Nashville Predators begin GM search as Barry Trotz outlines retirement plans

The Nashville Predators are starting a search for their next general manager after Barry Trotz announced Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, that he intends to step away from the role at the end of his current contract. Trotz, 63, said he told ownership in December that he planned to retire after the 2026–27 season, and the organization has chosen to begin the succession process now rather than wait.

Trotz will remain in charge of hockey operations during the search and will transition into an advisory position once a successor is hired.

What Barry Trotz announced and when

The announcement was delivered publicly Monday afternoon, Feb. 2 (ET), with the team confirming that a “comprehensive search” for a new GM begins immediately. Trotz emphasized that he is healthy and that the decision is about retirement and time, not a return to coaching.

Here’s the key timeline:

Why the Predators are moving now

Starting the search early is a signal that the Predators want continuity without drifting into a lame-duck year. General managers typically need full authority well before draft season and free agency, and the front office calendar is relentless: pro scouting, contract extensions, trade deadline decisions, and summer planning.

There is also a performance backdrop. Nashville made the playoffs in 2023–24 under Trotz’s front-office leadership but lost in the first round. The following season was a major disappointment after a big-spending summer, with the club finishing near the bottom of the league. As of Monday, the Predators were 25-23-6 and sitting four points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot, leaving the organization straddling a “push or pivot” moment.

How the decision affects the trade deadline

A GM change in progress can complicate deadline strategy, even if the current GM remains in place. Rival teams tend to ask: does Nashville’s decision-maker have the runway to make big, franchise-shaping moves—or will the club lean conservative to keep options open for the incoming boss?

That dynamic matters because Nashville has veteran contracts that could interest contenders if the Predators decide they are better served by retooling. At the same time, the team is still close enough to the playoff line that a full sell-off would be a sharp turn. The most likely near-term outcome is caution: smaller adjustments, targeted adds if prices are reasonable, and a reluctance to make the kind of trade that would define the next two seasons.

The Predators’ GM search: what the job looks like

This is not a typical opening. The next GM will be stepping into a franchise with:

• Recent aggressive spending that raised expectations

• A roster that needs clearer identity after an uneven year

• A fan base used to stability after decades of continuity in the front office

• A respected predecessor who will remain around the organization as an adviser

Trotz was hired into the hockey leadership group in early 2023 and became general manager on July 1, 2023, following the long tenure of David Poile. Since then, Nashville’s approach has blended bold swings with an emphasis on culture and accountability. The summer of 2024 spending spree—highlighted by additions like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei—was designed to accelerate competitiveness quickly. The follow-through on that plan is now the big question the next GM must answer.

What comes next for Nashville on and off the ice

In the short term, the Predators’ priorities are straightforward: stay in the playoff race while keeping the long-term plan intact. The transition announcement adds urgency to decisions that already needed clarity—whether to invest further in the current roster, or to reshape the lineup around a different competitive window.

For Trotz, the next phase is about finishing the job cleanly. If the team finds the right successor quickly, he can begin the shift to an advisory role sooner. If the search takes longer, he retains the authority to steer the club through key checkpoints: the trade deadline, roster planning, and off-season preparation.

Either way, the announcement closes a meaningful chapter in Nashville hockey. Trotz has been intertwined with the franchise since its earliest days, first behind the bench and later in the front office. The organization is now trying to manage a rare leadership handoff without losing momentum in the standings—or the bigger picture.

Sources consulted: NHL; Reuters; Sportsnet; Sports Business Journal