Watch: David Poile makes final moves as Predators GM
David Poile made his final moves as general manager of the Nashville Predators during the tail end of the seventh round at the 2023 NHL Draft on Thursday.
The longtime executive selected right winger Aiden Fink 218th overall, marking his final draft pick with the organization. Those in attendance at Bridgestone Arena gave Poile a rousing ovation.
Thank you for everything David 💛 pic.twitter.com/QYdDtV0rlj
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 29, 2023
Poile needed a little help from a familiar face to pull off the moment, though. The Predators didn't have a seventh-round pick of their own after sending it to the Ottawa Senators as part of a package for defenseman Erik Gudbranson during the 2021 trade deadline.
Enter New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who traded his 2023 seventh-rounder to Nashville in exchange for the Predators' 2024 seventh-round pick. Fitzgerald was the first captain in Predators history and played for the organization from 1998-2002.
In David Poile’s final trade as Nashville’s GM, he has exchanged their 2024 7th round pick with Tom Fitzgerald, the first captain Nashville history, for the Devils 7th rounder in this year’s draft.#NJDevils | #2023NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/WrJXhvsAPD
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 29, 2023
Poile will officially retire on June 30, with former head coach Barry Trotz taking over as general manager.
Poile has served as Nashville's general manager since it was awarded an expansion franchise in 1997. The Predators made the playoffs 15 times under his direction and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
The 73-year-old became the first general manager to be in charge for 3,000 games during the 2022-23 campaign. Prior to joining Nashville, he held the position in Washington for 15 years.
Fink scored 41 goals and 97 points in 54 games as a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Brooks Bandits this past season.