NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Barry Trotz is set to step down as the general manager of the Nashville Predators after nearly three years in the role, but he will remain with the team until the NHL trade deadline on March 6 to assist with the transition and help find his successor. Trotz, who is 63, revealed Monday that he had informed majority owner Bill Haslam in December of his plans to leave once his contract ends after the 2026-27 season. He assured that his decision is not related to health issues and plans to stay on in an advisory capacity.
Trotz mentioned that he has begun the process of searching for a new GM but will continue in his current position until a suitable candidate is appointed, no matter how long that takes. Haslam hopes to have the new GM in place before the late June draft and emphasized that Trotz’s departure is a personal decision rather than the result of any conflict or disagreements between ownership and the team.
Assistant GM Andrew Brunette learned of Trotz’s resignation earlier Monday and noted that he was as surprised as the rest of the team. Trotz initially took the GM role in Nashville in 2020, taking over after longtime GM David Poile stepped into a hockey operations role. Under Trotz’s leadership in the 2023 season, the Predators qualified for the playoffs, but the team’s performance has since fallen short, especially after a notable offseason where expectations were high with plans to sign star players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. Despite the investments, Nashville failed to make the playoffs in 2024, losing 52 games in 82 and marking one of the team’s major disappointments.
Trotz has consistently expressed his goal of building a team capable of not just reaching the playoffs but winning the Stanley Cup. Since Haslam became the majority owner last summer, the franchise has appeared to be at a turning point. With core players such as Stamkos, Skjei, and Marchessault, who are all in their 30s and have significant contracts, the Predators may look to make trades either before the deadline or during the offseason. The organization’s future success will depend in part on how new leadership manages its veteran roster and builds around star players like goalie Juuse Saros, captain Roman Josi, and Filip Forsberg, who are currently under contract.
Trotz’s second stint with Nashville was brief compared to his first, during which he coached the team from its founding in 1998 until 2014, helping establish the franchise’s reputation in a non-traditional hockey market. After coaching the Capitals to a Stanley Cup victory in 2018 and leading the Islanders for four seasons, Trotz returned to Nashville with an aim to rebuild and bring sustained success to the team.
Predators CEO Sean Henry praised Trotz’s contributions, highlighting how he, along with David Poile, helped establish Nashville as a model NHL franchise. Henry emphasized Trotz’s dedication over nearly three years of managing the team and his efforts to position the Predators for long-term competitiveness, focusing on player welfare and organizational growth.
Fan Take: This change at the top signals a potential new chapter for Nashville, sparking hope among fans for a fresh approach that could finally bring a Stanley Cup to Music City. For hockey, it’s a reminder that leadership transitions can reshape a team’s future — exciting times ahead for Predators supporters and league followers alike.
