Nashville Predators Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations Brian Poile is departing the organization. Son of Hall of Fame GM David Poile, Brian had held the role since 2018, a step up from his director of hockey operations position assumed in 2010. The news was shared by Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean.
Even though former Kings GM Rob Blake was hired yesterday as executive vice president of hockey operations, Daugherty emphasized that the two roles are different, and a replacement for Poile will be found by the team. Meanwhile, his father will stay in the mix as an advisor.
No dig at Poile himself, who is still in his 40s as a bright young mind who played at Boston College in the 1990s, with serious pedigree as a third generation executive. Yet since taking over in 2018, his Predators went from a surprise Stanley Cup contender and Presidents Trophy winner, to a relatively stale roster today which has not reached the second round since. Eight years later, they continue to lack high-end production from anybody recently drafted and developed by the club, but to be fair, they’ve been missing top lottery selections. With 16 years of experience in Nashville, another opportunity will come calling for Poile, but both sides will benefit from a change as the Predators move to a new era under Chris MacFarland.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Kings seem to be zeroing in on a head coaching decision, the first domino of more to fall. On Thursday’s episode of OverDrive, Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Los Angeles could name their head coach next week, and that they won’t be waiting for Bruce Cassidy. Interim D.J. Smith was able to guide the team to the playoffs on an 11-6-6 record, and it’s thought that he’s still a real candidate to stick around. If they opt to start fresh, current Ducks assistant and former Oilers bench boss Jay Woodcroft is a name to watch for the nearby Kings. Woodcroft has a better track record than Smith, although also in a smaller sample size, leading the Oilers on two playoff runs from 2021-23, before things sputtered to a halt early the following season. Whichever decision is made, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported on Thursday’s edition of The DFO Rundown that key free agent center Scott Laughton’s choice to stay or go will weigh on who is named behind the bench, and having expressed a willingness to stick around already, as long as it get the stamp of approval he could be another name off the board come July 1.
- The Toronto Marlies, AHL affiliates of the Maple Leafs, took a commanding 3-2 series lead over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the conference finals. They’ll need just one win to advance to the Calder Cup Final, playing whoever makes it out between the Colorado Eagles (Avalanche) and Chicago Wolves (Hurricanes). Another 3-2 series there, the Eagles hold the edge. Top Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is rolling, posting a goal and assist last game with points in each of his last four games, playing alongside former OHL teammate Landon Sim who also notched a key goal, as outlined by Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun. As for Colorado, prospects Gavin Brindley and T.J. Hughes, once collegiate teammates at Michigan, have provided a boost to the Eagles lineup, the latter with 12 points, while Brindley has 8, in 15 playoff games each.