Jimmy Vesey was a top prospect and played Poile,walked for nothing.
- up-n-ya
Radulov (aka Defectalov) walked out on his contract and defected to the KHL due to a ridiculous and glaring loophole in the NHL's agreement with the KHL at the time. There was nothing the NHL or the Preds or any GM could have done to stop it once that arrogant jerk made up his mind to go home to his Wet Nurse, Papa Vlad Putin.
Regarding Jimmy Vesey, the draft for college players at the time also had a loophole that allowed a drafted college player to capitulate on the team that chose him if he decided to stay in school. Drafted college players had a green light to snub their noses if desired at any team that drafted them. Poile didn't "let him walk for nothing" because he was never a Pred to begin with. The only criticism for Poile there was that he shouldn't have drafted him in the first place.
However, Karma's a b!tch becasue Vesey turned out to be a vastly overrated bust. Five diff teams in six seasons. Totals for the last three seasons: 27g/28a. That's an avg of 9g/9a per season and the goals/assists direction has been heading further down every season. Wow, what a stud. He would have definitely been the one to carry the Preds to the Cup...
Suter? Another pathological liar just like Greasy Vesey. He didn't live up to the post-Preds hype after he left Nashville imo. Good riddance.
And I'd hardly call Johansen's 26 goals (11 of which were PPG) and 37 assists this past regular season a bust.
I hated to lose Seth Jones too but that situation along with three of the others you named (Defectalov, Vesey, and Johansen) don't come anywhere close to fitting your
"I’m guessing he’s going to walk just like all the other top players" statement from your original post.
Best to leave off the failed examples and just to say you'd like GM DP replaced. I can deal with that.