Poile expects more tranquil deadline than usual…
Adam Vingan of The Tennessean: The same thing is echoed by general managers in a position to buy. They are not going to pay for the moon for a top-six player. David Poile is just the latest of many.
“I think where we are right now is everything is just sort of frozen,” Poile said, mentioning that June’s expansion draft also is influencing teams’ plans. “The calls that I’ve made in the last seven or eight days, everybody’s (saying), ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make the playoffs, but if we get hot, maybe we could make the playoffs.’
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“I don’t really see anything happening in the next four or five days just because everything is so close. I’ve said this in past years and I’ve been wrong, but I don’t see a lot of activity. If the standings stay approximately what they are today, who is a seller?”
notes that Poile feels this market dictates that you must give to get. However, the prices are just too high right now. Poile knows that. Wait four or five days.
Could Nashville be winging it?
Adam Vingan of The Tennessean: The wingers as a whole for Nashville have been an issue for most of the season. This has David Poile pondering possibilities but not in a panic. Consistency is key.
“Through the course of any season, there’s ups and downs inside a player’s game,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “That could be for anybody. I think we’re always striving for consistency. … That’s where I think our team can be better.”
alludes to the fact that even Filip Forsberg started out the season so slowly. James Neal has three goals in his last 21 games and that is the tip of the iceberg. Every team drives for sustained production but it seems like Nashville is not getting that. Wing has truly been a sore spot all year.
says this has been mentioned before a few times. However, players like Patrick Eaves and Radim Vrbata are very much out there among others.
Adam Vingan: Sacrificing top defense for top offense may not be so viable at this deadline. Fans may not understand that but there are some solutions.