Nashville Predators: Final Regular Season Grades

Management: C (Improved From F)

You know that person that does absolutely none of the work in the group project, but when it comes time to present, as long as you give them talking points, they nail it? That feels like General Manager David Poile at this point.

While that may not be a totally fair comparison, fans have the right to be a little weary of GMDP, especially after all the talk of the “Youth Movement” in the off-season.

When the season got started, the roster was full of journeymen and veterans, with not a youth in sight, and they struggled. Mightily.

Fast-forward to today, and the roster has been infused with youth, with those in the starting line-up contributing greatly to the team’s production and those waiting in the wings looking quite promising.

Still, make no mistake, the team got its “youth movement” because of injury and not because of Poile. Call it a happy accident.

At the trade deadline, and even before that, Poile had faith in the team as it is composed. When the anger and vitriol reached a fever point, he could have sold the farm and the farmer with it, but he stayed the course. Whether this stance was foresight or hubris, we may never know.

As for the Erik Gudbranson last-second trade? Well, you can tell me “veteran depth” all you want, but that “veteran” has never been very successful, and it still seems kind of futile to me.

Has Poile done enough to save his job? Probably. But should he be planning a retirement speech sooner rather than later? Definitely.