Nick Saban knows a thing or two about building a football program. The Predators are hoping that skillset transfers to hockey.
Nick Saban knows a thing or two about building a football program.
The Nashville Predators are hoping that skillset transfers to hockey.
Predators general manager Barry Trotz announced on Monday that he's retiring. At the same news conference, Predators owner Bill Haslam told reporters that Saban will have input on the franchise's search for a new general manager.
Saban, who won seven national championships as a college football coach with Alabama and LSU, won't be a random consultant. A longtime Predators fan, Saban bought an ownership stake in the franchise in December. Now he's going to work for the team.
"Nick Saban, our newest co-owner, who has a little familiarity with helping on winning organizations, will be on the search committee as well," Haslam told reporters.
Saban will work with Haslam, Predators executives and other members of the team's ownership group in conducting the search. The Predators have also hired talent agency CAA to coordinate the search.
Why did Trotz step down?
Trotz was in his third season as Nashville's general manager. His midseason retirement arrived as a surprise. He says that the decision is not health-related, and Haslam characterized his retirement as a "life decision" — not a sign of disagreement between himself and Trotz. Trotz also said that he does not intend to get back into coaching.
Trotz will remain with the franchise until his replacement is hired. He'll help with the search for a new general manager and projects to remain in place for the NHL's March 6 trade deadline.
“After some discussion, we elected to begin a search for my replacement now, but I am happy to work in my current role until we make a new hire, however long that might be,” Trotz said.
Haslam plans to have a new general manager in place in time for the start of the NHL Draft on June 26. The Predators were 25-23-6 at the time of Trotz's announcement, good for fifth place out of eight teams in the Central Division. They're four points behind the Los Angeles Kings in the race for the West's final wild-card berth.
Category: General Sports
