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Potential Future Leadership Targets for the Nashville Predators

By Colin Blouin

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Former member of the Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan waves a rally towel prior to Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Former member of the Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan waves a rally towel prior to Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Nashville Predators head coach John Hynes Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports /

Candidates Outside the Box

When you look at the Nashville Predators, the last few years have been marked by teams we’ve tried to beat, teams we want to aspire to be, the teams on that next level we want to get to eventually – hopefully sooner rather than later.

What better way to beat the best than to hire from the best?

First on the list is the candidate who has risen through the ranks of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and just got passed up for their General Manager position after serving as the Interim General Manager: I’m talking about Assistant General Manager of the Penguins, Patrik Allvin.

Arguably one of the keenest eyes for amateur talent, Allvin played a direct role in constructing the cup-contending teams that had little to work with in draft picks.

The Predators have had some good to great players (with the exception of Roman Josi who I would consider elite), but constructing a team takes chemistry, and Allvin seems to have a unique understanding of how to do just that.

Allvin’s background in hockey operiations makes him a prime candidate, and if he isn’t brought to Smashville soon, I see another team hiring him in the next year or two.

light. Related Story. John Hynes is Still the Nashville Predators’ Big Bet

Speaking of evaluating talent, I would say another prime candidate would be the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, Jamie Pushor.

Pushor has helped to construct an absolutely outstanding team that is truly deep in talent. Prior to the 2019-2020 season he served as the Director of Professional Scouting, and helped to craft the team that won the 2018-2019 President’s Trophy, and then the 2019-2020 Stanley Cup.

Simply, the guy seems to know what he’s doing when it comes to assembling winners, and he will be another prime candidate to lead a front office in the NHL.

Two other candidates come from another contending franchise that has navigated prospects and free agent acquisition to build quite the competitive franchise in the Boston Bruins. The first is the potential heir-apparent to the Bruins front office, Senior Advisor to the General Manager Scott Bradley – he’s been with the organization for 28 years which may age him out of the running.

However, the Executive Director of Player Personnel John Fergusson may be willing to make the jump for a front office of his own, and he has the talent evaluation capabilities to be sought after. They took Craig Smith from us – maybe we could take an architect from them.

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