Jordin Tootoo Returns to Nashville, Celebrated for the Man He’s Become
When Jordin Tootoo walks into Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night, it won’t just be another trip down memory lane-it’ll be a full-circle moment. The Predators are honoring him with “Jordin Tootoo Night” as they host the Dallas Stars, and fittingly, it falls on his 36th birthday.
But this isn’t just about stats or highlight-reel hits. This is about survival, redemption, and the kind of personal growth that transcends the game.
Back in December 2010, just days before Christmas, Tootoo was called into then-GM David Poile’s office. He thought he was managing everything just fine.
On the surface, he was a fan favorite-a high-energy forward who played with reckless abandon, the kind of guy who could electrify a crowd with a single hit. But behind the scenes, things were unraveling fast.
In that meeting, Poile and head coach Barry Trotz didn’t mince words. They told Tootoo that unless he got help, he could lose everything-his career, and possibly his life.
That conversation, Tootoo says, was the turning point. He hasn’t had a drink since.
Now, more than eight years later, he returns to the arena not just as a former Predator, but as a husband, a father of two, and a man who’s found peace in sobriety.
“Just reminiscing on my time in Nashville, a place where I kind of grew up and really evolved into the person I am today, I’m excited,” Tootoo said, reflecting on his return.
It’s a moment that might’ve seemed impossible all those years ago. But here he is-sober, grounded, and being honored by the franchise that stood by him when he needed it most.
From Rankin Inlet to NHL History
Tootoo’s story is remarkable even before you factor in the personal battles. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 NHL Draft, he became the first Inuk player to skate in the NHL, debuting in the 2003-04 season.
He brought a unique energy to the ice-fearless, physical, and relentless. The “Tootoo Train” became a fixture in Smashville, with fans literally blowing train whistles every time he laid out an opponent.
But as Tootoo was delivering big hits and igniting the bench, he was also carrying a heavy burden. Growing up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, alcohol was a constant presence in his home. And in 2002, he lost his brother, Terrance, to suicide-a devastating blow that only deepened the darkness he was already navigating.
“As professional athletes, a lot of us fight a fight no one knows about,” he said. “For me, that was alcoholism.”
He was living his dream, but the cracks were starting to show. That’s when Poile and Trotz stepped in-not just as hockey men, but as human beings who genuinely cared.
“I thought I had control of [my drinking], but when David Poile and Barry Trotz offered probably the best gift in my life in going to treatment, it was a turning point,” Tootoo said. “It just goes to show that the organization cares about their players on a personal level, not just the hockey player, but their well-being.”
A Career Rebuilt, A Life Reclaimed
Tootoo’s response to that intervention was immediate and lasting. He had a career-high 30-point season in 2011-12, his final year in Nashville. He went on to play for Detroit, New Jersey, and Chicago, finishing his NHL career with 723 games, 161 points, and 1,010 penalty minutes-a gritty, hard-earned résumé that speaks to his resilience on and off the ice.
In 2014, he released his autobiography, All The Way: My Life On Ice, co-written with Stephen Brunt. The book became a form of therapy, a way to process everything he’d been through and offer hope to others who might be struggling.
“When I sobered up, I had to relearn how to communicate and talk about my emotions,” Tootoo said. “Writing the book was a three-year process that helped lift a lot of weight off my shoulders.”
He grew up in a culture where emotions were kept behind closed doors, where vulnerability wasn’t encouraged. Now, he’s breaking that mold-not just for himself, but for others.
Giving Back to the Next Generation
Tootoo’s story doesn’t end with hockey. He’s turned his platform into a force for good, particularly through the Team Tootoo Fund, which supports causes like suicide prevention and youth at risk. He’s passionate about connecting with Indigenous youth in remote communities-kids who, like him, may not see many role models who look like them or understand where they’re coming from.
“A lot of our remote communities don’t have Indigenous role models,” Tootoo said. “For me to connect with them and tell my story, I think they can really relate and help them see light at the end of the tunnel.”
His message is simple but powerful: it’s okay to fail. It’s okay to struggle. What matters is what you do next.
A Night of Reflection and Gratitude
Saturday night won’t just be a celebration of Jordin Tootoo the hockey player-it’ll be a tribute to Jordin Tootoo the person. The one who fought through darkness, found his way back, and now uses his story to inspire others.
He’ll be back in the building where it all started to turn around. Back in the city that helped save him. And as he looks into the crowd, he’ll see more than just fans-he’ll see a community that stood by him, believed in him, and gave him the space to grow.
“I’m very grateful that I’m able to be home on a daily basis to watch my daughters grow up,” Tootoo said. “Now, I just have the biggest smile on my face.”
And really, that smile says it all.