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Predators regain ‘Smashville’ identity with Barry Trotz as GM

AP file photo by George Walker IV / Barry Trotz returned last year to the Nashville Predators, the team he coached from its first season as an expansion franchise in 1998-99 until 2013-14. He is serving as the Tennessee team's general manager this time around.
AP file photo by George Walker IV / Barry Trotz returned last year to the Nashville Predators, the team he coached from its first season as an expansion franchise in 1998-99 until 2013-14. He is serving as the Tennessee team's general manager this time around. AP file photo by George Walker IV / Barry Trotz returned last year to the Nashville Predators, the team he coached from its first season as an expansion franchise in 1998-99 until 2013-14. He is serving as the Tennessee team's general manager this time around.

By TERESA M. WALKER / The Associated Press 5 min read

NASHVILLE — Barry Trotz never put a label on whether he was rebuilding, retooling or simply trying to reset the Nashville Predators during his first season as general manager.

Revival might be the best word to describe what he has done for the NHL team he helped launch more than a quarter-century ago.

Not only has Trotz helped the Predators reclaim their “Smashville” identity, Nashville is back in the Stanley Cup playoffs a year after the franchise missed the title chase for the first time since the 2013-14 season. That was Trotz’s last year as the only head coach the expansion team had ever known since beginning competition in the 1998-99 season.

His new stint with his old team has been a rousing success so far.

The Predators won’t learn their first-round opponent until later this week, but when the postseason opens this weekend, Nashville will be there for the ninth time in a stretch of 10 seasons and the 16th time in the past 20.