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This morning former GM David Poile joined Robby Stanley and Joe Rexrode on 102.5 The Game's Robby and Rexrode Show to talk a bit about life after hockey, the upcoming trade deadline, and the special Captains' Night on February 13 at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators will welcome back former captains Tom Fitzgerald, Kimmo Timonen, Shea Weber, and Mike Fisher as a part of the franchise's 25th Anniversary season. During the conversation, Poile reflected on the blockbuster trade that sent the Predators captain Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for P.K. Subban.
'That was probably right at the top of my list of difficult trades to do," Poile said of the deal that sent Weber to the Canadiens for Subban.
That's saying a lot coming from a GM who was never afraid to make bold moves when it came to building or changing a roster.
Poile drafted Weber in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the 2nd round, a draft year that saw the Predators take six defensemen including Ryan Suter, and Kevin Klein along with Weber. Weber joined the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2005-2006 season and made his NHL debut for the Nashville Predators on January 6, 2006 in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Weber went on to play 763 games in gold, scoring 166 goals and 443 points in his time with the Predators.
When it was announced on June 29, 2016 that the Predators had traded Weber for Subban, it wasn't just Predators and Canadien fans that were shocked. The move stunned the entire league.
The Weber/Subban trade continues to spark the proverbial "Who won the deal?" question all these seasons later. Of course, the Predators went on to compete in the Stanley Cup Finals, and there is no doubt that Subban played a large part in helping the team get there. Weber also went on the play for a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 2020-2021 in which the Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Poile acknowledged that the logistics likely worked out OK for all parties involved.
"I did what I felt I had to do," Poile said of the deal. "It worked well for us. It worked fine for Shea. I mean, we got into the Stanley Cup Finals, we almost won the Cup and that was certainly the impetus to do the deal."
"That's where the business part gets in the way of the hockey part," Poile said. "You have agents involved and different things."
Looking back, what does Poile wish could have happened with Weber?
"I wish we could have signed him [to] a long term contract like we did with Pekka who retired here," Poile said. "Or how Roman Josi got a long term contract. [Like] Forsberg."
Hindsight is 20/20, and newly retired David Poile has some time to reflect on decisions he made as GM in between improving his golf game, watching the Predators play, and talking with new GM Barry Trotz.
On this deal, he is clear.
"In the bigger picture, I wish Shea had never been traded. I'm being very honest with you when I say that."
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