Predators GM Barry Trotz explains layered NHL trade deadline approach

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Predators GM Barry Trotz explains layered NHL trade deadline approach

Predators GM Barry Trotz explains layered NHL trade deadline approach

Alex Daugherty, Nashville Tennessean · The Tennessean

Sat, Mar 7, 2026 ·

4 min read

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Trade deadline day was a trade deadline dud for the Nashville Predators .

After making four moves earlier in the week — suggesting that a sell-off was coming — general manager Barry Trotz made zero moves on March 6.

Explaining his strategy to reporters at Bridgestone Arena after the 2 p.m. CT deadline, Trotz said this was about keeping the Predators intact for a desperation playoff push.

"You've got to like our team," Trotz said. "Take out the first 20 games and there have been some exciting games. They've been clawing back. We haven't gone on any crazy winning streaks, but winning two of three and all of a sudden you're in some meaningful games late in the season."

The Predators (28-26-8, 64 points) are three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. With 20 games to go, it's not inconceivable they could make the playoffs.

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz addresses the media during the press conference announcing the retirement for the GM at the end of the season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

L to R: Owner Bill Haslam, Barry Trotz and CEO Sean Henry sit before the media as Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz announces his retirement at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz speaks with the media during the first day of training camp at Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz, second left, takes in the Nashville Predators development camp at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz greets first round draft picks Cameron Reid and Ryker Lee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz speaks with first round draft picks Cameron Reid, center, and Ryker Lee, right, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz introduces the 2025 first round draft picks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz, right, speaks with owner Herb Fritch, left, during the Nashville Predators Golden Hall of Fame induction at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz, left, and former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam chat during a Nashville Predators Rookie Camp practice at Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Teddy Stiga talks with general manager Barry Trotz after being selected 55th overall by the Nashville Predators during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft Rounds 2-7 at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Provided by Jeff Vinnick, NHLI via Getty Images)

Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz speaks during a press conference at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 1, 2024.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators first-round pick Yegor Surin with general manager Barry Trotz (middle), scout Glen Sanders (left) and director of scouting Jeff Kealty.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz talks to media after the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft
(Alex Daugherty / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz takes in the scene as the Predators announce their second pick of the night, Tanner Molendyk, in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Tanner Molendyk shakes hands with Barry Trotz after he was picked by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz heads to the stage to announce the Predators second pick of the night in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz and David Poile talk on stage as the Nashville Predators announce their pick in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Matthew Wood stands with David Poile and Barry Trotz after he was picked by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

The new Predators GM Barry Trotz, poses for a portrait inside the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
(Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean)

The new Predators General Manager Barry Trotz and retiring Predators General Manager David Poile hold up their jerseys for a photo during a press conference inside the Bridgestone Arena, in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
(Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz is all smiles after been introduced at the new head coach of Nashville's new NHL team during a press conference at the Nashville Arena Aug. 6, 1997. Trotz will spend the upcoming season scouting talent and examining how other franchises operate before beginning play in the 1998-99 season.
(Freeman Ramsey / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz, left, the head coach of Nashville's new NHL team, shakes hands with his assistant coach Paul Gardner as the pair were introduced during a press conference at the Nashville Arena Aug. 6, 1997. The pair will spend the upcoming season scouting talent and examining how other franchises operate before beginning play in the 1998-99 season.
(Freeman Ramsey / The Tennessean)

Predators General Manager David Poile, right, and Coach Barry Trotz give an update on some of the team's free agents during a press conference at Bridgestone Arena May 11, 2011.
(Sanford Myers / The Tennessean)

Barry Trotz has guided the Capitals to two Presidents' Trophies, three Metropolitan Division titles and a Stanley Cup Final.
(Brad Mills / USA TODAY Sports)

Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media after the Predators lost to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the NHL’s Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on April 17, 2004. Detroit won 2-0 and ending Nashville playoff run.
(Sanford Myers / The Tennessean)

Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz, back, and player Scott Walker watch the action on the ice with Detroit Red Wings during Game 1 of the NHL’s Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit on April 7, 2004. Detroit won the game 3-1.
(George Walker IV / The Tennessean)

But realistically, the Predators are not a major contender for the Stanley Cup. Up against Colorado , Edmonton , Dallas , Minnesota and Vegas? Nashville does not stack up.

Which is why Trotz made some moves earlier in the week. He described this two-pronged approach as "serving two masters."

"I have to do my job for the present, to give this team a chance," Trotz said. "But I also have to worry about the future. That was the balancing act . . . When you're close enough, but not there, you have to serve two masters sometimes."

On one hand, Trotz traded Michael McCarron , Cole Smith , Nick Blankenburg and Michael Bunting — all older players on expiring contracts — for draft picks. On the other, he kept pending free agent Erik Haula and higher-priced players Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault .

"I thought we got really good value for the players that we moved, but it was a little bit of a balancing act," Trotz said. "We've got all our young kids up here, so it's a little bit of a balance. You want to make sure you've got a couple of veterans."

Why Trotz didn't move Erik Haula, Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos

Two of the Predators' top four trade targets, Stamkos and Marchessault, had trade protection built into their contracts. The other two, Haula and O'Reilly, did not.

Haula, 34, is having a resurgent season for the Predators, with 10 goals and 21 assists in 62 games, mostly as a defensive center.

"There were offers (for Haula)," Trotz said. "We got down to some really good offers that I felt were very fair. He was one of those balancing ones where . . . is it worth it trying to help some of our wingers where we don't have a veteran center?"

He compared his strategy with Haula to the situation with defenseman Alex Carrier in 2024. At that deadline, Trotz held on to Carrier, calling him an "own rental." He eventually signed Carrier to a contract the following July, but traded him to Montreal later that year.

As for O'Reilly, Trotz was committed to holding up his end of a "handshake agreement" — that he would treat O'Reilly's contract as if there was a no-movement clause. He explained the trade talks as a cooperative effort.

"To be quite transparent, I talked to (O'Reilly), I talked to (Stamkos) and I said I'm going to get calls. You're hearing the noise . . . it's all over the place," Trotz said. "I pulled them aside and said, 'Listen, I don't want to get rid of you guys. But if I get an offer that makes sense and knocks our socks off for what we're trying to do, I'm going to take it to you and you can say yes or no.' "

Trotz said he came "fairly close" to trading O'Reilly and/or Stamkos, but "until it's done, it's not done."

With the future on hold, the Predators look to the present. Trotz added that now younger players can work with the veterans, something that will shape their careers.

"They're in a playoff race," Trotz said. "That's a great teacher for them. Playing meaningful games late in the season, when it gets tightened up. See if they can handle it."

TRADE GRADES: How did Predators do at NHL trade deadline? Grading the moves

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1 . Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds .

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: GM Barry Trotz explains Predators' plans on NHL trades

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