David Poile speaks at the 2015 Music City Sports Fest

David Poile spoke to attendees of the 2015 Music City Sports Fest on Saturday afternoon. The annual event held at the Music City Center, gave the Predator’s general manager a chance to address topics and answer questions about this past season and what lies ahead for the hockey club.

Since OTF could not be in attendance, we relied heavily on the esteemed Brooks Bratten, Tom Willis, and Kristopher Martel for updates. You probably already do, but be sure to follow these fine gentlemen (as well as the others linked in this post.)

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"I would like to see the majority of this team to come back next year (and see how far we can go)." -David Poile <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604702671027568641″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> haven't decided if they will re-sign Anton Volchenkov yet. Says the team could go in a different direction.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604703025928609792″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

Cryptic. More on this in a second…

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"Hopefully we won't be doing too much in the free agent market." -Poile. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> GM happy with the players within the organization.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604703466666139648″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

This is probably for the best. Not many of the options that are going to be available will be much better than what is already in the organization. That doesn’t mean they won’t add a small piece or two, but don’t expect them to make a huge splash. Now about a trade…

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"That may be the best trade we make next year at the trade deadline if we're able to sign Jimmy Vesey." -Poile <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604703796032237568″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

Dammit, that’s not what I meant.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says Kevin Fiala told him "I'm going to be playing for the Nashville Predators next season." <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604704455351627776″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

#FialaTime. That’s some awesome confidence, and he would be a welcome addition to the club. If he makes it, and Ribeiro is brought back, Nashville is about to become the DX of hockey teams.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-conversation=”none” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”und” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten”>@brooksbratten</a> <a href=”http://t.co/K4li2EUS6m”>pic.twitter.com/K4li2EUS6m</a></p>— Admirals Roundtable (@adsroundtable) <a href=”https://twitter.com/adsroundtable/status/604705809424105472″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile notes that re-signing Fisher and Ribeiro are top priority. Says he's not sure about Cullen and probably won't re-sign Franson/Santo</p>— Kristopher Martel (@kmartel_sports) <a href=”https://twitter.com/kmartel_sports/status/604705210229997568″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> will probably not re-sign Franson or Santorelli.</p>— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TomAWillis/status/604705215003004929″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

To the surprise of absolutely no one.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> are "talking to everybody" as far as restricted free agents are concerned, Wilson, Smith, etc.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604705654947725313″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says the groundwork has been laid out for re-signing Wilson and Smith but that negotiations are still on going. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TomAWillis/status/604705697612193792″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says that he doesn't think an offer will come to him to trade back into the first round, but he would do it if it worked out</p>— Kristopher Martel (@kmartel_sports) <a href=”https://twitter.com/kmartel_sports/status/604707884442787840″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says he'd like to see if RFA Calle Jarnkrok can develop into the type of player the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> staff believes he can be.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604709110932606976″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

We all would. That’s about a clear of a ringing endorsement of his potential as you can get, which means he’s very likely to get a chance to prove himself. Looks like they’re actively looking to re-sign him to another deal.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile predicts Rinne will play 65 games next season and Hutton could get nearly 20</p>— Kristopher Martel (@kmartel_sports) <a href=”https://twitter.com/kmartel_sports/status/604709887021600768″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

After his workload this year, that’s still too many game for Pekka Rinne if you ask me. Ideally, he should be in the 50-60 range, but the coaching staff hasn’t been too keen on putting Carter Hutton between the pipes. Paging ~~Magnus Hellberg~~ Marek Mazanec.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"Mazanec, we feel is a goalie in waiting. I expect Pekka to play at least 65 games next year." Hutton stays. – Poile on goalie situation.</p>— Justin Bradford (@justinbbradford) <a href=”https://twitter.com/justinbbradford/status/604709960497266688″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Meanwhile. <a href=”http://t.co/3wdIqWxdLE”>pic.twitter.com/3wdIqWxdLE</a></p>— Admirals Roundtable (@adsroundtable) <a href=”https://twitter.com/adsroundtable/status/604711173154578433″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile assuring the crowd that Pekka will finish the season as exhausted as always leading to back-half struggles. Thanks! :D</p>— Link (@3DLink) <a href=”https://twitter.com/3DLink/status/604711843907694593″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile reiterates that he would like to re-sign a majority of his pending free agents, <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> not likely to be active in free agency July 1.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604712310687559680″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says his first choice is to promote from within, giving players from Milwaukee a chance potentially this season. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604712586643415040″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

As was mentioned above. Spend July 1st with your family, everyone. Nothing to see here.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"Our defense is coming back except Volchenkov. We may fill that in-house." – <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> GM David Poile. This puts <a href=”https://twitter.com/HalfordPHT”>@HalfordPHT</a>'s report to bed.</p>— Jeremy K. Gover (@goverjkg) <a href=”https://twitter.com/goverjkg/status/604712567781642240″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

Welp, even though the report was Anton Volchenkov and the Preds were talking, and Poile alluded to it earlier in the address, it looks like the A-Train isn’t coming back.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Poile says <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> would like to sign Finnish goaltender Juuse Saros. If so, a decision would have to come on Magnus Hellberg.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604712957591842817″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

As has been mentioned a few times, Juuse Saros is looking to hop the pond and play in North America this year. He’s a highly touted goalie prospect and would likely be looking to play in AHL Milwaukee. For whatever reason, it looks like Hellberg may be the odd man out, since there can’t/shouldn’t be three goalies on the roster.

If Nashville is intent on having Hutton as the backup, and Magnus as the main guy for the Admirals (at least for now) it looks like Hellberg’s days in the organization may be numbered. Nothing really points to Hutton being jettisoned in favor of Maz, to give Saros and Hellberg a chance to split duties in the minors.

All Star Logo Revealed

Finally, the big reveal of the day was to be the 2016 All Star Logo. Take another gander:

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>First look: 2016 <a href=”https://twitter.com/NHL”>@NHL</a> All-Star Logo —> <a href=”http://t.co/bfymoHu2DL”>http://t.co/bfymoHu2DL</a> <a href=”http://t.co/PJ50Nj8OMd”>pic.twitter.com/PJ50Nj8OMd</a></p>— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) <a href=”https://twitter.com/PredsNHL/status/604714195989499904″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>The 2016 NHL All-Star logo revealed. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Ka9nudAKMa”>https://t.co/Ka9nudAKMa</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604714280315961346″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>A closer look. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLAllStar?src=hash”>#NHLAllStar</a> <a href=”http://t.co/Nt8dUdc8Fm”>pic.twitter.com/Nt8dUdc8Fm</a></p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/604719499187601408″>May 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

Personally, I think the logo looks pretty damn good. That’s just one person’s opinion, though. What do you think?

Overall, there was a ton of information relayed, though none that was too terribly surprising. The biggest pieces surrounded, Volchenkov, Hellberg, and what their plan for free agency is. There’s still the draft to get through and, even though they don’t have a first-round pick, hopefully they can continue with their strong selections like they had last year.

All Star Logo Revealed

Talking Points