Predators’ David Poile makes strong statement about team’s present at trade deadline. But what about the future?

By John Glennon

The Predators did all they could to make general manager David Poile’s job less complicated over the past month.

It looked like a mess in mid-March, when the Preds sagged to 11-16-1 after suffering back-to-back losses by a combined margin of 11-4.

The question at that point wasn’t so much who Poile might trade, but who might be left when the dealing was done. One Predators name after another – including the likes of Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Mikael Granlund, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis among others – filled the speculative NHL trading deadline-deal lists.

The Preds’ downward spiral over the past few seasons had seemingly reached the demolition point, when it appeared the only logical move was to blow up the roster and begin the rebuild.

So why was it, then, that the sounds of silence – for the most part – reigned supreme at 501 Broadway on Monday, aside from the Preds adding depth defenseman Erik Gudbranson in exchange for a seventh-round pick and a prospect?

It’s because a number of Predators – by virtue of the team’s 12-3 run over the past 15 games – made sure they wouldn’t have to make change-of-address plans for at least the next several weeks.

In that stretch of time, the Predators went from trailing the fourth-place Chicago Blackhawks – who . . .

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Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: