In 1997, Barry Trotz was named the Nashville Predators’ first head coach. 1er July, he will become its second managing director.
On Sunday, David Poile announced his intention to retire as general manager on June 30 after 26 years with the Predators.
For Trotz and Poile, it was a reunion day Monday at the Bridgestone Arena where Trotz was introduced to members of the media as Poile’s successor. The 73-year-old Poile will remain with the organization in an advisory role.
The two men have known each other for 41 years, when Poile was the general manager of the Washington Capitals.
“It was my first training camp with the Capitals. [en 1982] and Barry was an undrafted player,” Poile recalled of their first meeting.
Trotz was cut, but the Capitals offered him a scouting job before he became a head coach.
With 914 career wins, Trotz ranks third among all head coaches in NHL history.
His track record includes stints with the Washington Capitals, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and with the New York Islanders, from 2018 to 2022.
Poile said Trotz, 60, turned down several offers to head coach during the offseason. Also, Poile advised Trotz that he was in his final season as general manager.
“Around Christmas time, I would say, he sort of indicated that he would no longer be acting as head coach, and asked if he could speak to me and submit his candidacy for the position of general manager. Poile recounted.
“And from that moment, everything went pretty quickly. We spoke to each other, the owners group got involved and by mid-January we had probably sorted it out. »
Trotz says he is confident he can complete the transition from head coach to general manager.
“I thought about it for a long time and very carefully,” Trotz said.
“The way to operate between coaches and managers is to work together, and I’ve always tried to do that with David. He was my mentor. »
The Predators made three trades over the weekend, but Trotz plans to do a reset rather than a rebuild. »
“We’re in a reset, we’re accumulating the assets,” Trotz clarified.
“There are good players. There could be six first-round picks in Milwaukee (the Predators’ AHL farm) next year. So there are players coming. »
Trotz is keeping an open mind about head coach John Hynes, who is 121-86-16 in his fourth year in Nashville.
Heading into Monday’s games, the Predators were six points from last place in the Western Conference playoffs after first-round eliminations in each of the past three seasons.
“I’ve been a head coach for a long time so I know if a team is run well. John is a really good head coach. For my part, between now and the end of the season, I will simply assess. »
The city of Nashville will host the NHL Draft for the second time in its history, next June.
Poile will retire as the NHL’s winningest general manager. In 39 years, he totals 1,519. However, the Predators have won only one playoff round since their participation in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017.
“I have two loves in my life: my family and hockey,” said Poile. “I am so lucky. »