How Barry Trotz’s GM Departure from the Predators Could Shift Fantasy Hockey Outlooks

Hey folks. Today, we're taking a closer look at the Nashville Predators, a team entering a new chapter after Barry Trotz announced he's stepping down as GM. 

Trotz leaves behind a legacy of leadership and stability, but his sudden departure creates uncertainty - both in terms of roster management and fantasy hockey strategy. While some moves may be on pause, others could open opportunities for younger players and undervalued assets poised to make an impact this season.

From top scorers to emerging prospects, the Predators have intriguing pieces to monitor as the organization recalibrates. In this spotlight, we'll highlight the key players to draft, keep, and target, all while factoring in how Trotz's exit might influence deployment, powerplay units, and ice time across the lineup. Let's dive in.

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Nashville Predators: A Team at a Crossroads

Trotz stepping down as GM marks the end of an era in Smashville. Trotz is one of the most respected figures in NHL history, a coach and executive whose work has left a mark on the league. But despite his leadership and vision, the Predators have spent the past few seasons caught in a frustrating middle ground. Management continued to retool instead of embracing a full rebuild, bringing in pieces one at a time, while never really contending.

The addition of a superstar from Tampa Bay was supposed to push the team over the top, but it hasn't worked out that way. Injuries to their captain and other key contributors have compounded the issue, leaving the roster unbalanced and underperforming. Fantasy players should take note: this is a team in flux, and the roster as it stands is thin outside of a few core contributors.

In my view, it's finally time for the Predators to burn it down and start over. The incremental approach hasn't worked, and the team is overdue for a full scale rebuild. Fantasy wise, that simplifies things: there are really only five players worth attention right now. The rest are either depth pieces, prospects still developing, or on the roster for show rather than production.

Elite Assets on the Roster

Filip Forsberg - The Consistent Scorer

Forsberg remains the offensive anchor for the Predators. He's a dynamic forward who can put up points even when the team around him struggles. Forsberg's skill set ensures top line minutes and powerplay opportunities, making him the one fantasy asset you can count on consistently.

Forsberg is still capable of elite production, but the team's overall struggles limit ceiling upside. He's an early-round pick for fantasy leagues, and his scoring output is likely to remain steady even if the Predators continue to underperform. For fantasy managers, Forsberg is the core anchor while the rest of the roster sorts itself out. Another notable asset that Forsberg has are his peripheral stats. He is a physical player, who can dish and score. A true fantasy league unicorn.

Forsberg has 23 goals, 22 assists, and 14 powerplay points in 55 games played as a forward. He also has 166 shots on goal, 103 hits, and 18 blocked shots.

Roman Josi - Offensive Force on the Blue Line

Josi is the best defenseman on the roster and the backbone of the Predators' offensive transition, and when healthy arguably one of the best in the league. He quarterbacks the powerplay and plays heavy minutes at both ends of the ice, making him a high floor fantasy asset.

Josi remains valuable in all formats, especially for leagues that reward defensemen's points, shots, and peripheral stats. His output is dependable, but he's also surrounded by a roster that is inconsistent, which caps potential upside. He's an elite asset in fantasy drafts and a must have if your league favors top-pairing defensemen.

Josi has 10 goals, 27 assists, and 15 powerplay points in 43 games played as a defensemen. He also has 116 shots on goal, 15 hits, and 68 blocked shots.

Steven Stamkos - Tampa Bay Star Turned Pred

Stammers arrived in Nashville with high expectations, and while he's still capable of putting up numbers, the surrounding roster hasn't made it easy for him to dominate. The move was a gamble that hasn't fully paid off, but Stamkos remains one of the few offensive threats capable of changing a game single handedly.

Last year, expectations fell completely flat and many including myself wondered if he was completely washed. A shadow of his former self and far from his glory with the Lightning. A slow start to the season started to solidify these thoughts, however Stammers has turned it on and is yet again scoring at will.

Fantasy managers need to temper expectations. Stamkos can provide consistent goal scoring, but his point production is dependent on teammates who are inconsistent at best. He's a top line forward who can contribute in multiple categories, but the team situation makes him less reliable than his Tampa Bay days.

Stamkos has 27 goals, 14 assists, and 14 powerplay points in 55 games played as a forward. He also has 132 shots on goal, 61 hits, and 21 blocked shots.

Ryan O'Reilly - Steady Production Amid Chaos

O'Reilly is the type of player who quietly drives a team's success without making headlines. He's strong defensively, contributes secondary scoring, and adds stability to a roster in transition. O'Reilly may not wow fantasy managers with flashy stats, but he consistently produces enough points and peripherals to be rosterable in most leagues.

He's a reliable early-to-mid-round target. O'Reilly offers balanced production in goals, assists, and shot contributions, making him a safe, if unspectacular, fantasy asset on a team with limited options.

O'Reilly has 20 goals, 33 assists, and two powerplay points in 55 games played as a forward. He also has 100 shots on goal, 10 hits, and 41 blocked shots.

Juuse Saros - Backbone in Net

Saros has been the Predators' workhorse in net, but his numbers this season reflect the struggles of the roster in front of him. While he's still the clear starting goalie, fantasy managers should understand the limitations imposed by the defensive gaps surrounding him.

Saros remains valuable in formats that count wins, but save percentage and goals against average will likely remain volatile. He's a high volume starter in a challenging situation, so fantasy owners need to adjust expectations accordingly. Still, stacking starts and wins has its advantages, and there are few tendies in the league who will garner more starting nods than Saros.

Saros has 21 wins in 43 games started as a goaltender. He also has an .891 save percentage, 3.13 goals against average, and zero shutouts.

Prospects to Watch

There are a few young players in the system who could become fantasy contributors down the line, but none are immediate impact players. The roster has depth in the pipeline, but without a full rebuild strategy, it's unclear when these prospects will emerge. Fantasy players should treat any rookies as speculative adds rather than core contributors.

If I had to pick a couple, forward Matthew Wood looks to have a scoring touch and is already playing in the show on a terrible team, but is holding his own in the limited role he has been given.

Cameron Reid on the blueline was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft. Reid played for Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, tallying one assist over seven games and helping the team secure a bronze medal.

The Trotz Legacy and Team in Flux

The Predators enter a period of uncertainty with Trotz stepping down as GM, closing a notable chapter in Smashville history. Trotz's impact as a coach and executive is undeniable, but again, his vision for the franchise didn't fully take hold. Years of incremental retooling instead of a full rebuild, combined with injuries and roster inconsistencies, have left the team at a pivotal crossroads. Tough decisions are now unavoidable to reset the organization's direction.

For fantasy managers, the message is straightforward: the landscape is shifting. Ice time, deployment, and roster composition could all fluctuate, making the five key assets (Forsberg, Josi, Stamkos, O'Reilly and Saros) the primary focus. Beyond them, the rest of the roster is uncertain, with prospects, trades, and development timelines all in play.

Fans in Smashville have plenty to be passionate about - and frustrated by. The team's identity is unsettled, and the next moves will determine whether the Predators can build a sustainable future. For fantasy purposes, zoning in on the elite assets is the safest strategy until a clear rebuild plan emerges.