As the Nashville Predators take first steps into their general manager search, following Barry Trotz’s sudden resignation announcement earlier this week, an interesting roadblock emerged. According to Insider Frank Seravalli, the NHL Players Association is reviewing Creative Artists Agency, who were hired by the franchise to conduct their search.
The agency also represents NHL players, and therefore may not be permitted for involvement in front office personnel processes, even if coming from a different arm of the agency. It is considered a potential conflict of interest. CAA’s website shows a long list of NHL players represented, headlined by Sidney Crosby, not to mention Predators cornerstone Filip Forsberg and numerous other stars of the game.
A somewhat similar situation occurred in 2023, also reported by Seravalli back then, when the NHLPA investigated former Maple Leafs and current Penguins GM Kyle Dubas’ relationship with an agency connected to Auston Matthews and other NHLers, which did not lead to violations. It’s unclear what will arise from the situation with CAA and the Predators, but worth monitoring nonetheless.
Until a candidate is selected, Trotz is set to maintain his role as long as needed, steering the franchise into the Trade Deadline season where Nashville must decide between selling or keeping the band together for a Wild Card push.
On today’s episode of the DFO Rundown podcast, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Nashville had a few trades in the works this week that fell through, and may be revisited after the Olympic break. As Trotz works through his final chapter, he figures to be active with high trade demands to leave his franchise in a good place for the next regime.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Florida Panthers shared mid-game that Sandis Vilmanis wouldn’t return due to an upper-body injury. The forward delivered a controversial hit to Bruins star Charlie McAvoy, making the head a main point of contact, while McAvoy is wearing a full shield recovering from a broken jaw. Vilmanis was assessed only a minor penalty, not returning afterward, but the incident could receive further discipline. The 22-year-old with 12 NHL games under his belt is far from a household name, but Vilmanis was named to Latvia’s Olympic roster and his injury status could have implications for Milan. He is one of eight active NHL skaters on the nation’s squad.
- Ahead of tonight’s game in Los Angeles, the Seattle Kraken revealed forward Jaden Schwartz wouldn’t play due to a lower-body injury. The veteran already missed a chunk of the campaign for such an injury, and while it’s not clear if they are related naturally there’s cause for concern. When healthy, the 33-year-old remains effective, notching 19 points in 36 games, par for the course in his Kraken tenure over the past several years. Seattle has been sniffing around in the trade market as they gear up for a run at the postseason, and hopefully Schwartz will take the Olympic break to get healthy in time to play his part this spring.
Why would Seattle think their going anywhere in the postseason?
@DogHockeyIsAKaren – Because they scored a great deal at SellOffVacations. But, if said “dream vacation” is near the volcanic muck on the Kamchatka Peninsula, they’ll find out what bad ice is really like.
The Trotz situation really is bewildering. He takes his dream job only to realize that he really wants to be with the family, as if he didn’t know know how this all works?
Just doesn’t add up.
@Gbear – I thought a couple of years ago, there was someone in his family (his wife, maybe?) that had a concerning health problem. If that was the case, and said issue has come back, I could understand his decision better. The job definitely isn’t as easy as they make it out to be on TV, is it?
@Mac – All I know is Trotz said during the press event that it wasn’t due to a health issue. Maybe he was just referring to his own health, not sure.
If Poile Jr. ends up as the next GM, I’m going to really suspect that Trotz took the job as a sort of middle man, knowing that a direct father to son handoff wouldn’t have gone over very well. We shall see.
@Gbear – Good point. A nepotism-like look is usually not good, as you say, even if the son or daughter is qualified.
Vilmanis should’ve gotten a major penalty. He should also get suspended. But he won’t for obvious reasons.
If a Lightning player did that to a Panther, or a Leafs player did that to any team, it would be an in-person hearing.
@ Rollie’s Mustache – You know, for just a second, I was hoping “If a Lightning player did that to a Panther, or a Leafs player did that to any team, it would be an in-person hearing.” ended as “would be an in-prison hearing”. Might be more accurate, but definitely would be hilarious. 🤓
Hmm, is the next logical step for The Department of Panthers Safety to invest in a prison system? I could see it!
@ Rollie’s Mustache – Reminds me of the old term used years ago, “Country Club Jail”, usually reserved for white-collar criminals or political types. 😀