Former Coach Coach Barry Trotz To Become New Predators General Manager

Barry Trotz is ready to return to the NHL, but this time, he won't be behind the bench. Instead, he will be the next general manager of the Nashville Predators.

The organization announced on Sunday that former Washington Capitals and longtime Nashville Predators bench boss will be the second-ever Predators general manager and succeed current hockey operations and general manager David Poile, who will retire from the role. Poile worked for the Predators for 26 years. Trotz will get started immediately but won't officially be the general manager until July 1.

Trotz spent 15 years as the head coach in Nashville from 1998 to 2014, going 557-479-60-100 before being replaced by Peter Laviolette, who is now at the helm in D.C. After that, he coached the Capitals for four years and led the team to the Stanley Cup in 2018. Trotz then took a job with the New York Islanders, but he was fired after failing to bring the team to the playoffs in his third season following back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was one of the top coaching names out there and had an offer from the Winnipeg Jets, but had turned down the job to focus on family.

Like Trotz, Poile also worked in the Capitals organization. He was hired in 1982 and during his 15 seasons with Washington, the team made the playoffs 14 times.