Predators’ evolution carries them to NHL Western Conference final – The Tennessean

VIDEOS: BEST OF PREDATORS' 2017 NHL PLAYOFFSPredators explain 'dog on a bone' mentality, award | 0:57

The Predators' player of the game award is a chain necklace. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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The Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games in the second round.

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Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode analyze the Predators' victory over the Blues Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean, Adam Vingan / USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee

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Predators fan beg to flip the Blues Smash Car after the Predators win the second round NHL Playoff series 4 game to 2 at Bridgestone Arena. George Walker / USA Today Network Tennessee

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The Nashville Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to win the Western Conference semifinal for the first time ever. USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Pred fans in the concourse of the Bridgestone Arena after the team won 3-1 in the Western Conference semifinals Tom Stanford / Tennessean

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Nashville Predators fans celebrate as their team defeats the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history on Sunday, May 7, 2017. Dave Ammenheuser and Jessica Bliss / The Tennessean

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Preds fans cheer on the team as the clock runs out in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinal against the St. Louis Blues. Tom Stanford / Tennessean

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The Commodores celebrated with all of Nashville on Sunday as the Predators scored their third goal on the St. Louis Blues to seal a playoff victory. Adam Sparks/The USA TODAY NETWORK--Tennessee

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Nashville Predators fans celebrate after their team defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Andrew Nelles / USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Bridgestone Arena ushers give out high-fives to fans exiting after the Predators defeated the Blues 3-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Jessica Bliss / The Tennessean

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Predators fans celebrate after the team's historic win over the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference semifinals, Sunday, May 7, 2017 Elaina Sauber / USA Today Network - Tennessee

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Nashville's status has Music City is well known, but its hockey town credentials are still surprising some. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

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Tennessean writers Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode breakdown the Predators 2 to 1 loss in Game 5 against the Blues at Scottrade Arena. George Walker/The Tennessean

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Predators ready themselves for game 5 against the Blues at Scottrade Center. George Walker IV/The Tennessean

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The Predators lead the Blues 3-1 in the second round of the playoffs. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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The Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues are pulverizing each other during their best-of-seven series in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jon Garcia / The Tennessean

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators 2-1 victory over the Blues in Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Predators lead the series 3-1. Andrew Nelles, Adam Vingan and Joe Rexrode

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The Predators lead their second-round series 2-1. Michael Murphy, Adam Vingan, Joe Rexrode / The Tennessean

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The Predators lead their second-round series with the Blues through three games. Adam Vingan / The Tennessean

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Preds fans at Bridgestone Arena show some team spirit ahead of Game 3 in the NHL Playoffs against the Blues. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

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NBC sports analyst Mike Milbury calls P.K. Subban a clown during warm ups. During interview with USA Today Network Tennessee columnist Joe Rexrode he says he wishes he had something different. Courtesy of NBC Sports

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators game 2 loss against the Blues in their NHL Playoff series.

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The Predators play the Blues in Game 2 of their second-round series. Adam Vingan/The Tennessean

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Predators head coach Peter Laviolette and Mike Fisher react to news of Kevin Fiala's leg injury he suffered during game 1 of playoff series against the Blues. George Walker/The Tennessean

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Tennessean writers Joe Rexrode and Adam Vingan breakdown the Predators 4 -3 victory over the Blues in Game 1 of their second-round NHL Playoff series

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Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4), defenseman Roman Josi (59) and center Calle Jarnkrok (19) congratulate goalie Pekka Rinne (35) after their 3 to 1 victory against the St. Louis Blues of game six to close out the second round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs four games to two at the Bridgestone Arena Sunday, May 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

David Poile waited by Pekka Rinne's locker Sunday, the Predators general manager and the team's longest-tenured player sharing an emotional hug.

The series-clinching Game 6 win against the St. Louis Blues was a milestone achievement for thefranchise.

It carriedgreater significance for Poile, the Predators' architect who previously had been to the conference finals once in more than three decades in the NHL.

Hes done a great job," Rinne said. "Youve got to be willing to take a lot of heat and have a big set of

He trailed off, then laughed.

Let's just say thatittakes a certain fortitude to undertake a full-scale renovation of a franchise.

The Predators, through a series of daring and difficultmoves made over the past three-plus years, have been sculpted into a potential powerhouse.

Their first appearance in the Western Conference final,which starts Friday against the Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m., NBC SN/102.5-FM), is not the franchise's ultimate vision. The Stanley Cup is all that will suffice in that regard.

Nashville's inclusionin the NHL's final four, however, is proof that itsplan is proceeding as hoped.

"Just judging by making (the) second round last year and getting to the third this year, it seems to have paid off," Predators forward Colin Wilson said.

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The landscape-altering additions ofNo. 1 center Ryan Johansen and big-name defenseman P.K. Subban last year understandably receive the most attention. Those two have been essentialin pushing the Predators to unprecedented heights.

But those trades were partof a larger transformation that began three years ago when Poile implored himself to exit his comfort zone.

On April 14, 2014, the Predators parted with original coach Barry Trotz after 15 seasons. They hired current coach Peter Laviolette three weeks later.

"It was just time to try to play a little bit different brand of hockey," Poile said. "We had been pretty successful up to that point, but I think we all wanted ... to add a little more offense into our game.

ThePredators' previous identity as a scrappy, defensive-minded team was born out of necessity. A budget-conscious approach meant few stars,particularly those who could score.Trotz's teams often finished near the bottom of the NHL in goals per game.

The acquisitionof forward Filip Forsberg, made one year before the coaching change in April 2013,began to address that lack of dynamic offensive players.

It never gets easy when you make a trade, especially significant trades like weve done in the past couple years," Poile said.

Predators center Ryan Johansen, acquired in a January 2016 trade with the Blue Jackets, scored the game-winning goal Sunday against the Blues.(Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

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