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

By Eamon Smith

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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SAINT PAUL, MN – NOVEMBER 4: Tomas Vokoun #29 of the Nashville Predators drinks fluids from a sports bottle during a game against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on November 4, 2006 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Predators won 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, MN – NOVEMBER 4: Tomas Vokoun #29 of the Nashville Predators drinks fluids from a sports bottle during a game against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on November 4, 2006 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Predators won 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images) /

Trade #4: Nashville Predators acquire 2008 first round pick, 2007 2nd-round pick, 2007 or 2008 conditional 2nd round pick from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Tomáš Vokoun. (June 22, 2007)

This was just an emotionally impactful trade for Nashville fans. Vokoun was a homegrown talent and marketable player who had been excellent in net for the Predators for a long, long time.

Letting him go was the right move at the time, with a young and relatively unknown Finnish upstart coming to take his place (everyone take this time to remember the magical moment you were introduced to the beauty of Pekka Rinne, please).

I personally have some strong connection here; Vokoun was among my favorites when I was little (cool name, plays the coolest position for a kid who’s watching), and I even had his hockey card. It was sad to see him go, but the return here was strong, and Poile looked smart for getting a lot for him when Rinne burst onto the scene the next year.

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