Nashville Predators GM David Poile doesn't want to deal one of his defenseman in order to land much-needed reinforcements up front. But with the way the season is trending and the way his peers are thinking, Poile may not have much of a choice. According to a Monday report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Poile and the Predators have inquired about most of the big names at forward that were said to have come available at some point already this season - names like Ryan Johansen of the Blue Jackets, Matt Duchene of the Avalanche and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Oilers.
Unfortunately for Poile, it sounds like the one thing he doesn't want to give up is the only thing his fellow GMs are interested in haggling over.
"I think they have a pretty big decision to make. They're asking around," Friedman said Monday, while appearing on an episode of Calgary's Sportsnet 960, per Today's Slap Shot's transcription. "I think they've asked about Johansen. I think they asked about Matt Duchene when Duchene was available. I think they're one of the teams that asked about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
"What they're being told - pretty simple. 'Which one of your defensemen are you willing to give up?'"
Poile and head coach Peter Laviolette are, of course, reticent to give up any of their top players like Shea Weber, Roman Josi or the still-blossoming Seth Jones in order to see a deal get done. The NHL being the NHL though, those are the players drawing the most interest from other teams.
Johansen, the Blue Jackets' No. 1 center, has been the center of trade rumors for a couple of weeks now as the team has struggled and his game has fallen off. He was made a healthy scratch last week, but returned to the top line the next night. Duchene's name came up early in the season as the Avs fought through issues of their own, but a bounce-back month for Duchene and the team has Patrick Roy's group in better, if not great, position. And Nugent-Hopkins is one of many talented Oilers forwards not named Taylor Hall or Leon Draisaitl with an uncertain future, as Edmonton seeks defensive upgrades and awaits the return of Connor McDavid.
Ryan Ellis and Mattia Ekholm, the Predators bottom-pairing - though they're likely second-pairing-worthy on most NHL squads - are probably the players Poile would be willing to discuss, though he's likely as reluctant to part ways with his solid young blueliners, both of whom are signed to relatively affordable long-term deals, as well.
In the end, the Predators and Poile are surely well aware that there's a hole at the top of their lineup. One big offensive piece wouldn't necessarily fix the issues that face the team, but it would certainly go a long way toward securing a playoff berth.
Poile himself admitted last week that when he talks turkey on trades with other teams, they ask about his defenseman. There's good reason for that and if Poile is serious about a deep playoff run, he may have to go against his own desires in order to land a player who can ensure that'll come to pass.
