After an incredible 2017 postseason run, the Nashville Predators' management team appears to be content with their blue line.
Their defensive core of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm led the way in the playoffs, as each player finished in the team’s top eight in scoring. If you can recall correctly, Nashville’s defensive core is somewhat new. During the middle of the 2015-2016 season, rising star Seth Jones was traded to the Columbus Blue jackets straight up in exchange for center Ryan Johansen, and Shea Weber was more recently flipped for Subban in the offseason. When asked if he would consider trading another top-four D, general manager David Poile had quite the response.
It’s rare to see defencemen get traded in today’s NHL, but Poile has had the guts to do it twice. In the meantime, the team will likely look for goal-scoring after James Neal was snatched by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft.
At least Subban, Josi, Ellis and Ekholm can take a deep breath and relax while their general manager tries to work some more magic.
