Don Poile’s time in the NHL might not have held the same staying power as other members of his famous hockey family, but that didn’t prevent the former Detroit Red Wings forward from formulating a plethora of stories about his time in the show.

The brother of Norman (Bud) Poile and uncle of David Poile, who died on the weekend at the age of 91, Don Poile spent just 66 games in the NHL, all with the Red Wings.

Matheson: Don Poile, NHL alumnus and uncle of former Predators GM David Poile, dead at 91 https://t.co/jLWzMgibc6 pic.twitter.com/7vDOpnG6Jo

— Edmonton Journal (@edmontonjournal) February 25, 2024

He’d appear in four games during the 1954-55 season, then make it back for a 62-game stint in 1957-58. That season, center Poile would account for seven goals and nine assists. Naturally, it was the tale of his first that he loved telling. However, not for the reasons you might expect.

Poile Scores Spectacular Goal

It was a spectacular goal, after all. Gordie Howe hit Poile with a breakaway pass. In the clear, he put a feint on New York Rangers goalie Gump Worsley, sending the Gumper the wrong way. Pulling the puck back, Poile would then slam a shot into the net from five feet out.

Marcel Pronovost drew the other assist on the goal. As Poile was known to point out, everyone involved in the play expect the protagonist would go on to earn enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As for his story of the goal, Poile was only on the ice because he’d been serving a bench minor. From his perch behind the Detroit bench, Red Wings GM Jack Adams was screaming at Poile to get off the ice. He chose not to listen. Poile’s goal would prove to be the game winner in Detroit’s 4-0 verdict at Madison Square Garden.

Followed Brother To Red Wings

Don Poile hailed from Fort William, Ontario, which would prove to be a rich feeding ground for future Red Wings. Along with his brother Bud, defenseman Ben Woit and Hall of Fame center Alex Delvecchio also were born in Fort William.

“My dad’s absolute love of the game and everything that came with it has always been incredible to me."

Join us and the Poile family in remembering Norman "Bud" Poile on what would be his 100th birthday. https://t.co/qLADdJxo8T

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) February 10, 2024

Bud Poile, who died in 2005, would play seven NHL seasons, including the 1948-49 campaign with the Red Wings. He was a two-time 20-goal scorer. He would later serve as inaugural GM of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks. As well, Bud Poile was president of the Central League and commissioner of the IHL.

Don Poile was also the uncle of longtime NHL GM David Poile. David Poile would serve as GM of the Washington Capitals and up until his retirement last year, as the first and only GM of the Nashville Predators.

The post Former Red Wings Forward Poile Part of Famous Hockey Family appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is still trying to find a way to keep its team in the state. According to Arizona Sports, he has submitted a letter of intent to purchase 41 acres for a new arena in Mesa.

The report says the Coyotes are looking at other potential locations, including Phoenix and Scottsdale. The target date for a new arena is the start of the 2026-27 season.

The Coyotes are looking for an NHL-sized arena after losing a vote in spring to build a new facility in Tempe.

Breaking Coyotes news from @Gambo987 on the latest attempt at a new arena: https://t.co/o8CN46k0k0

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 9, 2023

Red Wings Offseason

The Athletic’s Corey Proudman projects that Red Wings prospects Nate Danielson (Canada), Trey Augustine (USA) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (Sweden) will play for the country at the next World Junior Championships.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Bob Duff looks at why Moritz Seider and Jake Walman worked well together last season.
• Robert Mastrosimone, a 2019 Red Wings draft pick, could land with another NHL organization after Aug. 15.
• Griffins player Joel L’Esperance thankful to be thankful to playing so close to his hometown.
• Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov is on loan to the KHL team in Sochi.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Retired goalie Tim Thomas looks forward to being part of the Boston Bruins‘ Centennial Celebration.

Buffalo: Mike Augello looks at Buffalo’s No. 35 prospect Jakub Konecny. Buffalo Sabres.

Carolina: Hurricanes management has questions to answer after missing out on Erik Karlsson. Bryant Baucom takes the Hurricanes to task. Carolina Hurricanes.

Chicago: Expect defenseman Ethan Del Mastro playing full-time with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024-25.

Nashville: Nick Kieser revisits David Poile’s top five trades in his tenure with the Nashville Predators.   Filip Forberg’s acquisition was No. 1.

Pittsburgh: Mikael Granlund admits it didn’t work with the Pittsburgh Penguins because of his role and ice time.

The post The Daily: New Coyotes Arena Plan; Poile’s Top Preds Trades appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

 The Detroit Red Wings connect Kevin Bacon-style to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s quest to win back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships.

Supposedly, there’s only six degrees of separation between actor Bacon and everyone else in Hollywood. Look at the work history of any actor. That actor worked with someone who worked with someone else. Quickly you connect to an actor who was in a movie with Bacon.

The connection between the Red Wings championship aura and the Lightning championship aura requires only four degrees of separation. 

This is how they connect: In 1982, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch hired Jim Devellano to be Red Wing general manager. He mentored Devellano. A year later, Devellano drafted Steve Yzerman and then hired Ken Holland. The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997 with Yzerman at captain. A month later, Devellano accepted a promotion and Holland was named GM. The Red Wings repeated in 1998.

Yzerman was Holland’s protege

Several years later, Yzerman retired and joins Holland’s management team. Yzerman trains under Holland to be a general manager. In 2010, he accepted the job as Tampa Bay’s GM. He hired Julien BriseBois to be his assistant and mentored him. The Lightning win in 2020 and have a good chance of winning again.

But Devellano wasn’t the favorite, at least not at first. If Devellano wasn’t hired, it would have changed history

Devellano recalls Ilitch saying his final list included Pat Quinn, Red Berenson, Ron Mason, David Poile and Devellano.

Mason was Michigan State’s coach. The Blues had fired Berenson as coach. The Flyers had fired Quinn. Poile was a rising young executive for the Calgary Flames, who had recently moved from Atlanta.

Devellano worked as New York Islanders GM Bill Torrey’s protege. But he thought he was up against a tough field.  

Ilitch spent time with Poile

Poile recalls an in-person interview with Ilitch.  But he came away believing Ilitch was more interested in his ideas for changing the team than hiring him.

Poile’s read was on target. Ilitch told Devellano years later that Devellano emerged as the favorite after Ilitch started comparing candidates.

Devellano noted to Ilitch that he had been up against  a group with impressive credentials. “But none of them had won the Stanley Cup,” Ilitch said. 

The Red Wings hired Devellano after the Islanders won their third consecutive Stanley Cup championship. So with a fifth degree of separation, you can take the Lightning’s repeat quest back to Islanders’ dynasty. The Lightning are playing the Islanders now in the semifinals.

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