Trotz has been given the pieces for a deep playoff run this year. If they get bounced in the first round, he needs to go! That's a coaching problem - not a player problem.
- Polecat

I disagree. Trotz is legit. Hard to fire a guy who has made the playoffs 7 of 8 years with no superstars, not even a pure goal scorer, just a bunch of hard working grinders desperate for contracts. I'd like to see him a few more years with a roster similar to this one before we start asking for his neck. He is a main reason for their success up to this point.

Trotz has been given the pieces for a deep playoff run this year. If they get bounced in the first round, he needs to go! That's a coaching problem - not a player problem.
- Polecat

DP has pushed all his chips in!!! BT clanks the 1st round, he is packing his bags!

Anyone have a Pekka flu update?
And seems guys always get the flu. Do they not get flu shots in the NHL.?

I disagree. Trotz is legit. Hard to fire a guy who has made the playoffs 7 of 8 years with no superstars, not even a pure goal scorer, just a bunch of hard working grinders desperate for contracts. I'd like to see him a few more years with a roster similar to this one before we start asking for his neck. He is a main reason for their success up to this point.
- benderboots

Besides, you can't call for his neck when we aren't sure he has one. I've never seen it!

Trotz has been given the pieces for a deep playoff run this year. If they get bounced in the first round, he needs to go! That's a coaching problem - not a player problem.
- Polecat

I think what we have here isn't a coaching problem or a player problem--it's a fan perception problem. Would you rather be a fan of Minnesota, making one deep play-off run surrounded by years of mediocrity? Or maybe a fan of Columbus or Atlanta, both teams which had more raw talent through the years than we have? Just maybe Trotz's coaching has something to do with a consistently solid club that keeps getting better...in spite of some very talented veteran players leaving the club. Merging 4 new role players into a lineup this late in the year is not an easy task.

The coaching staff is solid this year. #1 in the league in Power Play...I mean, seriously, that in and of itself is trophy-worthy...where's the love? Not to mention, arguably the best goalie coach in the league...

Most people thought this team would be fighting for 10th-7th place at this point of the year...certainly not in a battle for home ice. And that was what they were thinking in November and December.

Firing Trotz (or Poile) is the absolute worst thing that anyone could suggest for the Preds, absent a complete collapse in the playoffs followed by an utterly dismal '12/'13 season start.

Detroit comes back from 2-0 late in the game to win the SO. Crap.

I think what we have here isn't a coaching problem or a player problem--it's a fan perception problem. Would you rather be a fan of Minnesota, making one deep play-off run surrounded by years of mediocrity? Or maybe a fan of Columbus or Atlanta, both teams which had more raw talent through the years than we have? Just maybe Trotz's coaching has something to do with a consistently solid club that keeps getting better...in spite of some very talented veteran players leaving the club. Merging 4 new role players into a lineup this late in the year is not an easy task.

The coaching staff is solid this year. #1 in the league in Power Play...I mean, seriously, that in and of itself is trophy-worthy...where's the love? Not to mention, arguably the best goalie coach in the league...

Most people thought this team would be fighting for 10th-7th place at this point of the year...certainly not in a battle for home ice. And that was what they were thinking in November and December.
- famousjon

The problem with this line of thinking though, is they were picked 7th-10th before players like Gill, AK, Gaustad, and now Radulov were added. There are no excuses for this team not to perform in the playoffs, none. Not getting out of the 1st round is no longer an acceptable result for this franchise. Most fans aren't happy with just "getting there" anymore. It's time to see postseason results. Last year was a nice first step. Now, it's time for this franchise to take the next step. If not, the season is a failure, period.

Detroit comes back from 2-0 late in the game to win the SO. Crap.
- blueline

Yeah that really stinks. But the Preds need to win out and let everything else take care of itself. They missed an opportunity on Saturday for a big 2 points.

DP has pushed all his chips in!!! BT clanks the 1st round, he is packing his bags!
- slash&smash

You're new here, right?

The problem with this line of thinking though, is they were picked 7th-10th before players like Gill, AK, Gaustad, and now Radulov were added. There are no excuses for this team not to perform in the playoffs, none. Not getting out of the 1st round is no longer an acceptable result for this franchise. Most fans aren't happy with just "getting there" anymore. It's time to see postseason results. Last year was a nice first step. Now, it's time for this franchise to take the next step. If not, the season is a failure, period.
- sigep predfan

Radulov is talented, no doubt, but Trotz has all of 9 games total to try to get him onto a line with the best chemistry for the team. Gill, AK and Gaustad are nice additions, but they aren't exactly 1st liners, let alone stars. They are respectable role players who should fit nicely into the plan, but aren't exactly comparable to picking up someone like Forsberg.

I agree fully that this team should perform well in the playoffs, but if we play to our potential and Detroit plays to its potential, losing a 7-game series to them isn't exactly a reason to call the season a failure. The Preds have yet to be favored by Vegas to win a series, and if we play Detroit, we won't be favored again. Personally, I think this is the year that we finally take the Wings down...but if it doesn't happen, I don't think any heads should roll.

I'm more excited about the prospects of next season because I fully believe that we'll have a whole year of Radulov and AK playing together and I think the chemistry will be much better than it is after just a few games. In the meantime, I plan to entertained for the next several weeks, and hope to be entertained for a couple months...

The problem with this line of thinking though, is they were picked 7th-10th before players like Gill, AK, Gaustad, and now Radulov were added. There are no excuses for this team not to perform in the playoffs, none. Not getting out of the 1st round is no longer an acceptable result for this franchise. Most fans aren't happy with just "getting there" anymore. It's time to see postseason results. Last year was a nice first step. Now, it's time for this franchise to take the next step. If not, the season is a failure, period.
- sigep predfan

What you say above is undeniable. The Preds absolutely need to have success and go deep in the playoffs. They'll need to play well above their abilities to have that shot.

To your point however, even if we were a mediocre team talent-wise and considering what we've achieved so far, I think there is little doubt that most of us would consider not getting further into the playoffs an unacceptable outcome. Look at any successful sports team that subsequently falls from their lofty heights and you'll see a true test of fans and their resolve. It's not easy to always be on or near the top, especially in sports.

However, what bothers me a bit about some of the "this year or else" mentality is that while true that we have a very good team, there are quite a few other teams that can also lay claim to that description, perhaps more legitimately than the Preds. What it will boil down to is not only talent and skill but, more importantly, who has the will to get it done coupled with a season's worth of fortuitous bounces. (Any team that goes all the way has to have the hockey gods firmly in their pocket.) In some ways it's a one in sixteen Lotto.

You're new here, right?
- Predsboro

Last time I checked, only the GM has a contract heading into next year.

You're new here, right?
- Predsboro

Identity theft. He hijacked (stole) the original slash&smash user name.

Last time I checked, only the GM has a contract heading into next year.
- slash&smash

Not sure, but has Trotz ever had any contract over 2 years in length?

Edit #3: Actually, I think his initial contract was maybe for 1-year followed by a 4-yr extension (?) and all since have been 2-yr deals and/or extensions. (He's on an extension this season.)

Identity theft. He hijacked (stole) the original slash&smash user name.
- blueline

When did I hijack a username? My boys have been Smash & Slash for a long time.

Not sure, but has Trotz ever had any contract over 2 years in length?

Edit #3: Actually, I think his initial contract was maybe for 1-year followed by a 4-yr extension (?) and all since have been 2-yr deals and/or extensions. (He's on an extension this season.)
- blueline

I thought everybody's contract was up this year but DP was given a 3 year extension. Hell, I could be wrong!

When did I hijack a username? My boys have been Smash & Slash for a long time.
- slash&smash

A joke...in response to Predsboro's "new here" comment...



I do think Trotzy's contract is up after this season but we all know he'll be extended.

Coaching aside, Trotz is a hell of good person and he really does love it here. Nashville is his home now.

Players also love him (by most if not all accounts) and he has a sterling reputation for being a players' coach. (Not sure that extends to Collin Wilson at this point but who knows?)

A joke...in response to Predsboro's "new here" comment...



I do think Trotzy's contract is up after this season but we all know he'll be extended.
Coaching aside, Trotz is a hell of good person and he really does love it here. Nashville is his home now.

Players love him and he has a sterling reputation for being a players' coach. (Not sure that extends to Collin Wilson at this point but who knows?)
- blueline

BT needs to be extended but there seems to be a huge line drawn in sand with Suter and Weber after the last year's playoffs. The future is bright for pred land why would you not want to stick around for the next 3-4 years. Just seems like a player/coach issue or both would have signed long term. Sounds like Wilson has worn out his welcome but Colin is one of the few who is strong on the puck but the preds continue to struggle with puck control. Head scratcher for sure!

firing trotz talk, regardless of playoff results is insane. winning when he seems to have the pieces seems to be... shall we say not his strength. still, there are multiple teams in the WC that have at least as much going for them as we do. while it would be dissapointing to lose, its a crap shoot. do you really believe we are a heavy favorite over anyone we could concievably play in the 1st round. i sure dont.

firing trotz talk, regardless of playoff results is insane. winning when he seems to have the pieces seems to be... shall we say not his strength. still, there are multiple teams in the WC that have at least as much going for them as we do. while it would be dissapointing to lose, its a crap shoot. do you really believe we are a heavy favorite over anyone we could concievably play in the 1st round. i sure dont.
- predswilrule

Agrred. (All yeses to above.)

We'll be the underdog albeit with plenty of patronizing, de rigueur comments thrown in to fill space. However, if (when?) we win the first series, we might get a bit more respect. If we get to the WC finals, every commentator on the planet will begin their obligatory drooling and suddenly say how they knew all along that we were the team on the cusp.

However, I'll take it.

I'm not saying this to be a troll. Im just curious. Why have the only sold out 24 games? They have been a pretty good (great this year IMO) team the last 3 seasons and play pretty darn good hockey. I would have thought they would have no problem selling out this year. I know TN isnt the biggest hockey crazy state, but hockey does tend to have a loyal and cult following which can fill up places since hockey arenas are pretty small compared to other sports. Im just surprised that the number wasnt higher. Bandwagoners? or are people just starting to enjoy the sport as we do?

Dont get me wrong, the Hawks def have bandwagoners
- HajdukChicago

Others have justified our attendance, so not going there except to say even is "not so good years" we still had decent attendance. Wonder if you went to Hawks games about 5 years ago when they were crap and the attendance might have been 5000. Same thing with St Louis as I recall - no attendance when team was a stinker. Just saying -- ragging our attendance is not where you want to be

The problem with this line of thinking though, is they were picked 7th-10th before players like Gill, AK, Gaustad, and now Radulov were added. There are no excuses for this team not to perform in the playoffs, none. Not getting out of the 1st round is no longer an acceptable result for this franchise. Most fans aren't happy with just "getting there" anymore. It's time to see postseason results. Last year was a nice first step. Now, it's time for this franchise to take the next step. If not, the season is a failure, period.
- sigep predfan

And who would you replace them with? Talk about a fair weather fan

Besides, you can't call for his neck when we aren't sure he has one. I've never seen it!
- bigpredfan

Well done.

With the exception of not having a true sniper, except/maybe Radulov, why do some people assume the players we have are mediocre? Could it be that our players are at least better than average and Trotz is not getting the most out of them?

We have this conversation every year. While it has been great to make the playoffs 7/8 years, when is that model no longer acceptable? Seriously, do we give Trotz another 10 years of making the playoffs with a first or second round exit? Making the playoffs is good for the bottom line, but at some point fans will want a cup. If Poile's perception is that he has given Trotz the necessary tools and some commentators/writers have said the same, then the perception is that the Preds are a POTENTIAL SC winner. At what point does it fall in Trotz' lap to make it happen?