The Nashville Predators are currently in the midst of a big change. With the team’s current general manager, Barry Trotz, already confirming his decision to step down at the end of the season, it remains to be seen who will take on the mantle.
The Predators’ decision has been a topic of discussion for sometime now with a couple of names being tossed around for the GM role. According to a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, new names like St. Louis Blues’ Vice-President of Hockey Operations Peter Chiarelli and Edmonton Oilers’ deputy general manager Bill Scott are in the running.
According to report, Friedman revealed,
“Nashville is shrinking its list of GM contenders. I don’t believe any external candidate has interviewed in person. Not sure of the timeline, but that’s going to change in the near future. In addition to the already reported names, others who have been spoken to include St. Louis Vice-President of Hockey Operations Peter Chiarelli and an intriguing, fresh name, Edmonton assistant GM Bill Scott. It’s a wide net, and we’re still figuring out who else is involved.”
Till the new GM is chosen, Barry Trotz is still calling the shots. Furthermore, it is expected that Trotz will remain with the Predators after stepping down as general manager.
It has been speculated that he may thereafter serve in an advisory role. Other sources on the subject have revealed that the team is hoping to recruit their next GM before the 2026 NHL Draft takes place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York in June.
Blues’ VP of Hockey Operations exits St. Louis is search of new challenge
As the Nashville Predators continue their GM search, one reported candidate is already on the move. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on March 27 that St. Louis Blues VP of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli has left the organization to “pursue other opportunities,” adding on X that he remains “a candidate in Nashville’s interview process.”
Chiarelli had been with the Blues since 2019, initially joining as a senior advisor before being elevated to vice president of hockey operations in 2021. The 61-year-old brings over two decades of front office experience. His most successful stint was as general manager of the Boston Bruins, where he oversaw the franchise’s Stanley Cup-winning campaign in 2011.
