I'm rarely a Poile defender - but in this case, I think you're missing an important piece - the budget. You have to know what that number is, what the planned increase is for the next couple years, and then you could evaluate whether or not Poile builds a team good enough to make the playoffs, or maximizes the dollars he's given.
I would argue the wisdom of the Gausted signing for it's length, and the Nystrom signing at all, but in the grand scheme of things you had to pay somebody, and PERHAPS if those were cheaper someones that did the job nearly as well we might have one additional better F. If they were available and we could have signed them. But it would be in Arvy's role, and then we would have no kids up with any meaningful top 9 experience. So, kinda' a push. Even if you don't agree, you probably would have been behind Poile going all-in back in 2012, right? Well that year, as in a couple others, prospects and picks go, and no homegrown bodies coming to fill, so.......
We don't know what kinda' number mgt is giving Poile, but I'm willing to bet he's spending it all - or keeping a bit in reserve so he's got the cushion to extend Flip, and that will repeat with re-signing Joey and Neal when the time comes.
Don't mis-construe this as defending or letting Poile off - I'm not. I thought he should have gone when Trotz did, I think he needs to go now. But not for the reason he can't build a team, but because we need to force ownership to step up and be responsible for funding a team. We always (or at least mostly) marveled at what Trotz could squeeze outta' those teams. But that was also the talent he was given, and if Poile spent to the budget limit, then he gave his coach pretty good talent to work with to squeeze. Well, if Poile is spending to the budget, he simply is a bad match with Lavy, cause Lavy isn't gonna' be able to get teams constructed with this budget year-to-year competitiveness any further than Trotz.
We're selling out 3/4s of our games. It's generally a hot ticket, and certainly the Preds are the most competitive sports team in Nashville - except perhaps Belmont basketball - which obviously isn't in the same level of visibility. Ownership is gonna' need to fund a higher level. Folks are gonna' argue - how do you know what the budget is, etc. I don't, you don't, RStanley and the talk-show guys think they got clues but they don't, either. What I do know is the same thing other long-time fans and STH's know - we've been competitive, but we expect and deserve better.
I believe Poile does an amazing job with an inadequate budget - like I said, I don't know that, but that's my deduction from watching this a long time. I'm tired of my STH money going to an inadequate budget; so honor Mr. Poile with a star or bust or something and move along, and ownership step your ***** up to major league sports. We had a great ASG, the town is on fire, and you have a chance to make a mark in a culture that thinks sports begins with college football and ends with the Pros. That window is open as far as it's gonna' be - if you miss this, it will be a long time before you get another chance.