Roman Josi Bio
Roman Josi, born on 1 June 1990 in Bern, Switzerland, is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman and captain of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted 38th overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Josi has spent his entire North American career with the franchise and developed into one of the premier defensemen of his era. He began his professional career in 2007 and is widely recognized for his exceptional scoring ability, mobility, and leadership on the ice.
As captain, Josi has led the Predators to multiple playoff appearances and earned numerous individual accolades, including the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2020 as the league’s top defenseman. His combination of offensive skill, defensive responsibility, and durability has helped him rewrite portions of the franchise record book while also representing Switzerland on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Roman Josi was born on 1 June 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. 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. His brother Yannic competed with HC Bern Altstadt in SwissDiv3, and Peter Josi serves on the board of directors for SC Bern. Outside of hockey, Josi is a supporter of his hometown football club, BSC Young Boys.
Path to Professional Hockey
Josi played with his local club, SC Bern, from 2006 to 2010, working his way up through the Swiss National League system. He made his debut in the National League during the 2006–07 season and became a mainstay in the lineup the following year. In his first season of draft eligibility, he tallied eight points in 35 games while representing Switzerland at two international tournaments, which helped establish him as one of the top defensemen available for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
The Nashville Predators selected him 38th overall in the second round of that draft. Following the draft, Josi returned to the Swiss league where he led all junior players in points, goals, and assists, and was one of just four 17-year-olds to play in Switzerland’s top division. During the 2010 NLA playoffs, he led all defensemen in goals and tied for fourth overall as SC Bern won the league championship, signaling his readiness for the North American professional game.
Roman Josi Career
Early Career (2007–2011)
After winning the Swiss league title with SC Bern, Josi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Predators on 28 May 2010. He joined the Predators organization for the 2010–11 season and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. Although he missed the first seven games of the year, he quickly found his rhythm, scoring his first AHL goal in a 3–2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters in early November. He finished the regular season with 30 points in 69 games and added postseason production for the Admirals during the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs.
The following year, Josi began the 2011–12 season with the Admirals before being recalled to the NHL on 25 November 2011. He made his NHL debut the next day against the Detroit Red Wings and scored his first NHL goal on 10 December in a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. By season’s end, he had helped Nashville reach the 2012 playoffs, where he appeared in all 10 games during the Predators’ first-round win over Detroit and second-round loss to Phoenix.
NHL Breakthrough (2012–2017)
After the 2011–12 season, Josi returned briefly to SC Bern during the 2012 NHL lockout, playing alongside NHL stars John Tavares and Mark Streit. When play resumed, he returned to Nashville and quickly improved his production, finishing 2012–13 with five goals and 13 assists in 48 games. That summer, he signed a seven-year, $28 million contract extension to remain with the Predators through the 2019–20 season.
Josi continued his rapid development in 2013–14, averaging nearly 26:30 of ice time per game alongside Shea Weber after the departure of Ryan Suter. In 2014–15, he posted 15 goals and 40 assists for 55 points, finishing in the top five of Norris Trophy voting and setting up one of the most memorable playoff performances of his career. In Game 4 of the 2015 playoffs against Chicago, he played a franchise-record 45:06 minutes of ice time in a triple-overtime loss and tied the franchise mark for most playoff shots by a defenseman in a single game.
The 2015–16 and 2016–17 campaigns cemented Josi’s star status. He set franchise records for points by a defenseman, was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2016, and helped lead the Predators to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. His six goals in the 2017 postseason set a franchise record for most goals by a defenseman in a single playoff year, and he finished second among Nashville skaters with 14 points in 22 games.
Nashville Predators Captaincy (2017–Present)
On 19 September 2017, Josi was named the seventh captain in Predators history. In his first season wearing the ‘C’, he helped Nashville win the Presidents’ Trophy and its first Central Division title, finishing the regular season with 14 goals and 39 assists for 53 points. Despite the team’s playoff disappointment, Josi established himself as one of the league’s most durable and productive defensemen, earning another top-seven Norris finish.
On 29 October 2019, Josi signed an eight-year, $72.4 million contract extension that included a no-movement clause. During the 2019–20 season, he became the first Swiss player and the first player in Predators franchise history to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy, finishing with 65 points in 69 games. The following seasons saw him continue to rewrite franchise history, including passing Mark Streit as the highest-scoring Swiss-born NHL player and leading all defensemen with 96 points in 2021–22, the most by a defenseman since Phil Housley.
Driving Style and Strengths
Josi is celebrated for his elite skating, smooth puck-handling, and ability to quarterback a power play from the blue line. His offensive instincts allow him to contribute at a high level in even-strength and special-teams situations, while his mobility and hockey IQ support reliable defensive play. Long-standing partnerships with defensemen such as Shea Weber, Ryan Ellis, and Mattias Ekholm have helped him thrive in top-pairing minutes throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Josi scored his first NHL goal on 10 December 2011, won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2020, and set a Predators single-season points record with 96 points in 2021–22. On 22 January 2026, he skated in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the first player to reach that milestone having played all 1,000 games with the Nashville Predators.
Roman Josi Career Wins
While individual goal totals for each season are well documented, Josi’s on-ice victories and championships stand out at both the club and international levels. He won the Swiss National League championship with SC Bern in 2010, helped Nashville reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, and added multiple deep playoff runs as the team’s captain.
Predators Highlights
Josi has been a fixture of Nashville’s most successful seasons, including the 2017 Stanley Cup Final run, the 2017–18 Presidents’ Trophy campaign, and a franchise-record-setting 96-point performance in 2021–22. He led all NHL defensemen in scoring that year and powered Nashville to a late-season playoff push.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Josi helped Switzerland reach the final of the 2013 IIHF World Championship, earning tournament MVP honors and a place on the All-Star Team. He also won silver medals with Switzerland at the 2018 and 2024 IIHF World Championships and was named to the Swiss roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Roman Josi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Josi was raised in an athletic family in Bern, the son of Doris Josi, a former national team swimmer, and Peter Josi, a former competitive soccer player who now serves on the board of directors for SC Bern. His older brother, Yannic Josi, has also been involved in ice hockey, playing for HC Bern Altstadt in the lower Swiss divisions.
Personal Life
Josi married Ellie Ottaway, a model and musician, on 20 June 2019. The couple has a son and a daughter together. During the COVID-19 pandemic pause, Josi became active in community support efforts across Tennessee, raising funds for the Nashville Strong tornado relief and donating to local food banks and ministries.
2025 Season Performance
Josi’s 2024–25 campaign was cut short by a serious injury. During a game on 25 February, he was checked hard into the boards by Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett and sustained a season-ending concussion. Later, during his recovery, he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition the team said the medical staff was monitoring closely.
Despite the abbreviated season, Josi remained an influential leader in the Predators locker room, and the organization expressed confidence in a full recovery. Predators general manager Barry Trotz said he expected Josi to be ready for the start of the 2025–26 season, allowing him to build on his remarkable run of durability and franchise milestones.
Looking ahead, Josi’s primary focus is regaining his health and returning to the Predators lineup as captain. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in several key categories among defensemen and continues to anchor the team’s top pairing whenever healthy, with another milestone, his 1,000th NHL game, already within sight as he works toward a full comeback.
