Nashville Predators: David Poile Named to the US Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: President of Hockey Operations and general manager David Poile of the Nashville Predators speaks after winning the NHL General Manager of the Year Award (Most Outstanding General Manager) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: President of Hockey Operations and general manager David Poile of the Nashville Predators speaks after winning the NHL General Manager of the Year Award (Most Outstanding General Manager) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Nashville Predators’ general manager David Poile will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in December this year.

Today, USA Hockey announced their Class of 2018 inductees for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the list of inductees is Nashville Predators general manager David Poile. Poile, who became the NHL’s winningest GM in history in February, will be joined by Gordon “Red” Berenson, Natalie Darwitz, Leland “Hago” Harrington, and Paul Stewart.

Throughout his 46-year NHL career, David Poile has amassed quite the resume. His NHL career began in 1972 as an administrative assistant for the Atlanta Flames. Poile was eventually promoted to assistant GM for the Flames after five years with the team. In 1982, Poile left the Flames to become general manager for the Washington Capitals. He would spend fifteen years with the Caps before deciding to join the Predators in 1997.

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Twenty-one years after joining the Predators, Poile still remains the only GM that the team has ever had. He has gone on to become the winningest GM in NHL history, been named NHL’s GM of the Year in 2017, and made some of the most team-friendly deals in NHL history (Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm come to mind). Throughout his time with the Preds, Poile has taken an expansion team from literally nothing to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. He has made trades and signings that have laid the foundation for the Predators’ roster today. And we can’t forget it was David Poile who made one of the best trades in NHL history (unless you’re a Capitals fan) when he acquired Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat and Michael Latta.

In addition to his NHL resume, Poile has also played a big role in USA Hockey. From USA Hockey:

"He served as the general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and was the associate general manager for the U.S. squad that took home the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. He also helped assemble the U.S. Men’s National Team that captured the bronze medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship in 2013, the third medal for the U.S. at the tournament since 1962. He served as the general manager of the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1998 and 1999 and as associate general manager in 2009 and 2010."

With his tremendous success at the NHL level and all he has done for USA Hockey, it’s a no-brainer that David Poile gets inducted to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. A massive congratulation is in order for David Poile and the other inductees.

The induction ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, in none other than Nashville. If you are interested in attending the ceremony, you can visit U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s website for tickets.