David Poile Reaches Mind-Blowing Career Milestone
I knew that Nashville Predators general manager David Poile was good at his job, but I didn’t know that he was this good.
As it turns out, August of 2022 was an important month for Poile, as he reached a milestone that no one in league history had reached: 40 years as a general manager in the NHL.
The 72-year-old became a GM in the league on August 30, 1982, when the Washington Capitals gave him a chance at the age of 33. He was the youngest GM in the NHL at that time, and since then, he has spent more than half of his life serving in that role.
Of course, he did not spend all 40 years with the Caps, but the fact that he split his 40-year career between only two franchises is almost as impressive as the length of his run in the NHL.
David Poile is celebrating 40 years as a GM in the NHL.
Poile’s time in the NHL dates back further than his 1982 hire, and that may be part of the reason that he enjoyed immediate success after taking over in D.C.
As noted in the NHL’s article about Poile (linked above), the Capitals earned the first playoff berth in franchise history in his first season (1982-1983) and went on to reach the postseason in 14 consecutive years.
In 1997, Poile decided to shake things up and lead the charge for the expansion Predators. While he has yet to reach the ultimate goal in the NHL, he has done everything possible to put the Preds on the map.
Now, incredible trades, many awards, and a 2017 Stanley Cup Final appearance later, the winningest GM in league history has once again put his team in a good position entering the new season.
I never would have guessed that 40 years would be the length of Poile’s career, but his longevity and his consistency speak volumes about how impressive his career has been. Even without a championship on his resume, he’s got to be in the conversation for best GM in NHL history.
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Could 2023 be the year that he and the Predators break through and win it all? If so, there would be no stone unturned for David Poile in his remarkable career.