Poile Provides Updates on Injuries, Free Agency, Contract Negotiations

Moments after viewing the players of tomorrow in the Future Stars Game at Bridgestone Arena, which concluded Predators Development Camp on Friday night, Nashville General Manager David Poile turned his focus back to the present - namely the start of free agency which commences at 11 a.m. CT on July 1.
Poile addressed that topic, as well as other contract negotiations and injury updates as he and his staff continue their tireless work in what is the busiest time of the entire offseason.
As far as free agency is concerned, Poile said he's had plenty of discussions over the past few days in regards to unrestricted free agents and has "a number of oars in the water." With the loss of James Neal in the Expansion Draft to Vegas, finding a player to join the forward group in place of Neal is a priority.

"Our goal would be to sign a top-six, top-nine forward," Poile said. "Somebody to replace James Neal - maybe not like James Neal, but somebody to replace him in that level of play."
The Preds also have an outstanding unrestricted free agent of their own, Captain Mike Fisher. Poile said he's had recent discussions with Fisher and both he and the veteran center are in a "good place" as far as those talks are concerned. However, Poile has realized Fisher needs more time to decide his future in hockey and will continue to allow the captain the time he needs to reach a decision.
"I'm very confident I will be able to work around his situation in terms of what we do or don't do [in free agency]," Poile said on Fisher. "Hopefully in the next couple weeks, Mike will be able to make a firm decision so we'll have direction on where he's going."
Poile has also started negotiations with a number of the team's restricted free agents, namely forwards Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson and Austin Watson.
In the crease, Poile says the Preds are looking to go in a different direction with their goaltending depth, meaning Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros will remain in the Nashville net next season, while the club looks to sign three goaltenders to play either in AHL Milwaukee or ECHL Norfolk.
On the injury front, Ryan Johansen and Kevin Fiala continue to progress nicely, and Poile expects them to be ready to go when training camp opens Sept. 14. Poile also touched on Ryan Ellis, revealing the defenseman had a procedure done on his knee after the season concluded, expressing optimism that Ellis will also be ready for training camp.
Finally behind the bench, the Predators continue their search for a new assistant coach, expecting to find a replacement for Phil Housley - who left to take the head coaching job in Buffalo - after free agency dies down.
"We're going to probably get to it more after the 4th of July," Poile said of the coaching search. "We'll probably get this done in the first couple weeks of July, but I think we're being thorough. [Head Coach Peter Laviolette] and I know what we want, and we'll see if we can get that done the first couple weeks of July."