The Nashville Predators traded next year’s seventh-round pick to the New Jersey Devils, in order for David Poile to go out on one more trade, add one more pick, and make a final speech in thanks.
With the 218th pick, the Preds chose forward Aiden Fink. Fink is committed to Penn State for next season, and played this past season as an A for the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. He had 97 points, including 41 goals, in 54 games, and added 13 points, including 8 goals, in a 15-game postseason run.
The Elite Prospects scouting reports describe Fink as a high-energy player with great vision and puckhandling skill. He’s 5’9″ and currently weighs in at 154 lbs, which can’t have endeared him to GMs higher in the draft, but in the seventh round? Why not.
Poile’s final selection of his long, long NHL career was greeted with a standing ovation from the Nashville crowd.