How Long Does Poile Want To Do This?
Then there’s the conductor leading the orchestra. David Poile has been with the Nashville Predators their entire existence. There’s no reason to believe that his job is, or ever will be, in any sort of jeopardy. With that in mind, one has to remember that Poile is sixty-eight years old. He’s spent over five decades in NHL front offices. He has more wins than any other NHL General Manager. He’s getting inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame this year. These honors don’t come to men who aren’t in the final period of their career.
It’s tough to see Poile retiring too soon. Everybody that enters the sport of hockey wants their name engraved into the Stanley Cup. He knows his best chance at that will be during the next several years with this team. If that happens, will he see that as a crowning achievement and his time to step off the stage? Will his replacement provide the same deft touch Polie has had over the years, or will there be a rough transition?
The Nashville Predators’ future looks incredibly bright on the surface. Fans should expect greatness. However, fans need to keep in mind the factors that could lead to an unraveling.