• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Nashville Predators
Predators Management

2 Deals, 1 Vision: Predators’ Blockbusters Pay Off

By Jeff Yerger April 25th, 2017

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

General managers just don’t make deals like they used to. Due to the choke-hold of the salary cap and deceivingly close playoff races, GMs around the league have become hesitant to pull the trigger on big time trades, settling instead for the shuffling of low-draft picks and prospects, much to the collective shrug of fans.

David Poile, Nashville Predators, Jimmy Vesey

David Poile (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile is no stranger to blockbuster trades. Known around the league for being a proactive GM, Poile has retooled his team on the fly through tough negotiations and smart signings. Thanks to Poile, within the past two years alone, the Predators have set the bar for making massive trades in a league that’s normally too hesitant to do so.

Today, the Predators are reaping the benefits of Poile’s handiwork, as they are preparing to face the St. Louis Blues in round 2 of the playoffs after a dominating series sweep over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Blockbuster #1: Jones for Johansen

Last season, the Predators were looking to capitalize on an impressive campaign the year before, in which they were back in the conversation in the Central Division thanks in part to recently-hired head coach Peter Laviolette’s attacking brand of hockey, which provided some much-needed “jam” to the lineup. But as they learned in the opening round of the 2014-15 playoffs, they lacked the depth needed to compete against the top dogs like the Blackhawks.

On January 6, 2016, the Nashville Predators and the Columbus Bluejackets agreed to swap defenseman Seth Jones for center Ryan Johansen, in a mid-season old school trade of young superstars that you just don’t see anymore.

Ryan Johansen (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Johansen has flourished under Laviolette’s system. Over one and a half seasons with the Predators, the 24-year-old center has accrued 95 points, including 22 goals, and now in the 2016-17 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he has become the superstar the Predators have been waiting for.

His 6 points led the team in their sweep of the top-seeded Blackhawks. Aside from the stat sheet, Johansen’s style of play is noticeably more authoritative than it has ever been, as he is playing with an edge he seemed to lack during his early years in Columbus.

“This is why they traded for me, for this time right here and to be able to try and bring this organization and help this team get over the hump of just being a playoff team,” Johansen said. “They want to be Stanley Cup contenders and Stanley Cup champs.”

The Preds will look to Johansen and his linemates Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg to continue to set the tone in round 2 against the St. Louis Blues. The team will certainly need that line’s offensive spark against a red-hot Jake Allen. If round 1 is any indication, Johansen is finally up to the task.

Blockbuster #2: Weber for Subban

This one was surprising as hell, but another mutually beneficial trade. After a disappointing loss to the eventual Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks in the 2nd round of the 2015-16 playoffs, the Predators dropped another blockbuster trade, striking a deal that sent beloved Predator captain and defenseman, Shea Weber, to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for one of the NHL’s most prominent young stars, defenseman P.K. Subban.

P.K. Subban (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

As rumblings of Subban’s growing unhappiness in Montreal began to emerge, Poile pounced on the opportunity to get a young stud defenseman and a true-blue superstar on the blue line. While it wasn’t easy for Preds fans to see Weber go, they embraced the incoming Subban pretty quickly.

Of course, scoring on your first shot on goal as a Predator helps. Since that goal, Subban’s season has been a bit up and down, due to injuries and his adjustment to a new system (although, the guy ended up netting 40 points in 66 games), but now, the 27-year-old looks more comfortable on the blue line, leading the way at both ends of the ice.

Along with defense partner Mattias Ekholm, Subban has led a formidable Nashville defense, effectively shutting down the Blackhawks’ top line in round 1. For any defense, this would be a daunting task, but Ekholm and Subban handled it brilliantly while still contributing on the offensive side of the puck like they did in Games 1 and 2. The Predators have found the speed and skill they have been looking for. Now all they need is a microphone.

During his first days as a Pred, Subban went to a downtown honky-tonk bar to sing Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” to a crowd of lucky fans. “We win the Stanley Cup, then I’ll sing every single that Johnny Cash has ever done,” Subban said. Predators fans are hoping that Subban will be brushing up on his Johnny Cash catalogue come June.

Risk Reward?

At the time the deals went down, the two blockbuster trades were ultimately deemed mutually beneficial. As the initial shock wore off, hindsight has proven this to be true, as Jones and Weber had outstanding seasons for their new teams. Yet, with the Predators advancing in the playoffs while their trade partners are checking for tee times, it seems that Poile and his team are being rewarded for… well… doing their job.

 

  • Tags
  • David Poile
  • P.K. Subban
  • Ryan Johansen
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Facebook Comments

Editor’s Picks
Martin St. Louis, the Little Big Man

Martin St. Louis, the Little Big Man

9266
'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

9761
Recent Posts
Dec 9th 10:45 PM
Boston Bruins

Duclair Scores Twice, Nilsson Makes 38 Saves as Senators Beat Bruins 5-2

Dec 9th 10:30 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Snap Skid, End Capitals’ Winning Streak at 6

Dec 9th 10:20 PM
New York Islanders

Varlamov, Nelson Lead Islanders past Lightning 5-1

Dec 9th 5:40 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Could Ducks Still Trade for Defenseman?

Dec 9th 5:25 PM
NHL Goaltending

Sharks See Jones’ Struggles Resurface…Again

Dec 9th 5:10 PM
Column

Vegas Golden Knights’ 3 Stars of the Week: Dec 2 – 9

Dec 9th 4:25 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Most Memorable Opening Nights

Dec 9th 4:20 PM
Buffalo Sabres

John Carlson, Tristan Jarry, Jack Eichel Named NHL 3 Stars of the Week

Dec 9th 4:05 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Have Tough Week to Keep Streak Alive

Dec 9th 3:15 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News and Rumors: Klefbom, Jones, Tippett, More

Stay in Touch
Contact Us

Via our Newsletters
RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Our Partners
HFBoards

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter.

© The Hockey Writers 2018. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • Atlantic Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Metropolitan Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St Louis Blues
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • Pacific Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle NHL
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • Vancouver Canucks
  • Store
  • The THW Archives
  • Prospects
  • The Goalie Page
  • NHL Salary Cap Information
  • Join Our Team
  • Search THW