Nashville Predators: A Retrospective on David Poile’s Biggest Trades

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 7: Nashville Predators general manager David Poile walks with John Hynes prior to his first game as the new head coach of the Nashville Predators against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on January 7, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 7: Nashville Predators general manager David Poile walks with John Hynes prior to his first game as the new head coach of the Nashville Predators against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on January 7, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
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(Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

Trade #13: Nashville Predators acquire Kyle Turris from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for sending Samuel Girard, Vladislav Kaminev, and a 2018 2nd round pick to the Colorado Avalanche. (November 5, 2017)

This trade is much maligned now, but it was a good move at the time and I stand by it. The Predators traded a young and talented blue liner in Samuel Girard and a decent prospect in Kaminev for a true #2 center. That’s not a bad move.

Turris played well upon his arrival in Nashville and earned a lucrative contract extension, with 42 points in 65 games. Suffering an injury-riddled 2018-19 season and being healthy scratched multiple times hasn’t done him any favors recently, but he’s played pretty well in the 2019-20 season despite the positions the previous coaching regime put him in.

Girard has been fine, but not stellar for the Avalanche, and Kaminev is just a bottom six player. Where the trade hurts is with Turris getting paid $6 million AAV until 2024. Yikes.