[Bingo]

By protecting his top four defensemen, Poile could only protect four others skaters. Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen were obvious choices. The final spot came down to Calle Jarnkrok or Neal, and Poile opted to keep his young center with an enviable contract.

“The rules are the rules, and it didn’t line up correctly for us. The strength of our team in on defense,” he said.

“That hurts. This expansion process was painful for the Nashville Predators. There’s no way of getting out of it.”

But Poile tried. He called McPhee every day, trying to find a scenario in which the Knights would lay off Neal. “I tried, like a lot of people did who were more successful with it, to make a deal with George. But the price was just too high in my estimation,” he said.

Yeah he couldn't wait to get Neal out of town ...