David Poile Wins 2017 General Manager of the Year Award

The Nashville Predators' David Poile was named the NHL's General Manager of the Year on Wednesday night at the league's annual awards show in Las Vegas. 

Poile bested Peter Chiarelli of the Edmonton Oilers and Pierre Dorion of the Ottawa Senators for the prestigious honor. 

Poile was under the microscope all season long, namely because he made the most aggressive move of the summer when he traded defenseman Shea Weber to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman P.K. Subban. 

As it turns out, that move paid off. 

Subban finished the season with 40 points in 66 games, and he helped reform the team's identity as the Predators emerged as a legitimate Western Conference contender. 

All told, the Predators went 41-29-12 and finished with 94 points to sneak into the postseason as the West's second wild-card team. 

Once they arrived in the playoffs, the Predators didn't take long to make a statement as they swept the No. 1-seeded Chicago Blackhawks before dispatching the St. Louis Blues in six games. 

The Predators then fended off the Anaheim Ducks in a six-game Western Conference Final to advance to the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final. 

Poile also deserved praise for his draft expertise, as 2014 selection Viktor Arvidsson tied Filip Forsberg for the team lead with 31 goals. 

Thanks to the young foundation that Poile has put in place, the Predators are now well positioned to compete for the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl throughout the remainder of the decade.