NHL Rumors: 5 Candidates For Predators GM As Search Narrows

Barry Trotz announced his retirement on February 2, and the Nashville Predators have been searching for his replacement ever since.

Four months later, they still do not have one.

In that same window, the New Jersey Devils fired a GM and hired a replacement in nine days, and the Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving and hired John Chayka in just over a month.

Nashville, by contrast, has barely moved publicly despite conducting a wide-ranging interview process behind closed doors.

The Predators asked for permission to speak with Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, widely regarded as one of the top hockey minds in the sport, and were denied.

Nashville's ownership has a self-imposed deadline of having a hire in place by the NHL Draft in June, with owner Bill Haslam saying as far back as February that he wants the best person in the role and is open to everything.

Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean listed five likely candidates for the job.

The Five Candidates

Brett Peterson joined Florida's front office in 2020, has been part of two Stanley Cup championships under Bill Zito, and has served as GM of Team USA at the World Championship for three consecutive years.

Bill Scott has been Edmonton's AGM since 2014, overseeing cap management, contract negotiations, and CBA liaison duties through seven playoff appearances and two Stanley Cup Final runs.

Darren Yorke has been with Carolina since 2010 and has helped build one of the most analytically sophisticated organizations in hockey over eight consecutive playoff appearances.

Nashville met with him in person in early April, but the Hurricanes are 8-0 in the playoffs and in the Eastern Conference Finals, meaning if the Predators are waiting on Yorke, they could be waiting until late June.

Ryan Martin has spent 20 years in NHL front offices across Detroit and New York, won two Calder Cups as AHL GM in Grand Rapids, and was a publicly named finalist for the Maple Leafs GM position before Chayka was hired.

Evan Gold has been in the Bruins' front office since 2015, built a reputation as a cap specialist, led Providence to first place in the AHL Atlantic Division this past season, and was the other named Leafs finalist alongside Martin.

Trotz remains in the role in the interim, having signed KHL free agent Vitali Pinchuk to a one-year deal in April.

The clock is ticking toward June.

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images