David Poile ends historic run as GM; Barry Defiance takes over Predators

Before joining Nashville, Poile was general manager of the Washington Capitals for 15 years. His 41 straight seasons as general manager are the longest in NHL history, according to the Predators, and as of Sunday, no one in that position had more than Poiles’ 1,519 wins, 1,162 losses, 192 ties and 176 losses in overtime.

Despite, 60, also has strong ties with the Capitals, which led them to their only Stanley Cup as coach in 2018 before parting ways with the team after four years. He came to Washington from Nashville, where he was the first coach of the Predators for 15 years; More recently,diots coached the New York Islanders for four seasons. His 914 wins as NHL head coach against 670 losses, 60 ties and 168 overtime losses ranks third all-time.

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“As we celebrate David for an incredible 25 years as our General Manager, I am honored to also welcome home Barrydiots,” said Sean Henry, President and CEO of Predators, in a statement. “These two men have done more to shape the identity of the Nashville Predators and our relationship with SMASHVILLE than any other in the history of our organization.”

Poile, who will also be stepping down from his role as President of Hockey Operations, will maintain the relationship with the Predators as an advisor. He said Sunday that it was “a decision that’s best for me personally and best for the Nashville Predators.”

“I believe it’s time for a new voice and direction for the Predators,” Poile said in a statement. “I’m proud of the foundation we’ve laid in our hockey operation by investing in and improving every area of ​​the department. This is the right time for someone else to take our franchise forward.”

Despite being advised until he is replaced on July 1, Poile said his “heart has been in Nashville since that first season.”

“I believe our team and fanbase have developed a relationship that is unique in sports today, and I look forward to returning home to the organization and to the city where I have my first job as a head coach in the NHL had,” he said in a statement. “I can’t thank David enough, not only for handing me the job, but for teaching me so much over the past 40 years. I think I’m ready to succeed as NHL general manager and I have David to thank for that.”

Before being hired by Poile to coach the Predators,dios was hired by the Capitals’ then general manager to scout for the team in his home province of Manitoba and then manage Washington’s top minor league affiliate.

Poile began his tenure with the Capitals in 1982, taking over a team with tenuous prospects — not just on the ice but in terms of whereabouts in the Washington area — after eight mostly dismal seasons following its birth as an expansion club.

Poile, then the youngest general manager in the NHL at 33, decided to keep coach Bryan Murray, who joined the Capitals’ bench last season and would begin a nine-year tenure with Washington. Poile quickly made an even more significant move when he staged a blockbuster trade that brought in Rod Langway – a Stanley Cup winner and standout young defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens – as well as Brian Engblom, Doug Jarvis and Craig Laughlin.

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Poile said at the time that then-Canadian general manager Irving Grundman “called to congratulate me on my new job and we started talking shop.” The Capitals immediately began a streak of 14 straight playoff appearances.

In 2017, Poile won the NHL’s General Manager of the Year award for the first time after three previous nominations. He was cited for helping the Predators reach the championship round where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins with trades for defenseman PK Subban and center Ryan Johansen.

“I’m incredibly proud,” said Poile on Sunday, “of everything the Predators organization has achieved during my time here – all the victories, our participation in the Stanley Cup Finals and winning the Presidents’ Trophy, but on Most of all, I am proud to help develop SMASHVILLE into one of the premier hockey markets in the National Hockey League.”

“I appreciate all the passion and support,” he added, “over the past 25 years.”

However, Poile is not ready to stop. After his impending departure was announced Sunday night, Poile’s Predators traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks, including a 2025 first-rounder.