Roman Josi Bio
Roman Josi is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman 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 and has since developed into one of the premier defensemen of his generation. Known for his exceptional scoring ability, skating, and leadership, he became the first Swiss player and the first in Predators history to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2020 as the NHL’s best defenceman. Josi has represented Switzerland in multiple IIHF World Championships and two Winter Olympics, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Swiss-born players in league history.
Early Life and Background
Roman Josi was born on June 1, 1990, in Bern, Switzerland, the second son of 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. Both of his parents encouraged an active lifestyle, and Josi played both soccer and hockey during his youth before committing to ice hockey at the age of 10. His older brother, Yannic, also became involved in the sport, competing with HC Bern Altstadt in the SwissDiv3, while his father Peter eventually served on the board of directors for SC Bern. A lifelong supporter of the Bern football club BSC Young Boys, Josi’s early years were shaped by a strong family connection to Swiss sport.
Josi began developing his game in the youth system of his hometown club, SC Bern, where his combination of skill and poise quickly stood out. He progressed through the club’s junior ranks during the mid-2000s, refining the smooth skating and offensive instincts that would later define his professional career. By the time he reached draft age, Josi had already established himself as one of the top defencemen available in his class, drawing attention from NHL scouts with his mature two-way play.
Path to Hockey
Josi made his debut in Switzerland’s top National League during the 2006–07 season as a 16-year-old, though he became a full-time contributor the following year. In 2007, he also represented Switzerland at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and the IIHF World U18 Championships, signaling his arrival on the international stage. During the 2007–08 season, he was one of just four 17-year-olds to play in Switzerland’s top division, demonstrating his poise against grown men.
Entering his first year of draft eligibility, Josi recorded eight points in 35 games and was widely considered one of the top defencemen in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Nashville Predators selected him in the second round, 38th overall, and he returned to SC Bern where he led all Swiss League junior players in points, goals, and assists. After battling through an injury-limited 2009–10 campaign, Josi played a starring role in the 2010 NLA playoffs, leading all defencemen in goals and helping SC Bern capture the Swiss Championship title. That championship performance confirmed his readiness to cross the Atlantic and begin his NHL career.
Roman Josi Career
Early Career (2006–2010)
From 2006 to 2010, Josi developed into a key contributor for SC Bern, evolving from a promising teenager into one of the Swiss League’s most reliable defencemen. His calm puck-moving and offensive instincts made him a fixture on the club’s top pairing, and he continued to represent Switzerland in international tournaments. His selection by the Nashville Predators in 2008 only sharpened his focus, as he balanced junior hockey with the demands of a top professional league.
The 2009–10 season proved to be Josi’s breakthrough in Switzerland. Despite missing nearly a month with an injury, he still finished among the top Swiss defencemen in points per game, and he elevated his game in the postseason. His six goals in the 2010 NLA playoffs led all blueliners, and his efforts helped SC Bern capture the league championship, capping his Swiss career in storybook fashion before signing an entry-level contract with the Predators in May 2010.
Nashville Predators Breakthrough (2010–2017)
After signing a three-year entry-level contract on May 28, 2010, Josi began his North American career with the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, during the 2010–11 season. He made an immediate impact, recording 14 points in his first 35 games and later piecing together a 13-game scoring streak, the longest by an Admiral since Mike Santorelli in 2008. Following that productive development year, Josi was recalled to the NHL on November 25, 2011, and made his debut the next day against the Detroit Red Wings.
Josi’s NHL ascent was rapid. He scored his first career NHL goal on December 10, 2011, against the Anaheim Ducks, and his ice time climbed to over 23 minutes per game when captain Shea Weber went down with an injury. By the 2013–14 season, Josi had established himself as Weber’s defensive partner, finishing with 13 goals and 40 points. The following year, 2014–15, he recorded 15 goals and 55 points, one shy of Weber’s franchise record for defencemen, while logging more than 26 minutes per night. In 2015–16, he set a new franchise mark with 61 points, earned his first NHL All-Star selection, and helped the Predators win a Game 7 in franchise history against the Anaheim Ducks.
The 2016–17 campaign marked Josi’s true breakthrough. After the Predators acquired P. K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens in the off-season, Josi embraced a larger leadership role, pacing all NHL defencemen with 16 points in February alone. He finished the regular season with 49 points and then authored a historic playoff run. The Predators swept the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, eliminated the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, and reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Josi set a franchise record with six goals by a defenceman in a single postseason, finishing with 14 points in 22 games.
Nashville Predators Era (2017–Present)
On September 19, 2017, Josi was named the seventh captain in Predators history, succeeding Shea Weber. In his first season wearing the C, he set a new franchise mark for points by a defenceman, posted an NHL career-high plus-24 rating, and helped Nashville win its first Central Division title and the Presidents’ Trophy. Although the Predators fell to the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the 2018 playoffs, the campaign cemented Josi’s status as the face of the franchise.
Josi continued to deliver in 2018–19, earning his second NHL All-Star selection and helping the Predators capture a second consecutive Central Division crown. On October 29, 2019, he signed a massive eight-year, $72.4 million contract extension, locking him in as the team’s franchise cornerstone. The 2019–20 season would become the defining year of his career. He set new franchise records for points by a defenceman, posted a career-best 12-game point streak, and was named the league’s best defenceman, becoming the first Swiss player and the first Predator to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Since that historic campaign, Josi has continued to add to his legacy. In 2021, he surpassed Mark Streit as the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHL player. In 2021–22, he set a Predators single-season points record with 96, the most by an NHL defenceman since Phil Housley, and earned his third All-Star nod. In March 2023, he became the second-fastest active defenceman to reach 600 points and set a new franchise mark for most 40-assist seasons. He is widely considered the heart and soul of the Predators and one of the best defencemen of his era.
Driving Style and Strengths
Roman Josi combines elite skating, smooth puck movement, and an underrated physical edge to dominate both ends of the ice. He is regarded as an offensive catalyst from the blue line, capable of quarterbacking a power play and generating offense with his shot and vision. Defensively, his positioning, gap control, and ability to log more than 25 minutes a night make him a coach’s dream. His partnership with Ryan Ellis and, more recently, with Josi-Subban and Josi-Ekholm pairings have produced some of the league’s most reliable combinations, and his calm demeanor on the ice has helped the Predators remain competitive in the Western Conference.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Josi’s most memorable career moments is his record-setting 2019–20 season, which culminated in the 2020 Norris Trophy, and his six-goal, 14-point playoff run during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. He also made history in 2017–18 by leading Nashville to its first Presidents’ Trophy and Central Division title, and in 2021–22 by setting the Predators’ single-season points record with 96. Reaching 600 NHL points in 2023 in just 823 games placed him among the most productive defencemen in modern NHL history.
Roman Josi Career Wins
While defencemen rarely pile up the goal totals of pure finishers, Roman Josi has consistently been among the Predators’ most productive point-getters since establishing himself in the NHL. He has earned three NHL All-Star selections in 2016, 2017, and 2022, captured a Swiss League Championship with SC Bern in 2010, and lifted the Presidents’ Trophy with Nashville in 2017–18. His 2019–20 season included the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman, marking the crowning individual achievement of his career.
NHL Highlights
Josi has surpassed 40 points in a single season on multiple occasions and has set the Predators’ all-time franchise record for points by a defenceman. In 2021–22, he led all NHL defencemen with 96 points, the most by a blue liner since Phil Housley. He was also nominated for Best NHL Player at the 2022 ESPY Awards and has finished among the top five in Norris Trophy voting several times, including in 2014–15 and 2015–16. His most recent milestone came in March 2023, when he became the second-fastest active defenceman to reach 600 career points.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Josi has represented Switzerland in two Winter Olympics, including the 2014 and 2026 Games, and in numerous IIHF World Championships, where he won silver medals in 2013, 2018, and 2024. He was named Tournament MVP and to the All-Star Team at the 2013 IIHF World Championship after helping Switzerland reach the gold-medal game. He also competed for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Roman Josi Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Roman Josi was raised in a deeply athletic family in Bern, with his mother Doris competing as a national team swimmer and his father Peter playing competitive soccer. His older brother Yannic also pursued hockey, playing for HC Bern Altstadt in Switzerland’s lower divisions, while his father later served on the board of directors for SC Bern, keeping the family closely tied to the game. Josi’s Swiss sporting roots remain a defining part of his identity, and he has often credited his parents and brother for helping him reach the NHL.
Personal Life
Josi married Ellie Ottaway, a model and musician, on June 20, 2019. The couple has a son and a daughter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Josi became actively involved in relief efforts across Tennessee, donating $20,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and another $20,000 to Home Street Home Ministries, and helping raise funds for the Nashville Strong tornado relief campaign.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Roman Josi remains the face of the Nashville Predators and a central figure in their quest to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Following a 2024–25 campaign in which Nashville finished near the bottom of the Central Division, the Predators undertook a major off-season overhaul, including the hiring of a new head coach and significant roster changes. Josi, still operating as the team’s captain and No. 1 defenceman, is expected to log heavy minutes in all situations and provide the leadership needed to guide a younger core through a transition year.
On the ice, Josi continues to produce at a high level. Even as he approaches his mid-30s, he remains one of the team’s most reliable point producers and a fixture on the top power-play unit. His scoring touch and ability to drive offense from the back end remain critical to the Predators’ hopes of climbing back into postseason contention in a stacked Western Conference.
For 2025, the bigger question revolves around the Predators’ playoff outlook. With Josi, Filip Forsberg, and a retooled supporting cast in place, Nashville will look to channel the energy of its new identity. If Josi can stay healthy and continue to play at an elite level, the Predators have every reason to believe they can be back in the playoff hunt and perhaps make a deep run in the spring.