Nashville Predators Closing Thoughts: 'We Want To Get Back Into The Playoffs"
End-of-season exit interviews reveal a passionate fanbase and a determined squad aiming for playoff resurgence, despite GM Trotz's impending retirement and player speculation.
The Nashville Predators wrapped up their final business of the 2025-26 season on Monday, conducting exit interviews and final media availability. It was Barry Trotz's final time speaking as the team's general manager, expected to retire upon the arrival of a new GM in the offseason and to wrap up his time in a leadership position with the organization. "I was here on day one.
We didn't know if it would make it. We really didn't," Trotz said. "What I see now is a strong fan base, a passionate fan base, a loving fan base, a fan base that wants to win a cup.
I'll tell you, it is gonna be one heck of a party on Broadway when they lift the cup here. " While Trotz, head coach Andrew Brunette and multiple players echoed disappointment, there was one sentiment shared by all of them: "We want to get back into the playoffs. " "I want to win, and as of right now, it's win here and be a part of this," Ryan O'Reilly said.
"We have so many good pieces here between veteran guys, who are getting older, but if we add the right pieces, we can be back in the mix. " Nashville missed the postseason by three points, nearly completing a comeback that saw it dead last in the league in November. Through it all, the Predators "stayed afloat" and "rowed," giving them a chance to compete at the end of the season.
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