The Nashville Predators look to finally be closing one chapter, in order to start another one. Today it was announced that current general manager Barry Trotz plans to retire. Furthermore, he does plan to stay on until a successor is named. This follows from their hockey executive David Poile stepping down or taking a reduced role over the last couple seasons. Let’s check out this news from a historical viewpoint.
Barry Trotz Announces He Retires After 35 Years in Professional Off-Ice Roles
Barry Trotz began his professional coaching career back in 1990. That was as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Baltimore Skipjacks. He would be promoted to head coach within a couple seasons, and never looked back. Then, in 1997, he got his big break. David Poile had recently been named as the first general manager in Nashville Predators franchise history. He soon named Trotz the first head coach in the club’s history.
He would go on to coach for 23 consecutive seasons in the show. 15 of those campaigns, we as the only coach the Preds franchise had ever known. Trotz would win the 2016 and 2019 Jack Adams Awards as the league’s best bench boss. Moreover, he helped the Washington Capitals capture their only Stanley Cup championship in that club’s history.
Trotz’s Time in Tennessee
Trotz had been out of the headlines for a bit, when David Poile came calling in 2023. Poile wanted to step down as the Preds GM. At the time, he would leave as the winningest GM in NHL history. He wanted to pass the club on to someone he trusted. Someone that was there from the start, so he gave Trotz a call. Trotz has been the GM in Nashville since that time. Now, Trotz is ready to hang them up, announcing his retirement.
Since Trotz has been GM, he tried for a big retool in Nashville. In the summer of 2024, Trotz went out and signed Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to big free agent contracts. The plan hasn’t worked out as planned, but it was a good attempt to re-invigorate the roster. It probably makes sense to let a new regime take over and begin the next phase of the organizational development. It has been quite a run for the combination of Poile and Trotz.
Today in Hockey History: Nashville Predators Hire Barry Trotz
Main Photo Credit Steve Roberts-Imagn Images