Fitzgerald, Poile Come Full Circle | BLOG

The Devils were on the clock with their final pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, the 218th overall selection.

But in a full circle move, general manager Tom Fitzgerald traded the pick to the home city of Nashville.

Predators general manager David Poile, who has held that position for the club since its inception in 1998, is retiring following the draft. And Fitzgerald served as the first ever captain for the Music City expansion franchise. So, it was only fitting that he traded the pick to his former mentor and GM, who then made the final draft selection of his illustrious career (Aiden Fink).

Poile, Fitzgerald and Barry Trotz, who is taking over for Poile as GM and was the original head coach of that expansion season, posed for a fitting picture following the symbolic selection.

The Devils, for what it's worth, acquired Nashville's seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.