The Nashville Predators (38-34-10) defied expectations this season, turning a disastrous 2024-25 campaign into a respectable showing. After being one of the NHL's worst teams, they finally looked like a competitive squad. Steven Stamkos came out of nowhere to score 42 goals, and Luke Evangelista broke out as a quality top-six forward.

But despite the improvement, the Predators missed the playoffs. Now, with general manager Barry Trotz stepping down after the season, the organization faces a pivotal offseason. Trotz, the team's first-ever coach who guided them from expansion to relevance, left behind a mixed legacy as GM. He locked the team into some tough contracts—Brady Skjei, Jonathan Marchessault, and Juuse Saros among them—and missed a golden opportunity at the 2026 trade deadline. In a seller's market, he only moved a few depth pieces and failed to secure another first-round pick.

For the first time in franchise history, the new GM will be hired from outside the organization. Former New Jersey Devils captain Tom Fitzgerald appears to be the frontrunner, according to NHL insider David Pagnotta. Fitzgerald helped stock the Devils with young talent while keeping them competitive, but his contract negotiations were rough. No-trade clauses for players like Jakob Markstrom limited the Devils' ability to make all-in moves. Some argue he deserves a fresh start, but it feels like the Predators are going with another retread instead of the fresh perspective that was promised.

Whoever takes the reins faces a major decision. The Predators are stuck in no-man's land—not bad enough for a high lottery pick, not good enough to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The new GM will need to answer three burning questions this offseason: Can they shed those bad contracts? Will they commit to a rebuild or try to retool on the fly? And most importantly, can they find a way to build a true contender around this roster?