite gets dealt, it's almost impossible for his replacement to immediately endear himself to the hometown faithful, but the transition has been seamless so far.

Part of that is on the Preds for putting Subban front and center throughout the summer. The rest is on the player, who has put in the work and the appearances to win the hearts of a fan base that has not seen a personality quite like him. From singing Johnny Cash at Tootsies to visiting the local children's hospital, Subban has shown that he is embracing this situation and city despite his visible disappointment in being traded by the Canadiens. The page has officially been turned.

The optimism for the Predators is reaching heights not previously seen. This is a team that believes it can compete and even contend for a Stanley Cup as early as this season. They have the young rising star forward in Filip Forsberg, one of the best - if not the best - defensive corps in the NHL and an up-tempo system that encourages offense. They're going to be fun to watch.

But all eyes are going to be on Subban. There aren't many veteran players that can make a preseason ticket a hot commodity. He's already the main attraction and Subban got off to a great start, too.

In Nashville's 4-3 win, Subban registered an assist on the team's first goal and scored a power-play goal of his own. It came in familiar fashion as well, with Subban ripping a one-timer from the left point.

He was named the game's second star and got a memorable curtain call, to which he gleefully played to the crowd.

Saturday night very well could have been a sign of things to come, not just from what Subban can do on the ice, but what he's going to mean to the Predators this season overall.

Nashville has had star players come to town before and they've grown some of their own, but none matches the celebrity Subban possesses at this particular point of his career. He is at or near the height of his talent and has embraced his star power in ways hockey players often don't.

In a city full of some of the biggest acts in music and some of the finest entertainment venues, Subban is going to force the public's attention onto the hockey team. It might be his name in lights that attracts the new fans and reinvigorates those that already were on board, but it's going to be the Predators as a whole that keeps them coming back.

It's going to be a fun year for hockey in Music City.