Speculation: Trotz: "If we don't get it going, then I'm going to start our rebuild plan."

[Fogelhund]

Don't the Preds only have 1 retention slot left?

Yes, they are retaining this year on Johansen and two years on Ekholm.

 

[Fogelhund]

O'reilly should stay. Schenn needs to get the hell out. I could see Sissons and Nyquist moved at the deadline.

Sure, but who wants Schenn at even half that cap hit? He was a reasonable guy at near league minimum, but that was a horrible contract.

What's going on with Sissons this year? One point? Is it his play? Being stuck with Stamkos isn't going to help your 5v5 stats much, but you would figure at least Marchessault would do something.

 

[Guttersniped]

It’s a retool and the big names won’t be shopped.

They’re also, like a lot of teams, looking for that elusive 2nd line center.

Part of the Preds’ problems is they’re paying Matt Duchene 5.56m to be Dallas’ 2nd line center and current lead scorer (w/ 15 pts in 12 GP).

Barry Trotz explains Nashville Predators' 'rebuild' remark, needs to buy time for prospects

General manager Barry Trotz talked to the Tennessean about his \

www.tennessean.com

"We're never going to burn it down to the studs," Trotz said.

Trotz explained his plan since he took over as general manager in July of 2023 is to stock up on draft picks and prospects over the next three years, but also to roster a competitive team.

Trotz said he doesn't want Nashville's fanbase to sit through an indefinite rebuild, which can sometimes happen when gambling on No. 1 overall picks.

"I've tried to buy time through free agency with these older players so that we can still be a threat," Trotz said. "But if it doesn't work, I've still got to buy the time for those young players."

Trotz explained the future core of the Predators consists of about 10-12 players, including names like Tanner Molendyk, Andrew Gibson, Teddy Stiga, Reid Schaefer, Joakim Kemell, and Matthew Wood. But those players are all between ages 18 and 20, and they need more time to develop.

"I'm trying to thread the needle," Trotz said. "I'm trying to put together a group for the next core for this team and still try to remain competitive while I'm doing it, without going into a 10-year rebuild. I've been rebuilding for two years now, really."

The problem is − and why he mentioned a rebuild just 12 games in − what happens if the temporarily competitive roster isn't so competitive?

"Our team hasn't played well," Trotz said. "I'm not shying away from that. We don't have any part of our lineup going. What's even working right now?"

In that case, a rebuild now is more of an expedited development plan for the prospects he wants to be part of the next future core. It's not a typical "break it all down and start over" rebuild, especially given the contracts he has on the books.

"(Filip) Forsberg, (Roman) Josi, (Ryan) O'Reilly, (Brady) Skjei, and of course Stamkos and Marchessault, they are here," Trotz said. "They aren't going anywhere. And (Juuse) Saros. But everybody else, I might pull out and put in a young kid."

One area that's of most concern is the second line, which has seen a rotation of players at center, including Tommy Novak, Juuso Parssinen, and Colton Sissons. Trotz said the team is in the process of trying to find a second line center, which includes looking at trade options.

"If we don't find that (second line center) then maybe we start the process of letting some of those kids come up and play with Stamkos at center," Trotz said. "Maybe Reid Schaefer or (Zachary) L'Heureux or (Joakim) Kemell has to go in that wing spot."

Trotz also said he has full faith in coach Andrew Brunette to find a way to make the Predators more competitive this season. The real issue is players are not playing to their potential, something that may result in changes soon.

"(Brunette) is saying 'I've got no one going right now.' I don't know how many line combinations he's tried, but nothing's really working," Trotz said. "You're trying so hard to find the magic potion and you get a little frustrated."

 

[Soundgarden]

Sure, but who wants Schenn at even half that cap hit? He was a reasonable guy at near league minimum, but that was a horrible contract.

What's going on with Sissons this year? One point? Is it his play? Being stuck with Stamkos isn't going to help your 5v5 stats much, but you would figure at least Marchessault would do something.

Sissons is playing a line over where he should. Our PK is 2nd in the league and he's a big PKer and faceoff guy.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Anyway, Trotz stated outright that none of those higher profile guys would be moved even if he did go into more of a "rebuild" mode. So I don't see the point in talking about them.

It's the other guys around the edges of the team like Lauzon, Sissons, Nyquist we'd be talking about in any trade scenarios.

 

[HaNotsri]

Rebuild after signing those contracts? Thats not how it works, that’s not how any of this works.

The deals expire along with their old core. I imagine the plan was to start the rebuild during 26/27. Now they just start it earlier.

 

[BonMorrison]

Nyquist, Fabbro, Sissons, Schenn, Lauzon, Smith, McCarron, Jankowski can all be purged.

I know, there's a ton of value there! Line up!

 

[joestevens29]

Anyway, Trotz stated outright that none of those higher profile guys would be moved even if he did go into more of a "rebuild" mode. So I don't see the point in talking about them.

It's the other guys around the edges of the team like Lauzon, Sissons, Nyquist we'd be talking about in any trade scenarios.

I mean trotz was dumb here. Sure he might not want to move bigger names, but now he’s put a negative vibe out and guys will start wondering if they even want to stay in Nashville

Rookie gm making mistakes

 

[KrisLetAngry]

It’s a retool and the big names won’t be shopped.

They’re also, like a lot of teams, looking for that elusive 2nd line center.

Part of the Preds’ problems is they’re paying Matt Duchene 5.56m to be Dallas’ 2nd line center and current lead scorer (w/ 15 pts in 12 GP).

View attachment 927847

Barry Trotz explains Nashville Predators' 'rebuild' remark, needs to buy time for prospects

General manager Barry Trotz talked to the Tennessean about his \

www.tennessean.com

Geeze that's a top line or top pairing player they have in those buyouts / retentions.

I get it though they had to go for it

Josi
Forsberg
Saros

You either trade them and rebuild or go for it.

They decided to go for it.

 

[beardawg]

Geeze that's a top line or top pairing player they have in those buyouts / retentions.

I get it though they had to go for it

Josi
Forsberg
Saros

You either trade them and rebuild or go for it.

They decided to go for it.

Hindsight is 20/20. He made a decision to go for it without selling off the farm, and it hasn't worked out yet. They're in no worse position than they were on June 30th

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Hindsight is 20/20. He made a decision to go for it without selling off the farm, and it hasn't worked out yet. They're in no worse position than they were on June 30th

The season is long.

Stamkos is at 7 points in 14 games.
4 goals.

He's doing stuff now compared to taking 7 games for 1 goal.

I would have gone for it as well. Though Stamkos would have only got 6 million from me not 8.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I know it’s not what’s ailing the Preds, but you have to wonder why they let a solid energy guy like Sherwood walk when he was signed at a fairly cheap price. Teams around the league are looking for these type of high energy players who can score. Last I checked he was leading the league in hits per game and it looks like he has offensive upside.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Wonder if Nashville has any interest in Nazem Kadri? The flames will likely trade them him year and someone said before, the preds do need a playmaker for Marcy and Stammer.

 

[SirPaste]

And why exactly would Nashville have any interest in that? And I mean like even 1% interest...

He forgot to mention the plus was Matthews

 

[jcbeze]

Maybe he should have started the rebuild plan before signing Stamkos and Marchessault

and Saros

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

The preds need to turn it around right away otherwise the season and playoffs could be completely lost by mid December and the entire season becomes a write-off.

 

[glenngineer]

I know it’s not what’s ailing the Preds, but you have to wonder why they let a solid energy guy like Sherwood walk when he was signed at a fairly cheap price. Teams around the league are looking for these type of high energy players who can score. Last I checked he was leading the league in hits per game and it looks like he has offensive upside.

Because he was redundant in comparison to other guys they signed like McCarron, Smith and Jankowski. Unfortunately, none of those three have brought any sort of energy or physicality to the lineup like Sherwood used to. I would've preferred to keep him around and jettison these three guys. For whatever reason, Smith can do no wrong yet still get time. It's infuriating as a fan to watch him take him a penalty in three straight games in the offensive zone and not lose a bit of ice time yet any of the young guys fart into the wind, they're sitting the rest of the game and benched the next. McCarron sat for a game because of a really poor play that led to a Draisaitl breakaway and goal. Other than that, we keep playing plugs and sitting young guys with talent and then wonder why we aren't playing better. Play fringe guys without elite talent up front other than Forsberg and that's what happens. We need a top 9 that can all deliver production and have a 4th line that is more of a 3rd line but we keep icing crappy fourth line players.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I know it’s not what’s ailing the Preds, but you have to wonder why they let a solid energy guy like Sherwood walk when he was signed at a fairly cheap price. Teams around the league are looking for these type of high energy players who can score. Last I checked he was leading the league in hits per game and it looks like he has offensive upside.

Hmm, I don't think any Preds fan has yet said, "hey I know what's wrong with the team, we need Sherwood back?" If anything, he was just more of the same problem that has plagued the team to varying degrees in recent seasons, and which has reached a critical point to start this one: the team is overusing mediocre players and tweeners, and not actually allowing the more talented youth to step into full time roles on the team. Sherwood was part of the problem last year, not part of the solution. You can have a guy or two like that on your team, just not 4 or 5 of them like the Preds seem to be going with.

 

[herzausstein]

Yes, they are retaining this year on Johansen and two years on Ekholm.

Johansen's contract is terminated though

 

[TheBeard]

On the bright side, at least they're getting like the 26th pick for Askarov.

 

[StreetHawk]

Preds have a lot of term on their guys.

In 2024:
Jossi is 34 and signed til the year he turns 38
Forsberg is 30 signed til he turns 36
Stamkos is 34 signed til he turns 38
ROR is 33 and signed til he turns 36
Marsh is 33 signed til he turns like 37 or 38.
Skjei is 30 and signed til he turns 36

Teams typically do not retain that high a % when term is that long still. Hayes at 50% for 3 years. Burns at 33% for 3 years is what we've seen retained for 3 years or longer. Typically with Kessel, Luongo, OEL, Hertl is was 10-15% for that kind of term or longer.

 

[Armourboy]

People need to keep in mind Nashville is in a very odd spot for a team rebuilding. We already have a pretty stocked minors, 3 first round picks as well as several others. We don't need to move big names to start getting picks, they are already there. We also don't need to move out the Vets to bottom out, we are already bottoming out with them.

That said I could see some of the Vets asking to get moved out, namely in Stamkos and Marchessault. ROR might ask as well but honestly I don't see Josi or Forsberg being those guys. They are here for reasons other than just team success, but who knows.

Odds are anyone not on a long term deal is likely to be who he moves. They may not bring back a ton but getting rid of them frees up roster spots for younger players, which is what Trotz should have done to start with.

 

[robertmac43]

This is an empty threat. What he actually needs to do is get a concert scheduled and then cancel it last minute. Proven way of winning.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Wonder if Nashville has any interest in Nazem Kadri? The flames will likely trade them him year and someone said before, the preds do need a playmaker for Marcy and Stammer.

A couple weeks ago we Preds fans noted Kadri... when the discussion was "can we get a 2nd line center... and turn things around"... I think that angle is kind of fading fast in the rearview mirror atm as the losses pile up and it becomes more futile to double down on big contract vets?

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Not sure if it's been said...Probably has but the guy traded a young stud goalie and now wants to rebuild....Does Nashville have a deep prospect pool at goalie? They have a lot of good prospects just not sure if goalie is one of them...