Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile began his 39th consecutive season (2020-2021) as an NHL general manager, making him the longest tenured GM in League history. He is the only general manager in NHL history to lead two different clubs for over 1,000 games and 500 victories, making him the all-time winningest GM in League history.
In 2017, Poile was named the General Manager of the Year at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, his first such honor after being a finalist for the award in each of its first three years of existence, while also receiving the sixth-most votes in 2015. Poile is one of the most influential men in the sport, evidenced by his spot on the NHL’s Competition Committee all 14 years of its existence, appointment to the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee in 2014, and involvement with USA Hockey, highlighted by his service as General Manager of the United States Olympic Team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. On Aug. 9, 2018, Poile’s long standing support and commitment to hockey in the United States was etched in history with his nomination to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018.
In 2001, Poile was a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award in recognition of his contributions to hockey in the United States. Poile devoted his professional career to hockey and the NHL, particularly in non-traditional markets. Poile began his professional career as an administrative assistant with the Atlanta Flames expansion franchise in 1972 and spent 10 years with the organization before being named general manager of the Washington Capitals in 1982. The 2020-21 campaign marked his 48th in the NHL.
A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Poile was hockey team captain, leading scorer and most valuable player for two years, earning a place in the University’s Hall of Fame. In June 2014, he received an honorary doctorate degree from American Sentinel University.
Poile also serves as an alternate governor for the team and in December 2007 added President of Hockey Operations to his title. For the past nine seasons, Poile has donated to Operation Homefront (which provides emergency assistance and morale programs to U.S. troops), USA Hockey and the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s for every Predators victory.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Nashville. The Poiles have two children – daughter Lauren and son Brian – and three grandchildren – Ellie, Charlotte and Wyatt.