The defenseman, who's served as captain and face of the franchise for years, was dealt Wednesday to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban, and the decision came only after Poile conducted numerous meeting with his staff since the NHL Draft, he told Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
"(Weber) grew up here. I call him a foundation piece. He's probably had the most influence and impact on our franchise of any player, Poile said. "He was our captain. It's one thing to trade a player, but somebody that's been with you 12-13 years, you don't stay that long without having an impact on the franchise.
"This was not a normal trade. From ownership to coaches to all of us in hockey ops, this was not an easy decision. It was a hard one."
On the flip side, however, was the opportunity to add one of the most exciting players in the NHL to an already electric roster.
"Hey, I'm a general manager, but I'm a fan, too. We're in the entertainment business. We've got some exciting players," Poile said.
"I love our goalie and how acrobatic he is, I love Roman Josi rushing the puck or Ryan Ellis rushing the puck, I like the swagger of James Neal, the goal-scoring ability of Filip Forsberg, I like the potential of Ryan Johansen, and now you can add in P.K. Subban - arguably one of the most energetic and most dynamic players in the National Hockey League."
Seemingly always on the verge of making noise in the Western Conference, Poile has added both Johansen and Subban in the past seven months, giving his team as good a chance as ever of becoming legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
P.K. Subban - the face of the NHL's pinnacle franchise - was dealt to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday for reasons unknown, seemingly buried in the depths of the Montreal Canadiens' front office.
Subban was a fan favorite. He brought booming slapshots, frequent pirouettes, and thrilling escapades with the puck on his tape, followed up by must-see celebrations. All combined with world-class production, it made him one of the most captivating figures in the sport, and fittingly, Habs fans were upset to see him go.
All told, here are five unforgettable moments from Subban's time in Montreal. Hopefully, Habs fans, it can make the grieving process a little easier.
5. - Massive hit on Brad Marchand
Two of the epicenters of the modern Habs-Bruins rivalry, Subban and Marchand, met rather violently in this instance in 2010.
With Marchand streaking up ice, Subban stepped up and delivered a textbook open-ice hit - an underrated facet of P.K.'s game - on the Bruins' pest, much to the delight of the onlooking Canadiens fans.
4. - Incredible individual effort versus Colorado
After exploding out of the penalty box, Subban took matters into his own hands for a remarkable goal versus the Avalanche in 2014.
Provided with an inexplicable amount of time and space, Subban displayed his scoring touch with a series of quick moves in dispatching a hapless Calvin Pickard.
3. - OT winner versus Boston
If anyone's happy to see Subban leave Montreal, it's Bruins fans.
Subban often put on a show against the Canadiens' biggest rival, and didn't shy away from the spotlight in the biggest moments.
In Game 1 of the second round in the 2014 postseason, Subban silenced TD Garden with his patented laser slapshot, his second goal of the game.
2. - Capturing the Norris Trophy
No defenseman was better than Subban in 2013.
In the lockout-shortened campaign, Subban scored 11 goals and 27 assists in 42 games, becoming the first Canadiens rearguard to win the award since Chris Chelios in 1989.
1. - Breakway goal versus Bruins
Two games after his overtime winner, Subban proved to be the X-factor against Boston once more.
Again escaping the penalty box, Subban was sprung on a breakaway and made no mistake in beating Tuukka Rask, sending the Bell Centre into an absolute frenzy.
As expected, Subban followed up the goal with a Herculean fist-pump at center ice, a lasting image in what was an other-worldly playoff performance.
Honorable mention: Donating $10 million to local children's hospital
Subban's reputation goes much further than his on-ice contributions.
On top of being a perennial All-Star, Subban's philanthropic legacy is deeply rooted in the Montreal community.
In September 2015, Subban made a $10 million donation over seven years to Montreal Children's Hospital - the largest financial commitment from a sports figure in Canadian history.
Carle, 31, falls victim to Tampa Bay's pressing cap issue, but the decision could prove to be valuable for the Lightning, as the team will save $3.67 million over the next two seasons, according to General Fanager.
Carle carried an AAV of $5.5 million and signed with the Lightning through 2018.
Not as offensively potent as he used to be, Carle posted nine points in 64 contests last season. Still, he will likely be sought after by plenty of teams in search of a middle-pairing blue-liner.
The veteran defenseman confirmed the report to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE, adding he's going to miss playing for the Bruins.
As a result, the Bruins will save $2.833 million against the salary cap this year and $1.833 million in 2017-18, according to General Fanager. They will, however, be on the hook for a cap hit of $1,666,666 for the two seasons after that point.
Seidenberg, 34, has been with the Bruins since 2010 and was a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup championship squad. He was limited to 61 games this past season due to injury.
The oft-injured winger took to Twitter to thank the organization and its fans after recently being traded to the New Jersey Devils, and added some humorous and healthy self deprecation for good measure.
Eric Staal has at least one desirable landing spot on his radar.
The unrestricted free agent has spoken to the Minnesota Wild, with both sides seeing potential for a fit.
"There's mutual interest and consideration that there is a fit with Minnesota," Staal's agent, Rick Curran, told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "We've had conversation and I would also suggest Eric was extremely impressed."
The 31-year-old recently said he feels he has "a lot of miles left" but would likely be in line for a short-term, team-friendly deal with the Wild, who have limited cap space.
That his point production is in decline will also affect his ability to secure term and big dollars as a free agent.
Ladd has made it clear he wants to play for a contender, and with Kyle Okposo set to hit the market, Isles' general manger Garth Snow could be looking at a suitable replacement.
The Islanders have over $15 million in cap space to work with this offseason, and although he could be seeking a raise, Ladd carried a cap hit of $4.4 million on his last contract.
Troy Brouwer is in a good spot heading into free agency.
The 30-year-old winger is coming off a solid regular season and impressive playoff performance with the St. Louis Blues, all of which will serve him well on the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
Brouwer remains in talks with the Blues on a new contract and would be happy to remain in St. Louis, but told Pierre LeBrun of ESPN he'd welcome a new opportunity and is indeed being pursued by other clubs.
"I’ve talked to a few teams. I’ve gotten phone calls to my agent from a handful more teams, so it seems like there’s a lot of good interest," Brouwers said. "I’m encouraged, absolutely, by the phone calls I’ve gotten from the teams that have reached out, and the interest that they’ve displayed. It’s kind of a pins-and-needles situation where you’re just waiting."
One of those teams, LeBrun reports, is the Calgary Flames, whom Brouwer met with in person this week.
Nothing, however, has been decided.
"All you can do is speculate right now. The teams that have shown the most interest in me are teams that I would be excited to go be a part of."
Brouwer recorded 18 goals and 21 assists in 82 games for the Blues this past season, adding eight goals and five assists in 20 playoff games. He's coming off a three-year contract that carried a salary cap hit of $3,666,666.
Five NHL teams made potentially franchise altering moves (some good, some bad) on Wednesday afternoon, and it all happened during one chaotic hour on what was an otherwise quiet summer afternoon.
In a span of an hour on Wednesday afternoon, both teams agreed to stunning, self-destructive deals. First, the Oilers sent All-Star left wing Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for underperforming defender Adam Larsson, a trade that looked to be the NHL's most lopsided since the Boston Bruins sent Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars for Loui Eriksson and a handful of beans.
So, where to begin with one of the most dramatic half hours in NHL transaction history?
Let's just say the collective hockey heart rate is still beating in the red line, even as we begin to consider all that transpired in that magical 30 minutes.
To even call the Subban deal a blockbuster would seem like under-selling it. This was something bigger, a trade that was both impossibly simple and ridiculously complex at the same time. It involves a pair of two-time first-team all-stars, both with massive contracts, both still in their prime or at least plausibly close enough. Players like that never get traded in the NHL anymore. They certainly don't get traded for each other, straight up, without any retained salary or picks or complicated conditions.
In Edmonton, there was a lot of puzzlement and head-scratching going on.
Don’t look now, but it might be going on for a while.
Welcome to Wacky Wednesday in the National Hockey League, one of the wildest days we can remember in recent memory when it comes to the world’s fastest sport.
Hockey. There is a conservatism to this game, and there is extra pressure in this country, and that pressure never stops. Edmonton was gifted with the player of a lifetime, and now the McDavid clock is ticking, so Taylor Hall was sacrificed. The Canadiens had this roaring personality, a No. 1 defenceman with all kind of gifts, and he was too big for Montreal. People wonder why Canada doesn’t win Stanley Cups anymore. Maybe Wednesday was one example why.
In the months leading up to the 2010 NHL Draft, the big question was whether Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin would be selected first overall, with both players seen as legitimate building blocks for either of the two teams slotted to make the first two selections.
Six years later, both Hall and Seguin find themselves on different teams, as both have since been traded by the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins respectively and under the watch of general manager Peter Chiarelli.
Hall is the sixth of 2010's top six picks to be traded, leaving Skinner - who was selected seventh by the Carolina Hurricanes - left to wonder if and when he'll complete this particular group of seven.
Here's a look at the six trades in question in reverse order.
6. Brett Connolly, Tampa Bay Lightning
March 2, 2015 - Traded to the Bruins for a 2015 second-round pick and a 2016 second-round pick.
Months prior to being let go by the Bruins and desperate to add offense to a sputtering roster, Chiarelli pulled off a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning that saw Steve Yzerman give up on the player he selected with his first lottery pick as GM.
Brett Connolly scored only nine goals in 76 games for the Bruins, and new GM Don Sweeney recently decided not to sign him to a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Unhappy with his place within the New York Islanders organization, Nino Niederreiter reportedly asked for a trade after spending the majority of the 2012-13 season in the AHL.
The Wild jumped at the opportunity, sending hard-hitting depth forward Clutterbuck the other way.
Niederreiter recorded a career-high 43 points this past season and is proving to be a reliable and capable two-way forward for the Wild.
This trade was a seemingly rare win-win deal for both clubs, with the Predators adding a long-sought after top-line center and the Columbus Blue Jackets receiving a bona fide top-pairing defenseman in return.
Incidentally, it was the first of two important trades made by GM David Poile this year.
So, within 7 months David Poile turns Seth Jones and Shea Weber into Ryan Johansen and P.K. Subban. Franchise-altering moves.
May 25, 2016 - Traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with a 2016 fifth-round pick for Jared McCann and a 2016 second-round pick and a 2016 fourth-round pick.
Canucks GM Jim Benning was looking to beef up his defense corps and sent a 2014 first-round pick (24th overall) in McCann to the Florida Panthers for the heavy-hitting, shot-blocking Erik Gudbranson.
Benning was part of Boston's brain trust in 2010 and had therefore scouted Gudbranson quite heavily in the event the Bruins weren't in line to select either Hall or Seguin.
Here's where Chiarelli's legacy begins to take shape.
Following Boston's second run to the Stanley Cup Final in three years, the Bruins decided it was prudent to trade a then 21-year-old budding star in Tyler Seguin, who had led the team in goals with 29 during his second year in the NHL but who had recorded only one goal on 70 shots during the 2013 playoffs.
The Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy in 2014 but have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. And while Seguin's star only continues to rise in Dallas, the possible departure of Loui Eriksson in free agency would leave Joe Morrow as the lone player directly involved in this trade to remain on Boston's roster.
"Win now" mode in Boston has quickly turned into "what next?"
While Chiarelli had the benefit of having won a Cup as GM of the Bruins, how he goes down in the history books could be defined by the Hall trade.
Hall marked the first of four forwards selected first overall by the Oilers in the span of six years, and while Edmonton has obviously needed help on the blue line to compliment that group, few foresaw Hall being the means by which it was secured, at least not for anything less than an elite defenseman.
It's not that Larsson, who was drafted fourth overall in 2011, can't or won't turn into that kind of player for the Oilers; what makes this trade especially befuddling is that Hall is among the very best players in the league over the past four years, as evidenced by his five-on-five production.
The sense is Hall could and should have been kept or flipped for a more established defenseman at the very least.
If Larsson doesn't pan out in Edmonton, and the Oilers' perpetual rebuild only continues to stall in Hall's absence, it could spell disaster for Chiarelli.
