Barry Trotz sat in front of microphones today knowing exactly how complicated his moment in Nashville would sound. On one hand, he announced his intention to step away as general manager of the Nashville Predators, signaling that another chapter of a Hall-of-Fame hockey life is nearing its final pages. On the other, he made it clear he isn’t disappearing — not yet. He will run the team through the trade deadline, help select his successor, and remain an advisor through the 2026-27 season.
To some fans, that’s frustrating. To the organization, it’s continuity. To history, it’s exactly who Barry Trotz has always been.