The Nashville Predators are entering Month 4 of their search for a new general manager, and the race is still wide open. While several names are starting to surface as potential candidates, majority owner Bill Haslam has yet to name a successor for Barry Trotz, who announced his retirement on February 2. The team is casting a wide net, considering both internal and external options, with hopes of having someone in place by the NHL draft in June.
"It's one of those jobs everyone's going to want," Haslam said at the time of Trotz's retirement. "I think we're open to everything, we want the best person in this role."
As the search continues, here are five likely candidates who could be the next architect of the Predators' roster:
Darren Yorke has been a key figure in the Carolina Hurricanes organization since 2010, working his way up through multiple roles—from video scout and special assistant to the general manager, to director of scouting and director of player personnel. In 2020, he was promoted to assistant general manager, overseeing operations for Carolina's AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. During his tenure, the Hurricanes underwent a successful rebuild, restocking through the draft. The team broke a 10-year playoff drought in 2018-19, coinciding with the hiring of head coach Rod Brind'Amour, and has since made the postseason eight straight years, reaching the Eastern Conference Final four times.
Brett Peterson has served as an assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers since the 2020-21 season. His hire made history as he became the first Black assistant general manager in the NHL. Peterson has also been Team USA's general manager at the World Championships for the past three years. Working under GM Bill Zito, he has been part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams (2024, 2025) and a Presidents' Trophy-winning squad (2022). Before joining Florida, Peterson was vice president of hockey at Wasserman Media Group and has been an NHLPA-certified player agent since 2009.
Bill Scott has been an assistant general manager with the Edmonton Oilers since 2014, gaining invaluable experience within a perennial contender. His deep understanding of roster construction and player development makes him a compelling candidate for a Predators team looking to build sustained success.