| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forwards | | |
| David Legwand | Mike Fisher | Patric Hornqvist |
| Matt Cullen | Paul Gaustad | Eric Nystrom |
| Colin Wilson | Craig Smith | Rich Clune |
| Gabriel Bourque | Viktor Stalberg | Nick Spaling (injured) |
| Defense | | |
| Shea Weber | Roman Josi | Ryan Ellis |
| Mattias Ekholm | Seth Jones | Michael Del Zotto |
| Goalies | | |
| Pekka Rinne | Marek Mazanec | |
Not a bad team at all. The squad was much improved from the disappointing 2012-13 season, and had fought admirably without their franchise goalie. But it was not a roster that appeared on the verge of big things.
Nineteen-year-old Filip Forsberg, acquired at the 2013 deadline for Martin Erat and Michael Latta, had been given a look but was not ready to blossom. Young defensemen Josi, Ekholm and Ellis were just starting to scratch the surface of what they would soon become. The forwards lacked a collective scoring punch.
It would have been a lot to ask of Rinne to save the team after four months away, even if the team added a veteran or two. Poile absorbed all of this and made his decision.
At the trade deadline on March 4, 2014, the Predators traded their first-ever draft pick David Legwand - holder of a basket full of franchise records - to the Detroit Red Wings for a young prospect named Calle Jarnkrok and a second-round draft pick (Jack Dougherty).
At the time, the move was puzzling to some critics, who termed it a waving of the white flag for the season. But to most experts, Poile had made a sound decision to continue the process of revamping his roster.
Fast forward to today.
Here is what the Opening Night lineup looks like: