re: I'm considering getting into hockey, help me pick a team

Give the Preds a chance. They are close enough that you can see them live, Nashville is a cool city, and you will be keeping the love in the south.

Whenever I have visited Nashville I have always been impressed with the support that the Preds seem to have city-wide. I see lots of stickers, shirts, etc. And you know it isn't band-wagon b/c they have never won.

Carolina Hurricanes would keep the southern thing going, and they have a bit of history with a Stanley Cup championship and another appearance. Raleigh isn't nearly as cool as Nashville though.