Well David Poile has done it again. After a busy week out West, reports are coming in that Matt Duchene is on the move. After months of speculation, the Avs are finally parting ways with their young center in a deal involving the Preds. Oh wait, there’s another team involved? Dammit. Yep, Duchene is heading north to Ottawa to join the Senators.
While everyone has had their eyes on Duchene for the past year and a half, the Preds didn’t come away empty handed in this three way deal. They got another young center in Kyle Turris, which is still a pretty nice prize. Turris was on the last year of his deal, but Poile working more magic was able to get Turris to agree to a 6-year $36M extension before finalizing the trade. Really smart if you ask me, especially when you look at who the Preds gave up.
What? You thought the Preds wouldn’t have to give up anyone to make this trade happen? Unfortunately, that’s not how it works and David Poile had to part with two of his promising young prospects. Samuel Girard and Vladislav Kamenev are on the way to Colorado. While it does sting a bit, you knew that the Preds would have to give up some pretty nice pieces in order to acquire a talent like Turris.
My initial thoughts are I am warming up to the deal. The Predators have been missing a 2nd line center all season. I like Bonino, but honestly he’s a better fit on the third line. It also gives the Preds a lot of center depth, which we learned in the playoffs last year, you can never have enough of. When fully healthy, the Preds will have Johansen, Turris, Bonino, Sissons, Jarnkrok, and Gaudreau who can all play center. Should make them tough down the middle. I don’t like giving up Girard and Kamenev so early in their careers, but that’s how it goes sometimes. In the long run, the Preds should be better off offensively with a true 2C though. One thing we know for sure though: David Poile is all-in this year to make a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Herbie Brooks is the Lead Hockey Analyst for SoBros Network. He knows three things: beating Commies, winning Gold Medals, and having great hair. Follow him on Twitter: @SoBroHerbie_B
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