Trotz looking for 'game-changers' as Predators GM

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Barry Trotz sat in the stands at USA Hockey Arena on Wednesday, watching the World Junior Summer Showcase in his first scouting mission since officially becoming general manager of the Nashville Predators on July 1.

He wasn't there just to see Nashville's three prospects at the tournament: Sweden forward Felix Nilsson, a second-round pick (No. 43) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Finland forward Jesse Kiiskinen, a third-round selection (No. 68) this year; and Finland defenseman Kasper Kulonummi, a third-round choice (No. 84) at the 2022 NHL Draft.

As a GM, he has to be informed about all players at all levels, so he was there to see every team's prospects at the tournament. Maybe he might want to acquire one of them someday.

"A couple of kids have caught my eye," he said. "They're not with us, but I'm going, 'If that name comes up, I would have some interest.'"

He was there to see the prospects who are eligible for the 2024 and 2025 drafts too. The 2024 NHL Draft will be his first as GM.

"I've talked to a lot of general managers, and you've got two trains of thought," he said. "You trust the people that you hire, or you have to do your own work because it falls on you.

"I've worked with all my [staff members], and I trust them and all that. But at the same time, I think there's a part of me that wants to go, 'You know what? I've got to make sure that these are the types of people that I want.'"

Trotz coached the Predators from their first season in the NHL in 1998-99 through 2013-14, before coaching the Washington Capitals from 2014-18 and the New York Islanders from 2018-22.

After never advancing past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Predators, he won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 and advanced to the third round with the New York Islanders in 2020 and 2021.

This is the first time he has been a GM, and this is the first time Nashville has had a new GM. Trotz succeeded David Poile, who had been the Predators' GM since the expansion process in 1997 and is now a senior adviser.

Things are going to be a little different, and that includes scouting -- from philosophy to analytics.

"I've been in two different stops [before] coming back to Nashville," Trotz said. "Everybody doesn't do it the same, and I've tried to take the best of what I've thought on different organizations and add it to Nashville."

The Predators have a strong history with goalies and defensemen in the draft, from Pekka Rinne (eighth round, No. 258, 2004) and Juuse Saros (fourth round, No. 99, 2013), to Ryan Suter (first round, No. 7, 2003), Shea Weber (second round, No. 49, 2003), Roman Josi (second round, No. 38, 2008) and Mattias Ekholm (fourth round, No. 102, 2009).

But they have struggled to find forwards who have become difference-makers -- centers, in particular. The best center they ever selected was the first pick in their history: David Legwand, the No. 2 pick in 1998.

Trotz wants to change that.

"I challenged our scouts," he said. "'Take your swings and draft people that are going to get people out of the seats.' Because I can find the third- and fourth-line guys all day long through our own team, the [American Hockey League], the NHL. I can find those guys, but I can't find the game-changers. The game-changers are found here by our scouts. We've done a really good job in a few areas, but the center ice area is one that is a hole for us."

Trotz said he wants to introduce more analytics into the Predators' scouting procedures, and he's working to implement that before training camp begins in September.

"I think we can put more data into our scouting, just so that we can marry that a little bit more," he said. "I think there's always going to be the human (element). That'll always trump, but analytics is for illumination for me. It allows you to ask questions, it allows you to take deeper dives, and it allows you to maybe separate some players for the people who are scouting."

Trotz said he is excited for the first camp under coach Andrew Brunette, who was hired May 31, one day after John Hynes was fired.

He also said he might not be done adding to the roster, after he spent, by his estimate, 40 out of 48 hours on the phone and landed his top three targets in free agency July 1: center Ryan O'Reilly, who signed a four-year contract; defenseman Luke Schenn (three years); and forward Gustav Nyquist (two years).

"I haven't over-added to our team," Trotz said. "I've left some holes. A lot of teams have overcommitted to players. They've got too many, so I'll get on the phones and see what's out there. Maybe there's a piece or two that we can flip out or wait for waivers."