Instead of protecting seven forwards and three defensemen, the Nashville Predators elected to take the other option. This meant protecting a total of eight skaters without position specifications. This was done in order to maintain the team’s core of top tier defensemen (Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, P.K. Subban, and Matias Ekholm) that guided them to a Western Conference Championship.
The team used its remaining four spots on Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Calle Jarnkrok. This left James Neal un-protected, and undoubtedly the most enticing option for the Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft. Other viable options for Las Vegas included forwards Colton Sissons and Pontus Aberg.
#Preds forward James Neal selected by @GoldenKnights in Expansion Draft. https://t.co/ir1NNOVVv7
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 22, 2017
Vegan style deal
The Golden Knights are years away from being a competitive hockey club and have an immediate need for young, developable talent. It makes sense if they view Neal not as a player, but as an asset. With only one year left on his contract, the 29-year old Neal is a prime candidate to be traded at this year’s deadline in exchange for valuable draft capital.
In three years with the Predators, Neal scored a total of 77 goals, averaging 45 points in each season. As both a leader and an offensive force, Neal was an integral part of the Predators success in the 2017 postseason. The alternate captain totaled six goals during the most recent Stanley Cup Playoffs, two of which were game winners.
In Neal, the Golden Knights will get more than just a goal-scorer, leader, and trade pawn. Neal is a dedicated hockey player with incredible toughness. The Predators announced after the Stanley Cup Finals that Neal broke his hand in Game 1 of the Conference Finals. Yet, he played with the injury for the remainder of the postseason, a total of eleven games.
Poile and the Nashville’s hockey operations staff hate seeing a key player head out the door. But they now have an extra $5 million of cap space following Neal’s departure. After re-signing key restricted free agents Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson, the Predators could turn their attention to making a splash in free agency.
Next: The Predators’ future lays on Forsberg
If Poile does indeed see a need to add a forward or two during the offseason, something he indicated in a media availability earlier this week, he will have plenty of good ones to choose from.