Nashville, Tenn. (Sept. 28, 2026) – Preds Golden Hall Chairman David Poile announced today that Nashville Predators advisor and former head coach and general manager Barry Trotz will be inducted into the Preds Golden Hall as the sole member of the Class of 2026. The Preds Golden Hall showcases and honors the individuals who have positively represented the Predators and their fans on and off the ice across the franchise’s near 30-year history.
Trotz will be inducted into the Preds Golden Hall during a pregame ceremony before Nashville’s game on Oct. 29 vs. Washington at Bridgestone Arena; tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and more information will be announced at a later date.
“Barry Trotz is synonymous with the Nashville Predators,” Poile said. “When you consider the history of our franchise, it is impossible to not think of the work Barry did to help lay the foundation for what the Predators are today – he made our game accessible to our community while dedicating himself to putting a successful team on the ice. But, his place in our history goes beyond what he did as a head coach and GM. Few people have done more for the Nashville community over the years than Barry has, and that connection with our fanbase makes him beloved to this day. Barry is a deserving member of the Preds Golden Hall’s Class of 2026.”
“I am truly honored to be recognized in this fashion by David Poile and the Predators organization,” Trotz said. “When I look back on my career, I am incredibly grateful that David hired me for my first NHL job back in 1997, and that I was able to spend so many wonderful years in Nashville as both a coach and GM. As I have said before, the great thing about this game is if you're all in, you're all in, and you have to be if you're going to be successful. You also need people around you to not only get you there, but keep you there. This would not have been possible without the support of my family and all the coaches, players and staff members I’ve worked with over the years, and our great fans who have made Nashville home.”
The franchise’s first-ever head coach and second general manager, Trotz became a larger-than-life figure during his career in Smashville and played a leading role in the growth of Nashville as a hockey town.
The longest tenured coach in Predators history, Trotz was hired by Poile on Aug. 6, 1997, and achieved a 557-479-(60)-100 record in 1,196 games as the team’s bench boss, guiding Nashville to the postseason seven times. His time with the Predators was historic – he coached the third-most games with one franchise in NHL history, and his 557 wins with Nashville are the fourth-most by a head coach with a single organization in League annals. He additionally went on to win the 2018 Stanley Cup with Washington and is a two-time winner of the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL’s top coach.
He returned to the Predators as the team’s GM from 2023-26, officially succeeding Poile in the role on July 1, 2023. In his three seasons as GM, Nashville went 115-108-23 and reached the playoffs in 2024. He also spearheaded a modernization of the team’s locker room and training facilities at Bridgestone Arena, and he created a vision and plan for the organization’s new training center at Centennial Sportsplex, scheduled to be completed next fall.
Trotz’s kindness and charitable heart made him a beloved figure in Middle Tennessee. He routinely appeared at Nashville Predators Foundation events, served as a board member for the Peterson for Parkinson’s Foundation and worked closely with Best Buddies of Tennessee, helping set the blueprint for how the organization can make a positive impact in the community.
PREDS GOLDEN HALL INDUCTEES
2024 – David Poile, Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber
2025 – Pete Weber, Terry Crisp
2026 – Barry Trotz
Become Smashville Loyal today! Full, Half and Quarter Season Ticket plans are available for the 2026-27 Nashville Predators season presented by Regions Bank. For more information, please call 615-770-7800, visit NashvillePredators.com or text PREDS to 833-453-2488 to begin receiving ticket offers directly to your phone.
