One trade this season bothered Nashville Predators' David Poile the most
Relationships were a vital part of David Poile's job as an NHL general manager.
But Poile told The Tennessean on Friday, his final day on the job after 26 years with the Predators and 51 in the league, that he had to be careful towing the line between friendships and business.
"I try not to go too far because I know there's going to be hard days, whether it could be a contract negotiation or there could be a trade," he said. "So I tried to keep it, I'd say, friendly and open and caring.
"I'm sure there's lots of players that felt they were treated unfairly in some ways. But there's a line there."
[ EXCLUSIVE: How will David Poile's Predators legacy be remembered? His final days gave me a glimpse ]
Poile pointed to a trade that happened last season that was difficult for him to swallow.
When the Predators sent forward Nino Niederreiter to the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the trade deadline in late February, Poile was "bothered."
"The reason it bothered me was he came here, Roman Josi helped him; they're best friends," Poile said. "He played fine. He was a free agent. You always want free agents to come to your team. He was not the problem, but he wasn't going to be part of the solution the next two or three years.
"So I thought that was wrong. I told him that. I said, 'It's not fair. It's not right. And I'm very upset I have to do this.' "
The trade was the first in a flurry of moves that coincided with the hiring of Barry Trotz in late February to succeed Poile. Fan-favorite Mattias Ekholm also was dealt, along with Tanner Jeannot and Mikael Granlund.
Ryan Johansen was dealt June 24. A week later the team bought out Matt Duchene's contract.
"I don't know how many trades I made, but probably 100 hurt," Poile said. "As a manager you're trying to put a team together, trying to get some family atmosphere."
ANOTHER ONE GONE: Nashville Predators buying out Matt Duchene's contract after up-and-down tenure
NEW LOOK: Nashville Predators roster 2023-24: NHL players on coach Andrew Brunette's first team
FITTING FAREWELL: How former Predators star sent retiring GM David Poile out with standing ovation at NHL Draft
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Nino Niederreiter trade bothered Nashville Predators' David Poile
