Predators' Poile not looking to trade Forsberg at deadline
Predators general manager David Poile is making it clear he wants to keep Filip Forsberg, a pending unrestricted free agent, in Nashville.
"No, I'm not trying to trade Filip Forsberg, I'm trying to sign Filip Forsberg," Poile told 102.5 The Game on Tuesday, according to NHL.com. "It hasn't been done. ... I don't have the crystal ball to say it will get done. Both sides want it to happen, but it hasn't happened now."
Forsberg's name has entered the rumor mill ahead of the March 21 trade deadline as he plays out the final season of a six-year, $36-million contract. A potential extension between the two sides must have an average annual value higher than $8 million but lower than $9.059 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
"Obviously, we don't agree where we are, or we would have had a deal done by now," Poile said, per NHL.com. "I think we just continue moving on. He knows that I haven't been shopping him. ... It's out there and you hear it, and then you have to react to it. That's where we are today."
Forsberg, 27, leads all Predators with 27 goals in 40 games this season. He's also recording a career-high 1.13 points per contest for Nashville, which currently holds a playoff spot.
The Swedish star has 430 points in 537 career NHL games, all as a Predator.