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

A history of the most impactful moves made by the head honcho, GM David Poile as he’s molded the Nashville Predators franchise over the years.

David Poile has been the GM of the Nashville Predators since the inception of the franchise, and just recently capped off becoming the most-winning GM of all time, including the postseason.

With the trade deadline approaching and the Predators sitting on the precipice of roaring back into the playoff picture, I thought it’d be interesting to look at the trades that were the biggest blockbusters conducted by our very own GMDP.

Some of the moves were shrewd, others shocking, and some just plain dumb; we’re taking a look at all of them today.

Notable Transactions

Trade #1: Nashville Predators acquire Steve Sullivan from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for 2004 and 2005 2nd-round picks. (February 16, 2004)

This is a trade that often isn’t remembered among the huge moments in franchise history, but it’s arguably the first time that Poile went out and acquired a recognized name to bolster scoring and genuinely bring a new, exciting element to the team.

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Sullivan had scored 60-plus points for each of his four seasons with the Blackhawks and came into Nashville with 43 points in 56 games that year. The Predators were looking to add to a roster that was on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, so they acquired the speedy winger for a few decent draft picks.

Sullivan went on to become one of the most beloved early Predators, putting up 263 points in 317 games in his time in Music City. Memorable moments include a hat trick in his first game as a Predator, as well as coming back from a chronic back injury that sidelined him for almost two years to the tune of 32 points in 41 games.

Many have cited Sullivan as the reason they became Predators fans originally, and it’s not hard to see why.

Trade #2: Nashville Predators acquire Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, 2007 first and third round picks. (February 15, 2007)

This is the first true blockbuster that Poile had in his Predators career, and one of his worst trades to date. The Predators, long a roster with sub-standard talent for a playoff team, had needed a true number-one center for forever and were having an incredible season, eventually finishing with the third-best record in the league.

David Legwand, while still relatively young and talented, wasn’t proving to be a game-changing talent to drive a first line. So, when the Philadelphia Flyers offered up future Hall of Famer and all around superstar Peter Forsberg for the right price at the deadline, Poile took it as a chance to push his chips in on a risky, but potentially amazing bet.

Why was the move risky? Well, Forsberg had clearly entered the twilight of his career, managing just 100 games over two seasons in Philly. What made Poile go all in was his production in the games he did play, with Foppa scoring 115 points wearing the orange and black. The price for this aging superstar was the the foreseeable future of the Predators in sixth overall pick Scottie Upshall, 18th overall pick Ryan Parent, and the upcoming draft’s first and third rounders.

But Poile felt that Forsberg could fill the desired role of 1C and would give the team a dynamic element that it had previously lacked, potentially elevating them to a Stanley Cup. He was horrifically wrong, with Forsberg playing just 22 games in a Predators uniform (although he tallied 19 points) before exiting in the first round and leaving the team in free agency.

Luckily, all the prospects and capital that Poile gave up turned into a large pile of nothing, but at the time this was seen as a trade involving future star talents. Poile was heavily panned for the decision, with it going down as one of the biggest trade deadline overpays in (relatively) recent history.

Trade #3: Nashville Predators acquire 2007 first round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell. (June 18th, 2007)

As a direct result of Poile’s move at the deadline, as well as his need to pay some young players, longtime stalwarts Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell needed to be let go.

Hartnell was a young, talented forward with 20-plus goal capability already proven, and Timonen was arguably Poile’s masterpiece of player development, coming in during the expansion draft as a protection fee and developing into one of the NHL’s most reliable blue liners and the team’s captain for the 2006-07 season before this trade.

In one fell swoop, the Predators had lost most of their prospect pool and two of their best players to one team. Paul Holmgren looked like a genius and Poile played the fool, with Timonen going on to become a fan favorite in Philly and Hartnell developing into a 30-goal scorer and beloved personality for his rough play and glorious chirping.

That first round pick? Jonathan Blum, an American defender who flamed out and only played 110 NHL games (22 as a Predator).

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.

Trade #5: Nashville Predators acquire 2008 first round pick (7th overall) from the New York Islanders in exchange for 2008 first (9th overall) and 2nd (40th overall) round picks. (June 20, 2008)

Poile made waves at the draft as the Predators traded up to select their guy in Colin Wilson, a high-scoring American winger from the US National Team. Wilson was arguably the most touted forward the team had selected since the likes of Scott Hartnell and David Legwand, and he was so good in college that the Predators called him up after just one season in juniors.

Unfortunately, many of us know the story of Wilson; his development track was rushed, he was thrust onto an NHL team with little room to develop his scoring prowess, and he ultimately flamed out despite always flashing enormous potential in the postseason.

Still, this remains one of the more aggressive moves by Poile for a chosen draftee, and at the time it electrified the fans with the impending future of an exciting young scorer finally arriving in Nashville.

Wilson would go on to score 13 goals in the postseason for the Predators, including a game-winner in 2015. He always showed up big time in the playoffs.

Trade #6: Nashville Predators acquire Matt Halischuk, 2011 2nd round pick from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Jason Arnott. (June 19, 2010)

This goes down as a footnote because Arnott was old, but it was the loss of one of the highest scorers in franchise history and the best goal scorer that Nashville had seen before the arrival of Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg.

In return, Halischuck would play in just 136 games for the Predators, scoring 15 goals in the 2011-12 season at age 23. He would play in one more season for the Predators after that, but never really panned out before departing after that.

Trade #7: Nashville Predators acquire Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for 2011 1st round pick, 2012 conditional pick. (February 10, 2011)

Here we start getting to some more enormous moves. Fisher was a grinding, high-motor player who could put up solid point totals and bring great leadership to a team reloading its roster.

He had put up 53 points as his career high a few seasons back, and would go on to have the best of his time as an NHL player in Nashville, where he became almost universally loved as a player for his willingness to do whatever it took to win.

Fisher played 429 games wearing the Predators gold, notching 241 points and two 20-goal seasons. On top of all of this, Fisher captained the team during its historic run to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2017 postseason. The Senators didn’t get anything of note out of those picks.

Trade #9: Nashville Predators acquire Calle Jarnkrok, Patrick Eaves, 2014 3rd round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for David Legwand. (March 5, 2014)

Legwand was old as dirt and on the decline at this point, but the grizzled captain leaving clearly marked the beginning of a new era, headed by Shea Weber taking the captain’s role and firmly cementing himself as the face of the franchise alongside Pekka Rinne.

Surprisingly, Poile actually got a useful player in Calle Jarnkrok, who is still with the Predators today and has contributed as a decent bottom-six guy his whole career.

Legwand would play just 21 games in Detroit and 180 games total outside of Nashville, before retiring in 2016. He still leads the franchise all-time in games played, goals scored, assists and points, but Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi are closing in.

Trade #10: Nashville Predators acquire James Neal from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. (June 27, 2014)

This is another huge move. James Neal obviously meant a ton to Nashville, with his wicked shot, clutch goal scoring, and fun personality, but Hornqvist was a player many were sad to see go. Hornqvist had eclipsed 20 goals 4 times in his 5 seasons in Nashville, and was a tough net front presence at 5v5 and with the man advantage.

But Neal offered even more upside with around point per game production and a 40 goal, 81 point year from his time in Pittsburgh. Hornqvist’s departure would end up creating one of the most bitter moments in franchise history, as the former homegrown Predator scored the last goal in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals to defeat Nashville at home.

Neal is still remaining a productive player in the NHL as he now plays for the Edmonton Oilers.

Trade #11: Nashville Predators acquire Ryan Johansen from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Seth Jones. (January 6, 2016)

Arguably the second biggest move Poile has made as GM, he shipped out stellar defensive prospect and future All-Star Seth Jones for a talented young center who was coming off of a 71 point year.

Johansen would become a key cog in the elite JOFA line that he formed with Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg, and was a huge contributor in the Predators making their miraculous run to the Stanley Cup Final before he was injured in the Western Conference Final.

Johansen has been having a down year in the 2019-20 season, but that doesn’t erase all of the massive contributions he’s made in his time in Smashville. Jones went on to become a stellar No.1 defender in Columbus, but likely wouldn’t have had the same trajectory on a crowded depth chart with the likes of Ryan Ellis, Shea Weber, Mattias Ekholm and Roman Josi blocking his path to the top of the lineup.

Trade #12: Nashville Predators acquire PK Subban from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Shea Weber. (June 29, 2016)

The trade is one for one. These iconic words rang in the minds of Predators fans all offseason with a pair of revelations; the departure of a franchise icon in captain Shea Weber, and the arrival of a flashy young star to take his place in PK Subban.

Subban is much maligned by Nashville fans now, which I personally feel is totally unreasonable, but at the time the fanbase was excited to see a Norris winner and still young Subban bring his electric offensive abilities to Bridgestone Arena.

Subban had a slow start in Nashville, but ended up heading into the playoffs hot and led the Predators’ elite defensive core in the 2017 cup run. In the following season, he would play with Norris caliber ability yet again, helping the franchise to its first President’s Trophy.

After a declining season, he was ultimately traded to New Jersey, while Weber remains in Montreal, but the influence Subban had on the franchise and the role he played in elevating the Predators to a nationally recognized brand cannot be diminished.

Weber’s departure was crushing to many; he was the team’s captain, arguably the greatest player in franchise history alongside Pekka Rinne, and still had been a great defenseman. His time in Montreal has been fraught with injury, but Weber has still been largely his productive self when healthy, churning out slapshot goals, solid defense, physical play, and excellent leadership.

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.

Trade #14: Nashville Predators acquire Steven Santini, Jeremy Davies, 2019 and 2020 2nd round picks from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for PK Subban. (June 22, 2019)

Subban’s departure from Nashville was a bittersweet one, with some fans heavily blaming him for the team’s early exit in the 2019 playoffs. He was largely treated as a salary dump by Poile to open up cap space for longtime Nashville target Matt Duchene, but many questioned whether the Predators could have gotten more for a guy who still looked to be a #1 defenseman on most other teams.

Subban has had a rough season in Newark, with just 12 points in 52 games, and Duchene has been fine to good for the Predators, so if you look at this for a trade for Duchene, the Preds came out on top. I still personally feel that Poile could have gotten a bit more from New Jersey, but I can’t be very upset with this maneuver.

We could see an addition to this list after the upcoming deadline, but for now that’s my comprehensive list of the biggest trades that Poile has ever swung. Was I missing anything? Feel free to let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading, and go Preds.