Predators could move No. 11 pick for 'top-six forward'

Tuesday, 06.17.2014 / 3:52 PM

By NHL.com Staff -  / 2014 NHL Draft blog

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2014 NHL Draft blog
Predators could move No. 11 pick for 'top-six forward'

The Nashville Predators have the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft but general manager David Poile said he is open to trading the selection.

During a press conference Tuesday in Nashville, Poile said he would trade the pick if a "top-six forward" was the return.

"I've already been approached and … it's a possibility," Poile said. "There's always that possibility I would trade that first-round pick. I've made that open to some people I've talked to. It would be for a top forward if we could do that. I'm not predicting that [a trade] will happen, but if someone had that top-six forward I would certainly consider trading that first-round pick."

Poile is trying to find more offensive pieces to mesh with new coach Peter Laviolette's up-tempo attack. The belief is it would be easier to find those players on the trade market rather than through free agency. Poile said there are "not a lot" of potential free agents that interest him, which is why he is open to moving this year's top pick if the player coming back could help right away.

"If I was trading our first pick it would be strictly for a top-six forward, somebody who can bring us some offense, absolutely," Poile said. "That's why we would trade our first pick."

The Predators haven't drafted a forward in the first round since selecting Austin Watson with the 18th pick of the 2010 draft. They didn't have first-round picks in 2011 or 2012, and selected defenseman Seth Jones with the fourth pick in 2013.

 
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