Nashville Predators GM David Poile has been busy in his last trade deadline season as GM of the Preds. In a trade with the New York Rangers, the Predators acquired Austin Reuschhoff in exchange for future considerations.
The 25-year-old forward has no NHL experience yet, but he has spent the last three years with the Hartford Wolf Pack, who are the Rangers AHL affiliate. In his AHL career, he has racked up 43 points consisting of 20 goals and 23 assists in 113 games and 92 minutes in penalties.
The big 6’7″ forward played his college hockey at Western Michigan University, where he tallied 35 goals and 35 assists in 105 games.
In a separate transaction, the Predators made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers, sending Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick to the Oilers in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer and a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick. After the trade was announced, Poile released a statement:
“We are excited to add one of the NHL’s most consistent offensive producers from the blueline in Tyson Barrie to our roster and a talented forward with high upside in Reid Schaefer to our ever-growing prospect pool with this trade,” Poile said. “At the same time, this trade bolsters our number of potential draft picks over the next two years, including another first-round selection in this summer’s NHL Draft, which will be hosted at Bridgestone Arena.
“On behalf of the entire organization, we want to thank Mattias and his wife Ida for their contributions to the Predators both on and off the ice over the last 12-plus years. The role he played in our franchise’s accomplishments cannot be overstated – from being a staple of our leadership group, including serving as an alternate captain, to helping guide us to a Stanley Cup Final, a Presidents’ Trophy, and two Central Division titles; and to being a constant positive presence in our efforts to grow the game in our community. We wish Mattias and his family all the best in Edmonton and thank him for all he did during his time in Nashville.”
Barrie has had an outstanding season with the Oilers with 43 points (10G, 33A) which is good to be tied for 11th among d-men this year in the NHL. Barrie has been producing this year for the Oilers; he has 28 power-play points which is good for the lead for a defenseman. The 31-year-old defenseman was drafted back in 2009 by the Colorado Avalanche, who picked him up in the third round (64th pick). In Barrie’s NHL career, he has racked up 478 points (105G, 373A) in 744 games played.
The defenseman also has had some success at the international level, most recently in 2015 in the World Championship, with Canada taking home the gold.
As for Schaefer, who is just 19 years of age, he is skating currently in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds; he is currently sitting as one of the top producers for Seattle, claiming 47 points (23G, 24A). Originally drafted by the Oilers in the first round (32nd pick) last year, Schaefer picked up the gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships, playing seven games and grabbing one assist in those games.
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