Fans and media of the Nashville Predators have called for David Poile to be fired after getting swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs this year, and you can hardly blame them.
Poile has been the general manager of the Nashville Predators for its entire 24-year existence, almost all of which the team has been average for. It looks even worse when you realize that their only trip to the Stanley Cup Final was not supposed to happen.
Beyond the big picture, many of his actions have not reflected those of a forward thinking organization. Poile has continually stated how just making the playoffs is a priority year in and year out, and many of his recent trades and signings — which have been attempts to keep the Predators’ playoff chances afloat — have been duds.
Poile stated in his end of the year press conference that he kept pending unrestricted free agent Filip Forsberg because he thought the team would not make the playoffs without him. Safe to say if Forsberg does not re-sign, they are in a lot of trouble and that would be the absolute last straw for Poile.
Everything looks to be doom and gloom for the Predators right now, but you have to remember that they were hardly expected to even make the playoffs in 2021-2022. Much of the reason for success was players having career years, but with the right moves, they do not need that to repeat if they want to do better in the future.
People may not want to hear it, but there are things he can do — that do not involve a complete rebuild — that could give the Nashville Predators and their fans hope for the future.