Barry Trotz to Step Down as Predators GM Amid Tumultuous Tenure
A major shake-up is underway in Nashville. Barry Trotz, the longtime face of the Predators franchise both behind the bench and in the front office, is stepping down as general manager. The announcement came Monday, with Trotz confirming he’ll remain in the role until a successor is named.
It’s a significant move for a franchise that’s been searching for a clear direction-and stability-since Trotz took over GM duties in 2023. His tenure, though brief in the front office, has been anything but quiet.
After a rocky 2024-25 season marred by questionable roster decisions and underwhelming results, the Predators stumbled out of the gate again this year. The writing may have been on the wall.
Trotz, of course, isn’t just any executive. He’s the original architect of the Predators on the ice, having served as the team’s first head coach and holding that post for over a decade. His return to the organization in a front-office capacity was seen as a homecoming-an opportunity to guide the next chapter of Predators hockey with the same vision and consistency he once brought behind the bench.
But the results never quite matched the expectations. The Predators have struggled to find an identity in recent seasons, caught somewhere between trying to compete and needing a rebuild. That internal tug-of-war may have played a role in Trotz’s decision to step away.
During a segment on Daily Faceoff LIVE, former NHL goalie Carter Hutton and host Tyler Yaremchuk were joined by The Sheet’s Jeff Marek to unpack the situation. One theory floated: a philosophical disconnect between Trotz and ownership. Was Trotz aiming to pivot toward a rebuild while ownership pushed for a win-now approach?
Marek didn’t shy away from that possibility. “That is 100% what it feels like,” he said.
He pointed to a familiar NHL dynamic-when the boundaries between ownership and management blur, things can get messy. “Owners own, managers manage, coaches coach,” Marek added, referencing a conversation he had with longtime NHL executive Pierre McGuire.
“Sometimes when those lines get blurred… this does sound like there was some type of disconnect between what the owner wants and what Barry Trotz wants.”
While Marek emphasized he wasn’t speaking from inside the room, the sentiment echoed something that many around the league have sensed: the vibes in Nashville haven’t been right for a while.
Trotz’s departure leaves the Predators at a crossroads. Whoever steps into the GM role next will inherit a roster that’s been stuck in the middle-good enough to stay competitive on some nights, but not built for a deep playoff run. The next hire will need to chart a firm course, whether that means retooling around a core or pressing reset entirely.
As for Trotz, his legacy in Nashville remains secure. From building the team’s identity as its first coach to returning in a leadership role, he’s been a foundational figure in the franchise’s history. But this chapter is coming to a close, and the Predators now face the challenge of defining what comes next-without the man who helped define so much of their past.