The end is coming for Barry Trotz.
While he'll always be an incredible part of the Nashville Predators history, and it's present, the future will soon be in the hands of someone else.
Since announcing he was going to step down as the GM, the Predators brass have been conducting an exhaustive search to find the next head honcho, but right now, Barry Trotz sits in the seat waiting.
So we've decided to take a look at some of the best moves that he's made while sitting in the chair as the Nashville Predators GM, while he's still there, and getting closer and closer to making more draft picks.
The Gustav Nyquist Bull and Bear Market
When Barry Trotz brought in Gustav Nyquist in free agency, it looked like a decent move. He was a useful offensive player, arguably past his prime, but still had something left to offer. Turns out he had way more than that.
Out of nowhere, at 34 years old, Nyquist put together a 2023-2024 campaign that was his best ever as a pro. He notched 75 points (15 more than his previous high) with 23 goals and 52 assists. He became an instant style fit, and helped push the Predators to the playoffs.
The next season, he crashed back down to earth and was then traded. Trotz found a willing partner in Minnesota and dealt him for 2026 2nd Round Pick, which will presumably bring in a player that can be part of the Predators future.
Trotz didn't hold onto Nyquist and instead got off the Gus bus at exactly the right time. After that career year, he played a rough stretch of hockey with the Predators, only managing 21 points in 57 games, and then was traded. Since the trade in 73 games with the Wild and the Jets, he's scored 19 total points.
Whatever magic Nyquist had left, he left on Broadway.
Ressurecting Ryan O'Reilly
Before the 2023-2024 season, O'Reilly was a great player sliding down into good, and doing it pretty quickly. Nashville gave him the offer he wanted and he's delivered since then.
It isn't just that O'Reilly has played well; he's played his best 3 year stretch of hockey ever. With 196 points (72 goals, 124 assists) in 242 games, only Filip Forsberg has scored more points for the Predators in that stretch. A leader and a resurgent producer, Trotz saw that there was more than something left for O'Reilly.
Welcome Back Haula
While Erik Haula didn't have the greatest run during the 2020-2021 season with Nashville, his 2nd outing with the club has gone much smoother and might not be over just yet.
Haula came back in exchange for Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 4th-round pick. In all likelihood, Jeremy Hanzel will never play for the Devils. He's producing at the ECHL level, and probably will eventually at the AHL level, but the NHL seems pretty far away.
The 4th round pick is a massive goalie named Trenten Bennett who despite being drafted had a losing record as a backup in the OHL last season.
Haula? 38 points and nearly 17 minutes a night in the show. Even if it ends up being just a year, it was something for nothing.
The legacy of Barry Trotz is still being built. Players like Ryan Ufko, Brady Martin, Yegor Surin, Cameron Reid, and Ryker Lee are the prospective future, but haven't yet proven themselves. A signing like Steven Stamkos might work, or might have just been a big swing. Time will tell, but we can already flush out a few of Barry's best.
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