Barry Trotz Puts Paw Print on the Nashville Predators

The incoming general manager wasted no time in putting his blueprint in motion to reorganize the Nashville Predators into a contender. Taking over for a legendary GM like David Poile isn’t easy, especially for a first-time GM like Barry Trotz. However, that isn’t going to stop him from making his presence known quickly here in Nashville and around the league.

Though technically he wasn’t taking over as GM until he traded Ryan Johansen‘s horrid contract to the Colorado Avalanche in a pure salary dump. While the Predators had to retain some money, Trotz is following that New York Rangers blueprint as he needs a three-year window to improve. 

After trading the Johansen contract, Trotz followed that up letting go a handful of RFAs with batting an eye. The new Predators general manager was able to save a boatload of cap space in a league where there is zero cap room for 28 of the 32 teams.

One of the riskier moves by Trotz was the buyout of Matt Duchene. The move itself was overdue with Duchene’s continued inconsistency and lack of let’s say dedication to being a star here in Nashville. Many speculate that Trotz didn’t want Duchene’s reputation for taking nights off to affect his young up and comping potential stars in the locker room.

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According to CapFriendly.com, Duchene’s buyout will cost the Predators $2.56 million next season and peak at $6.56 million in the third year, before tapering off to $1.56 million in each of the last three seasons. That again would be right at year three and when the new GM feels they will be ready to compete.

The first-year GM wasted no time reshaping the culture in Nashville once free agency opened either. Trotz was able to ink star center Ryan O’Reilly and defenceman Luke Schenn. Both of whom are hard-nosed tough-as-nails hockey players known not to take days off just like their new GM. But Trotz was not done either. He was able to re-sign Alexandre Carrier and Cody Glass. 

Not to mention the players the Predators drafted at the 2023 NHL Draft Matthew Wood (No. 15 overall), Tanner Molendyk (No. 24 overall), Felix Nilsson (No. 43 overall), Kalan Lind (No. 46 overall), Jesse Kiiskinen (No. 68 overall), and Dylan MacKinnon (No. 83 overall) are the type of guys Barry Trotz wants on his team. All these players have the reputation of being hard workers willing to learn.

In addition, the scouting reports on all of these players they are good character players. Exactly the type of player the Predators want for a young up-and-coming team. While some will take longer than others to develop. However, when the Predators are ready to compete again in three years, look for some of these players to make the team. 



Is this what the projected lineup will look like? At first glance not an instant Stanley Cup contender. However, for this rookie Preds reporter, this is good enough for a playoff spot. The biggest thing for the Nashville Predators this season is staying healthy. But you can already see from the moves made this offseason what kind of team Barry Trotz wants to put on the ice. 

That does it for my first column following the NHL draft and free agency. I hope you enjoyed and there will be more coming soon with the preseason and training camp right around the corner.