David Poile was talking about making a culture change this summer. It seems like he’s done just that.
James Neal traded to Nashville.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 28, 2014
BREAKING NEWS: James Neal traded to the @PredsNHL for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 28, 2014
James Neal is a goal scorer that the Predators desperately need, and immediately brings a threat to the offense. He’s scored more than 20 goals in each of the last three seasons, including a 40-goal campaign in 2011-12. Unfortunately, he has a dirty streak to go along with the scoring, so we’ll have to see how much that factors in to his play in music city.
Nick Spaling was an RFA this season, and may not have had a definitive role in the lineup this coming year. It’s really hard to see Patric Hornqvist go, but like we’ve been saying for months: you have to give up something to get something.
More analysis to come.