Roman Josi

Roman Josi Bio

Roman Josi is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenseman and captain of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on June 1, 1990, in Bern, Switzerland, Josi was drafted 38th overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He has established himself as one of the premier defensemen in the league, renowned for his exceptional scoring ability and leadership on the ice. Josi made NHL history in 2020 when he became the first Swiss player and the first player in Predators franchise history to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. As captain, he has led the Predators to multiple playoff appearances, including a run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.

Early Life and Background

Roman Josi was born on June 1, 1990, in Bern, Switzerland, the second son of parents Doris and Peter Josi. He grew up in an athletic household as his mother is a former national team swimmer and his father played competitive soccer. Josi played both soccer and hockey as a youth before committing to ice hockey at the age of 10. Both his father and older brother are also involved in ice hockey; Yannic competed with HC Bern Altstadt in Swiss Division 3 and Peter serves on the board of directors for SC Bern. He is a supporter of his hometown football club, BSC Young Boys.

Path to Professional Hockey

Josi began his professional career with SC Bern, playing in Switzerland’s top National League. He made his debut with the National League in the 2006-07 season and became a mainstay in the lineup during the 2007-08 season. In 2008, Josi was one of just four 17-year-olds to play in Switzerland’s top division. Leading up to the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Josi was considered one of the top defensemen available. He was eventually selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 38th overall. Despite being sidelined for almost four weeks during the 2009-10 season, Josi accumulated 20 points through 24 games by the end of December 2009. During the 2010 NLA playoffs, Josi led all defensemen and tied for fourth overall in goals as SC Bern won the Championship title.

Roman Josi Career

Early Career (2010-2012)

Josi joined the Predators organization for the 2010-11 season after signing a three-year entry-level contract on May 28, 2010. He was assigned to the Predators’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for the remainder of the season. Josi scored his first career AHL goal in a 3-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters in early November. He maintained a 13-game scoring streak from January 20 to February 20, the longest by an Admiral player since Mike Santorelli in 2008. By the end of the regular season, Josi recorded six goals and 34 assists through 69 games.

Once healthy during the 2011-12 season, Josi tallied four points in his first five games before being recalled to the NHL level on November 25, 2011. He played 12:20 minutes of ice time in his NHL debut the following day against the Detroit Red Wings. Josi later scored his first career NHL goal on December 10 to lift the team 3-2 over the Anaheim Ducks. After star defenseman Shea Weber suffered an injury, Josi saw his ice time spike to an average of 23:43 for four games during his absence. Josi made his playoff debut on April 11, 2012, in the first game of the opening round against the Detroit Red Wings. He played in all 10 playoff games during the Predators’ run to the second round.

Breakthrough and Establishing Leadership (2012-2017)

Following his rookie season, Josi returned to SC Bern because of the 2012 NHL lockout, playing alongside NHL stars John Tavares and Mark Streit. When the lockout was resolved in January 2013, Josi returned to the Predators and set new career highs in goals, assists, points, and games played. On June 10, 2013, Josi signed a seven-year, $28 million contract to remain with the Predators through the 2019-20 season.

During the 2014-15 season, Josi scored 15 goals, 40 assists, and 55 points, one shy of the Predators’ single-season scoring record for defensemen. He led the League in average time on ice per game through the first 11 games and finished with 209 blocked shots, the second most of any NHL player that season. His play helped the Predators qualify for the 2015 playoffs after the team failed to qualify during the previous two seasons.

Before the start of the 2017-18 season, Josi was named the seventh captain in Predators history on September 19, 2017. In his first year as captain, Josi helped the Predators clinch their first Central Division title in franchise history and win the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the most points during the NHL regular season. Josi finished the season with 14 goals and 39 assists for 53 points in 75 contests.

Norris Trophy Victory (2019-2020)

Josi signed an eight-year, $72.4 million contract extension with the Predators on October 29, 2019. The lengthy contract also came with a no-movement clause. He spent most of the 2019-20 season playing alongside Ryan Ellis, and the two were consistently ranked among the best defensive duos in the league. Josi was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week twice during the season. Despite the Predators’ struggles, Josi was an early favorite to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy. Under new head coach John Hynes, Josi extended his point streak to 12 games. He became the eighth defenseman in NHL history to lead a team in scoring at the end of a season with at least 15 points over the next-closest skater. Josi set new career highs in goals, assists, and points and became the first Predators player and first Swiss player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

Record-Breaking Seasons (2021-2023)

Josi bounced back in the 2021-22 season and set numerous personal and franchise records. He led all NHL defensemen with 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists) through 80 games, the most points in a season by a defenseman since Phil Housley. He also led defensemen in power-play goals with 11 and shots on goal with 281. On April 7, 2022, Josi broke Paul Kariya’s previous record to become the Predators’ single-season points leader. He became the first defenseman since 1994 to record 90 points in a single campaign. Josi was nominated for Best NHL Player at the 2022 ESPY Awards and was a finalist for the Norris Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.

During the 2022-23 season, Josi continued to break franchise records. On December 21, 2022, Josi passed David Legwand for the most points in Predators history. In March 2023, Josi became the second-fastest active defenseman to reach 600 points in his NHL career. He became the second defenseman to lead an active NHL franchise in points, joining Ray Bourque.

Driving Style and Strengths

Josi is renowned for his exceptional offensive instincts from the blue line, combining elite skating ability with outstanding playmaking skills. His hockey sense allows him to contribute heavily on the power play while maintaining solid defensive positioning. Josi’s ability to quarterback an offense while remaining responsible in his own end has made him one of the most complete defensemen of his generation. His partnership with various defensive partners over the years, including Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, and Ryan Ellis, has formed crucial foundations of the Predators’ success.

Notable Events and Milestones

Josi reached several significant milestones in his career. He became the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHL player in 2021, surpassing Mark Streit. In 2023, he became the Predators’ all-time leader in points by a defenseman. On January 22, 2026, Josi skated in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the first player to reach this milestone having played all 1,000 games with the Nashville Predators. He became the 414th NHL player to play 1,000 games and the 83rd player to do so all with the same team.

Roman Josi Career Wins

Josi has accumulated impressive statistics throughout his professional career, with multiple franchise records and individual accolades highlighting his offensive prowess from the defenseman position.

NHL Highlights

Throughout his NHL career with the Nashville Predators, Josi has established numerous franchise records for a defenseman. His most notable achievement came in 2019-20 when he became the first Predators player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. He set the Predators’ single-season record for defenseman points with 96 in the 2021-22 season. Josi became the franchise’s all-time leader in points by a defenseman in 2023 and the overall franchise leader in 2022. He has led all NHL defensemen in points twice in his career and has been a Norris Trophy finalist three times (2020, 2022, 2024).

International Success

Internationally, Josi has represented Switzerland at both junior and senior levels. He was named Best Defenseman at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, leading Switzerland to promotion into the top division. At the 2013 IIHF World Championship, Josi helped Switzerland reach the final for only the second time in tournament history. He finished the tournament with four goals and five assists to earn tournament MVP and become the first Swiss player selected for the World Championships All-star Team. He won a silver medal with Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.

Other Achievements

Josi has been selected to five NHL All-Star Games (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022). In 2017, he helped lead the Predators to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history, setting a franchise record for most goals by a defenseman in a single postseason with six. He won the NLA championship with SC Bern in 2010 and has accumulated over 600 career points in the NHL.

Roman Josi Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Josi comes from an athletic family in Bern, Switzerland. His mother, Doris Josi, is a former national team swimmer, and his father, Peter Josi, played competitive soccer. His older brother, Yannic Josi, competed with HC Bern Altstadt in Swiss Division 3. His father, Peter, serves on the board of directors for SC Bern, the same club where Roman began his professional career. This family involvement in sports provided a strong foundation for his athletic development.

Personal Life

Josi married Ellie Ottaway, a model and musician, on June 20, 2019. They have a son and daughter together. While the NHL paused play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Josi became active in support efforts across Tennessee. He helped raise funds to support Nashville Strong tornado relief efforts and donated $20,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. He also donated another $20,000 to Home Street Home Ministries in Nashville. During the 2024-25 season, Josi sustained a season-ending concussion after being checked into the boards by Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett on February 25. During his recovery, he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Predators general manager Barry Trotz stated that he expects Josi to return for the 2025-26 season.

2025 Season Performance

The 2024-25 season saw Josi play 53 games before a devastating injury on February 25. During a game against the Florida Panthers, Josi was checked hard into the boards by Sam Bennett and sustained a season-ending concussion. Bennett received a two-game suspension for the hit. During his recovery, Josi was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition affecting his heart rate regulation. Despite this setback, the Predators organization expressed confidence in his return for the 2025-26 season. Josi remains one of the league’s top defensemen and continues to hold multiple franchise records as he works toward a comeback.