Predators GM Barry Trotz unloads frustration on Nashville’s players

Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz did not hold back in calling his team out. Trotz was unapologetic as he lambasted his team’s lack of effort this season. In fact, it’s the second season in a row that his veteran side has failed to live up to its pedigree.

That situation prompted Trotz to unload on his club, calling them out in a November 24 piece published in The Tennessean. In the piece, Alex Daugherty quoted Trotz, stating:

"I need more (expletive) from them. I need more."

The comments highlight the Predators' inability to achieve consistent results. Their last game on Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche encapsulated their season. They outplayed the Avalanche, outshooting 16-6 in the first period, but found themselves trailing. They would ultimately lose the game 3-0.

Trotz added the following insight into the Predators’ struggles:

“The confusing thing, the frustrating thing for everyone, is that we just don’t score. You look at the names on our roster, we should score more. Because we have Forsberg, Stamkos, Marchessault, we all think we’re going to score.”

Unfortunately, the scoring just hasn’t been there. The Predators are dead last in the NHL with 2.29 goals per game. That number is almost two full goals per game less than the NHL leader, the Avalanche.

Barry Trotz stands by Predators coach

A Barry Trotz decision that has generated some controversy has been standing by his coach, Andrew Brunette. Instead of firing his coach, Trotz has dismissed a coaching change as a means of spurring his team.

If anything, Barry Trotz has been adamant about standing by his coaching staff. Rather, Trotz is rightfully pointing the finger at players. He’s assigned a share of the blame to his players. As the piece in The Tennessean points out, the Pred GM doesn’t believe in the so-called “new coach bump.”

While it’s true that some teams get a boost when a new coach takes over, Barry Trotz has dismissed that effect as “smoke and mirrors.” Trotz has focused more on motivating his team in other ways. During the 2023-24 season, Trotz canceled a scheduled team trip to Las Vegas. As Daugherty underscored, the wake-up call sparked the club on a streak that pushed them into a playoff spot.

It doesn’t seem like there is such an opportunity this season. In the meantime, the Preds are last in the Central Division and sinking fast. It remains to be seen if the Predators will bring the massive selloff that has been predicted for some time now.